A Weekend of Impact: Episcopal Charities in Action

Over the weekend of June 7th and 8th, 2025, Episcopal Charities launched a powerful expression of community, compassion, and service through our inaugural Weekend of Impact. With the support of dedicated volunteers, partner parishes, and community organizations, throughout the Episcopal Diocese of New York, we witnessed firsthand the strength of collective action and the deep impact it can make in the lives of those in need.

EC Day of Service: 100 Hearts and Hands in Action

Saturday, June 7th marked our relaunch of EC Day of Service, bringing together 100 enthusiastic volunteers across 10 service sites from New York City to the Hudson Valley. These volunteers stepped into action with one shared mission: to uplift and support our most vulnerable neighbors.

At various partner sites, volunteers rolled up their sleeves and gave their time and energy to service projects that addressed acute needs. Together, we:

• Made 300 sandwiches to help feed individuals facing food insecurity.

• Assembled over 100 personal hygiene kits for the unhoused, providing essential items with dignity and care.

• Created 100 care packages for incarcerated women, reminding them they are not forgotten and are valued members of our broader community.

Care Package Team @ St.Marks

Volunteers Creating Hygiene Kits

Sandwich Making Volunteers @ the Cathedral

Volunteer at St. Michaels

Among the many service highlights, Episcopal Charities Executive Director Lauren Chung joined the EDNY Young Adults Network at a special project hosted by St. Ann’s Church in the Bronx. Volunteers there helped beautify the church’s garden and classroom spaces, preparing them for the vibrant summer programming ahead. The collaboration showcased how service not only meets physical needs, but also nurtures spaces where growth, learning, and connection can thrive.

Young Adult Network Volunteers @ St. Ann's

Volunteers Prepping Summer Classroom

Young Adult Network working In the Garden

Getting Summer Classrooms ready @ St. Ann's

Later that day, Lauren and the young adults visited Hemlock Hills Farm, one of Episcopal Charities’ valued Farm to Pantry partners, for a tour and educational experience. This visit offered a hands-on opportunity to learn more about sustainable farming and deepen understanding of the vital role local partnerships play in addressing food insecurity.

EC Sunday: Parishes as Ambassadors for Episcopal Charities 

The impact continued the following day, Sunday, June 8th, with EC Sunday. On this special day, 10 parishes across our diocese stepped forward as ambassadors for Episcopal Charities, dedicating part of their worship and community time to raise awareness of our shared mission.

These congregations served as powerful storytellers, educating their communities on the transformative work Episcopal Charities supports throughout the year. EC Sunday gave parishioners a deeper understanding of how their prayers, donations, and volunteer efforts contribute to long-term, sustainable support for programs that serve low-income and marginalized communities across our region.

Executive Director Lauren Chung attended EC Sunday at St. James' Church in North Salem, where she joined the congregation in celebrating Episcopal Charities’ mission and shared reflections on the weekend’s efforts. She commented that “it was wonderful to share about EC’s current mission priorities, including our work throughout Westchester. We can’t wait to see how EC can help parish-based community partnerships grow, including by convening parishes across regions to innovate on their responses to acute needs in their area. ” Her presence underscored the strong connection between Episcopal Charities and our partner parishes, and the shared commitment to lifting communities in need.

Whether through sermons, presentations, or conversations during coffee hour, these parishes helped shine a light on Episcopal Charities’ work in capacity building and program funding.

One Mission, Many Voices

What made this Weekend of Impact truly special was the diversity of people who came together – including those who were brand new to working with EC. We are grateful to all the volunteers - community members, young adults, and clergy - each contributed their own gifts to a greater cause. It was a living testament to our belief that when we unite our hearts and hands, we can create lasting impact.

Through the coordinated efforts of the Day of Service and EC Sunday, Episcopal Charities not only reached hundreds of individuals directly, but also inspired countless others to see themselves as agents of compassion in their own communities. To find out more about future volunteer opportunities with EC, contact the Program Office at ECvolunteers@dioceseny.org and view open volunteer opportunities HERE. 

Looking Ahead

As we reflect on the impact we made together, we are filled with gratitude for every hand extended in love. But this is only the beginning. Episcopal Charities remains committed to supporting programs that meet basic human needs and empower people to thrive.

We invite you to stay engaged with our work, whether by volunteering, spreading the word on our work, and by donating. You can still support youth programs through the Bishop’s Appeal for Youth Programs.  Click here to learn more about the current need and how you can help provide safe and engaging spaces for youth.

Thank you to all who made the Weekend of Impact a success.