BLUE HILL — The First Congregational Church of Blue Hill has made a donation of $50,000, part of a tithe from the sale of its historic parsonage last year, to the non-profit H.O.M.E., Inc. to aid community members facing homelessness.
Pastor Lisa Durkee met with H.O.M.E. Executive Director Rosalani Moore Nov. 8, explaining how the congregation voted unanimously at its recent annual meeting to help finance H.O.M.E. programs, in particular the “Diversion” program, with preventive assistance to those in danger of losing their housing.
Moore thanked the church, saying, “we will be so glad to be able to assist people in our community who may end up unhoused without a bit of help” coming from the Diversion fund.
Pastor Lisa said, “We’ve seen the work done by H.O.M.E. for years, with various shelters, with crafts and job training, with child care – always responding to the community needs.
“The congregation discussed many different ways to respond to the problems affecting people around us, but the key issue is housing. H.O.M.E. has the experience to take on this challenge.”
The Congregational Church last year sold its parsonage, built in the early 1800s, as a cost-cutting measure, but did so with a provision that a tithe from the sale would go to serving its community.
For more information, contact the Blue Hill Congregational Church at info@bluehillcongregational.org.