The general purpose of Bishop’s Appeal grants is to strengthen, encourage, and uplift ministries of congregations through program expansion, leadership development, facility improvement/ expansion, or technology enhancement.
Grants can be used to support special projects, develop new programs, or expand existing ones.
Two thousand miles south of Fauquier County, VA, a $2,000 Bishop’s Appeal grant is providing critical interventions for Guatemalan toddlers who live in poverty near El Basurero, the country’s biggest landfill.
Welcome to the Unity Garden, which was first built in 2019 to connect with church neighbors in a caring activity. But “it was difficult to engage neighbors in actual work as garden tools were not easily accessible,” garden manager Barbara Reimer Nye said. Everything had to be stored offsite, and all gardening had to be scheduled.
Neighbors around Trinity Episcopal Church in Manassas usually said yes to this urgent call from Jennifer Smith, a church member who often rescued soon-to-expire food.
These hostile times for Spanish-speaking people in Virginia are even harder for those who are homeless, unemployed, or underemployed. But in Springfield, on the same day each week, they receive hope and opportunity — and so do the Episcopal clergy and volunteers serving them.
Each year, the Diocese is honored to offer parishes the opportunity to apply for Bishop’s Appeal grants. Like a mustard seed, these grants are small, $2,000 at most, but they are a catalyst for incredible growth.
