RESTORATION: SERVE, EQUIP & CONNECT

NEC’s Community Outreach

Our mission is to be a blessing within and beyond our walls, helping to meet a variety of real needs. We do this by engaging volunteers to come together and make a difference. It’s all about helping you use your hands - to be God’s hands - to mend, repair, restore God’s broken, but beautiful world.

Restoration is the process of making something new again. It’s a very down to earth way of describing the work that God invites us into. NEC reaches out to those in need locally, regionally and globally and provides volunteer power, resources and financial help. NEC often partners with other individuals and non-profits to multiply our ability to do good.

Check out our opportunities below and complete the volunteer interest form to let us know what interests you. If you need assistance from any of these ministries, please visit our 'need help' page.

Volunteer Interest Form

UPDATES

The catastrophic earthquake in Myanmar claimed more than 2,800 lives, left over 4,600 injured, and hundreds still missing. Entire communities have been devastated, and the road to recovery will be long and difficult.

As part of our commitment to give 10% of our annual budget to support local and global needs, our leadership team has voted to send $1,000 each to Doctors Without Borders and World Central Kitchen. Both organizations are on the ground in Myanmar—Doctors Without Borders providing urgent medical care, and World Central Kitchen delivering hot meals to survivors and first responders. Each has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, reflecting their integrity and impact.

We wanted to share this with you, not as a call to give, but as a glimpse into the kind of quiet generosity that happens behind the scenes—made possible by your faithful support of this church. Thank you for helping us be the hands and feet of Jesus in places we may never go, but still deeply care about.

Trips, activities and opportunities to get involved in

@NEC

NEC Cares

NEC Cares is one to one support for anyone experiencing a difficult time in life. We walk with you through serious illness, bereavement, caring for others, job crisis, divorce, and other challenges that disrupt your life because NEC Cares. If you would like to have a care giver walk with you or if you would like to be trained as a care giver, please reach out.

Caring Meals

This group provides meals to those who have given birth, are sick, had an accident or surgery, had a family death, or who are, for numerous reasons, temporarily incapacitated.

SOS Team

SOS stands for Serving Our Savior. It evolved out of the experience on US Disaster Relief Trips. We found a dire need for home repairs for someone in our church and pulled a group together. It was such a positive experience that we made it an outreach ministry in 2015. Our services include basic home repair, painting, and other small projects for individuals in need of a helping hand within our church family and other local communities. SOS works one or two Saturdays a month. No special skills are required and kids 11 and older are welcome to participate with a parent! Absolutely no pressure...join in when you can!

Paper Angels

This team sends out thoughtful sympathy, encouragement and get well cards to people going through a rough time. Cards are sent to anyone brought the team’s attention.

Prayer Blanket Ministry

This ministry invites individuals to pray for a person who is going through an extremely difficult time such as loss of a child or spouse, life-threatening diagnosis such as cancer, or homelessness, etc. We prepare a no sew fleece blanket and a special card is handmade and matches the theme of the prayer blanket. Anyone is invited to come, say a prayer and sign the card of encouragement for the person. The cornerstone of the prayer blanket is the Holy Trinity that it is tied with a ring signifying God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus and signifies that it is an official New England Chapel Prayer Blanket. If you would like to nominate a person to receive a Prayer Blanket or would like to know when we are working on a Prayer Blanket use the volunteer interest form at the top of the page.

Local

Franklin YMCA

NEC partners with the Hockomock Area YMCA in community development projects including the school supply drive, the summer lunch program, family fun events and more.

Franklin Food Pantry

In our partnership with the Food Pantry, NEC volunteers help with a community garden to offer fresh flowers (and in previous vegetables) as well as assist with special projects; and help organize local food drives. Current needs include: Assorted bags of chips 8-10 oz; assorted cookies and creackers 10-12 oz; assorted boxes of cereal 10-20 oz; gluten-free and vegan shelf stable items; hot chocolate mix; toothpaste; baby wipes; disinfectant wipes; pet food, kitty litter.

