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04/05/2017 08:30 AMHelping those who are less fortunate and a strong sense of community are messages that Barbara Parsons and fellow members of Christ and The Epiphany Church want to share with the rest of East Haven.
In addition to working at a doctor’s office during the day, she is very active in the church and is always looking for ways to help others. She is the church’s first warden, which means she acts as a liaison between the clergy and the congregation.
She is also the church’s outreach chair, and does many different things to give back to others. One of those things is the Good Shepherd Thrift Store, located in the church, which Barbara organizes.
“People will donate things to the thrift store knowing we’re going to do something good with them,” she said.
She said that the goal of the store is to give to those in need. They donate to several different organizations in the area, such as Life Haven, a women’s shelter in New Haven.
The church also shares part of the building with East Haven Food Pantry. Barbara said that in the winter time, if someone comes in under-dressed for the conditions, she makes sure they leave with a coat, boots, a scarf, and whatever else the thrift store can provide if the person wants them.
“That’s the best part of the thrift store,” she said, “And everyone who works in the thrift store is of the same heart and mind.”
Barbara said that certain organizations will donate handmade prayer shawls, afghans, and baby blankets with the condition that the church give them away, not sell them.
“That’s easy for us,” she said.
This year, she gave many of the handmade items to the food pantry to be able to give out to those who really needed them.
She also participates in the Midnight Run, an outreach ministry to the homeless in New Haven. Midnight Run members prepare sandwiches, fruit snacks, and other items and give them to the homeless.
One way the church hopes to spread that message of giving is by bringing in the Whatsoever You Do statue, a replica of the original statue in Rome. The statue depicts Jesus begging with a cowl over his face and his pierced hand outstretched. The statue serves as a visual reminder that there are those less fortunate than others. It will be at the church, located on the Green at 39 Park Place, from Sunday, April 9 to Sunday, April 22.
Barbara and church members hope the statue will inspire those in the community to donate to the East Haven Food Pantry or the East Haven Community Kitchen.
Upon seeing the statue at another location, Barbara and other church members were in awe of its realism and symbolism. She said that they have thought about it ever since, and are very excited to get it to East Haven.
Barbara first came to the church about 40 years ago, after seeing a sign outside the church that read “The Bible that is preached here is the word of God,” but religion has always been something important to Barbara. She says it has been beneficial to her over the years, as she can share her joys and sorrows with other members of the church.
“It’s a very close-knit church family,” she said, “Very supportive of each other and the community.”
Barbara shared a story that she saw a woman with her two daughters come in, and noticed that one of the daughters looked sad. She gave the mother a handmade pocket cross the church has, and told the mother to have her daughter read the message inside to make sure she knows her value.
The story ties in to one of the messages Barbara wants to get out in the community.
“It’s how we treat each other that makes a difference in the world,” she said.