Pictured above left to right: St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Father Everett (Perry) Perine, AHM Executive Director Michelle Hamilton, and St. Peter’s Vestry Member Rob Mangiafico
One of AHM Youth and Family Services oldest community partnerships is with St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, located on Route 85 in Hebron. That partnership began thirty two years ago, led by then Father William (Bill) Persing, (retired pastor of the church). Support from this local faith community has never been stronger as evidenced by two recent symbols of community sharing. Within the past few months members of the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Vestry approved of a friendly agreement for a committee of AHM, community and church volunteers to create a walking trail that will be used by AHM’s Teen Center. A trail system is being created as part of an environmental educational program being created by staff and volunteers that are part of the Teen Center, which serves local teens.
The most recent contribution from the church came in the form of a monetary donation. The donation will support the AHM CHORES program, an inter-generational project that matches teens who can help seniors living in the region with household chores. The CHORES program is provided at no cost to local seniors.
Every month St. Peter’s Episcopal Church holds a community dinner, coordinated by longtime church members Marcia and Chuck Eaton. On average the Eatons and their committee prepare between 150 – 200 dinners. In October the theme was a German Community Dinner. Part of the proceeds from that event were donated to AHM. The dinners this past year have also supported Hebron Interfaith Human Services and the Windham No Freeze Shelter.
According to Vestry Member Rob Mangiafico: “one of the current goals of the church is to expand outward ministry to support the needs of the community. This is being done through our monthly dinners and other St. Peter’s Episcopal Church initiatives such as the new partnership with AHM Youth and Family Services to create the nature trail adjacent to the youth service bureau.” We also are building upon a past practice of expanding our outward ministry by continuing to encourage our members to actively engage in the needs of the community from causes that support children to our seniors. “
Michelle Hamilton, AHM’s new Executive Director stated: “We are once again most grateful for the outpouring of support from members of the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church as they continue to recognize and act upon the needs of the greater community.”
This press release also appeared in the Rivereast News Bulletin in December 2015.