SAFE COALITION

Safe Coalition is a Franklin based non-profit helping to educate and support those impacted by substance use disorder and mental health concerns. Franklin is one of 40 communities throughout Massachusetts served by Safe. By creating opportunities for adults and youth in group-building, peer-to-peer engagement, and education, they reduce the risk of mental illness and substance use. They also help to meet some basic everyday needs. NEC is proud to partner with Safe Coalitions.

Regional

Straight Ahead Ministries

Straight Ahead Ministries works with juvenile offenders to help them know Christ’s transforming love. Youth are mentored closely every step of their journey, from lock-up to a monitored home environment and finally to independence as they become self-sufficient, productive citizens. NEC partners with Straight Ahead through their community programs and holiday outreach. Stop by the lobby in March 2025 to support the Easter Basket Collection.

WALKING IN LIGHT MINISTRIES

Walking in Light is faith-based mission who partners with a large cross-section of Bible-centered churches in New England to minister to hundreds of families in low-income housing projects in Worcester, including one of the largest in Massachusetts. NEC assembles Thanksgiving baskets for families every year, provides Christmas gifts and winter clothing for the children, collects food to help families through the winter and spring school breaks as well as school supplies in the summer, and participates in the Summer Bible Experience for teens.

MEDWAY VILLAGE FOOD PANTRY

NEC is proud to partner with the Medway Village Food Pantry, which started out of two cabinets in 2004. They were founded on our belief that all people deserve to be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect, as they work to end hunger for local residents. Through the years they have expanded significantly. In 2024, they provided over 237,000 meals as well as diapers, paper goods and other household essentials. They are 100% volunteer run and 64% of the food and household goods that are distributed are purchased using monetary donations and gift cards and 36% of the food and household goods are donated.

Pathway to a Better Life

Are you a night owl and want to help others during cold nights this winter? Pathway to a Better Life, the Milford area temporary, emergency shelter is looking for volunteers. Homeless rates are raising, so they are opening their doors in the winter to help individuals to stay warm from 9pm - 7am when temperatures drop to 20 degrees and below. They cannot open without volunteers. Please if you are interested in volunteering call/text or email Lisa Trusas 508-922-9032 or pathwaytoabetterlife2019@gmail.com. Please share and help us get the word out!! We want all volunteers to know they are not allowed to turn away anyone with symptoms or who is Covid positive.

Global

US DISASTER RELIEF - Trips planned for April and early Fall 2025

NEC partners with World Renew Disaster Response Services to help communities impacted by natural disasters. Our teams have served in New Orleans (Hurricane Katrina), Pennsylvania, Alabama, New Jersey and North and South Carolina alongside community residents and local long-term recovery groups! After immediate needs are met and coverage of a disaster has faded from the news, volunteers are still needeed to help families and communities as the work of recovery continues. The next trip in April 2025 is full but potentially there will be another trip in late September/early October 2025. Email Dena at dena@nechapel.org for more information.

Visit nechapel.org/missions24 for more information.

Mission of Hope

Mission of Hope International operates as an interdenominational Christian outreach, working with all people and fulfilling the Great Commission as the hands and feet of Jesus. A mission trip is planned for February 2025. Stay tuned for details on the next trip. For questions, contact Dena at dena@nechapel.org.

Manos Curativas

A NEC partner organization, Manos Curativas, Inc is a non-profit organization providing health care to unserved and underserved people in the Dominican Republic. Group trips are currently on hold at this time.

Haiti Empowered Inc.

NEC has been a long-time partner of Haiti Empowered (formerly Mission E4). Their mission is equipping children and giving hope for generations. They have established 9 schools, and partner with several churches. They currently have over 2500 students across 9 villages who otherwise may not receive an education. In addition to an education, the students receive a hot meal as well as medical and dental care. Mission trips to Haiti are currently on hold, but there are still opportunities to make a difference. Through their child sponsorship program, for $41 per month, you can provide a child with a Christian education, uniform, books, a hot meal at school and and medical care.

Vineyard Christian School

Uganda

A NEC partner organization, the Vineyard Christian School was established near Soroti, Uganda in 2008. In a country ravaged by war in the 1980's and 90's, concerned parents and a pastor joined forces to impact positive change. The mission of the Vineyard Christian School is "Preparing today's children to become tomorrow's answer". The school enrolls over 600 children from many local villages, providing a Christian education and more.