Reaching Out

Olivet is grateful to be participating in Super Storm Sandy Recovery efforts. We are a "Volunteer Village" sponsored by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and we are hosting work teams that are helping individuals and families rebuild their lives and their homes. If you are interested in participating call the church. If you would like to bring a work team, please set that up by going through the PDA Call Center. They can be reached at (866) 732-6121. We glorify God by reaching out to others through love, grace and service. In so doing, we witness to God’s call for justice and human dignity. Olivet is deeply committed to serving those in need, both near and far. With the leadership of our Mission Committee, we are involved in the following activities:

Positive Living Dinners & Summer Barbecue: Dozens of church members provide home-cooked meals once a month for people in Staten Island who are living with HIV/AIDS. These monthly meals and an annual summer barbecue are provided in partnership with Project Hospitality which has strong ties to our congregation.

Homeless Shelter for Women: In partnership with Project Hospitality we operate a six-bed shelter for homeless women, every night of the year, on church property. Our Mission Committee plans bi-monthly dinners with our shelter guests, and special activities during the holidays.

Staten Island Community Days: Every April we participate in this island-wide initiative to promote the wellbeing of our communities, by hosting special activities such as a health fair, blood drive, & food drive. Community Days is sponsored by the Staten Island Council of Churches.

One Great Hour of Sharing: Church members give generously each spring to this special offering of the Presbyterian Church (USA) that supports ministries of disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development. Through the channels of our denomination, this offering helps people around the world find safe refuge, start new lives and work together to strengthen their families and communities.

Mission Trips: At Olivet we don’t just send money, we send ourselves to people and places in need. In 2006, a team of volunteers traveled to Arcadia, Florida to help rebuild after the hurricane. In 2008, our Youth Group helped repair a rundown church building in the Bronx that had recently been acquired by a congregation of new immigrants from Ghana.

Holiday Food Baskets: Thanks to generous donations of food, money and time, church volunteers purchase, assemble and distribute food baskets to over 75 families during the busy holiday season.

Mission Giving: Church members include a special pledge for Mission in their annual giving to the congregation. Funds from the Olivet Mission Budget support the general mission of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and provide much-needed financial support to the following organizations:

Habitat for Humanity

CASC (Community Agency for Senior Citizens)

God’s Love We Deliver

Meals on Wheels

Staten Island Hospice

Project Hospitality

Alzheimer’s Foundation

Eden 11

Neve Shalom-Whahat Al-Salaam

Teen Challenge

Staten Island Council of Churches

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)