Fields of Grace Outreach

1) The Grace Youth Leadership Program:

The Fields of Grace, through its Grace Youth Leadership Program  (GYLP), is working with the Schoharie County Youth Bureau, and other local youth oriented organizations, to combat juvenile delinquency, advance education, and lessen the burden of local government in the county.  The program endeavors to continuously design, plan, and implement leadership training, development and community building activities to promote the social welfare of local children and youth under the age of eighteen.  Building and encouraging positive self-images, strengthening individual character and conflict resolution skills, enhancing personal confidence, promoting good citizenship, building constructive interaction between struggling youth and adult role models, advancing healthy habits, and nurturing a lifelong love of learning in the county's young people, is what we are about. Terrific annual activities will include: youth leadership workshops and discussion groups, after school academic tutoring, mentoring, directed service learning projects, vocational training, retreats and forums, and college preparation, as well as relevant community field trips and/or structured job-shadowing activities.

2) The Grace Youth Recreation Program:

The Fields of Grace, through its Grace Youth Recreation Program (GYRP), is working to design, plan, and implement amateur sporting activities to promote the social welfare of local children and youth under the age of eighteen.  GRYP provids a recreational outlet for young people in the area, encourage self-esteem, healthy development, teamwork, and group participation in a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.  As the program brings diverse youth together, it it helps promote understanding and respect for differences and cultivate community comradery and good sportsmanship.  Outdoor and indoor seasonal sports of all kinds are planned. During the spring through fall, GRYP plans to host such sports as instructional baseball, kickball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and/or basketball games and tournaments.  In the winter and throughout the year, indoor ping-pong competitions, as well as other exercise workshops will be hosted.  By providing a safe, supportive, comfortable, fun, drug-free environment, GYRP promotes healthy youth interaction and community character building, while combating juvenile delinquency.

3) The Grace Discussion Program: 

The Fields of Grace, through its Grace Discussion Program (GDP), has arranged to work with local colleges, churches, other tax-exempt religious organizations, community groups, and charities, to host supervised monthly coffeehouses, forums, workshops, and discussion groups for young adults on a wide range of social issues, religious topics, and current event.  These activities have been designed to primarily promote the intellectual, spiritual, and moral development of individuals of college age.  Additional entertainment and refreshments are planned for many of these events.

4) The Grace Assistance Program: “Bridging the GAP"

The Grace Assistance Program islcollaborating with local churches, not-for-profit charities, and other local community groups, such as the Schoharie County Community Action Program (SCCAP), Catholic Charities of Schoharie County, Samaritan's Purse, the NYS Venison Donation Project, and the Boys Scouts of America, to provide emergency food and clothing to individuals and families in need of urgent assistance.  The program will soon maintain an on-site community food bank of donated non-perishable food items, which will be available for anyone who is hungry or in need.  Within the next year, the program also plans to begin to host a monthly "Cup of Grace Soup Kitchen" for the local communities, through which volunteers will cook and deliver warm meals to needy families.  Through these services, the program seeks to nurture and support the dignity of all those who are in troubling times, bringing humanitarian relief to those who are often overlooked.  Also, the program is working with the local American Red Cross to provide a community site where it may offer their Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation CPR), First Aid, Automatic External Defibrillator(AED), and "Get Ready - Be Safe" disaster response training courses.  These emergency and humanitarian services are greatly needed in this area, as many of the residents live in a flood plain and are often ill prepared.

5)  The Grace Life Skills Program: 

The Grace Life Skills Program addresses the needs of young adults, singles, couples, and new families.  Through meetings, conferences, and informational workshops, individuals gain the knowledge necessary to better prepare themselves for their vocation or career and plan for their future.  The program, called "Fields of Life: Real Work Survival Skills,"  presents a yearly introductory seminar and workshop series on adult issues, everything from personal hygiene, health, and nutrition, applying for jobs, workplace etiquette and presentation, to literacy and higher education, understanding personal finances, applying for financial aid, and more.  The Grace Life Skills Program seeks to teach those who are in need, the skills they will need to survive and reach their full potential tomorrow.