Why I Jericho: Lori Angel

Lori Angel: Jericho Gift Partner, Past Pathways Danbury Youth Ministry Volunteer, Young Life Volunteer, Jericho Executive Board of Directors, Jericho Advisory Leadership Council Member

Length of Time associated with Jericho: 8 years

About Jericho Partnership: “I feel passionate about Jericho because it is so multi-faceted; the umbrella is so large and touches so many areas of need – children, youth, the homeless, the elderly, the unborn, those who are struggling. What makes it strong is the fact that the community is engaged, the churches are engaged, local organizations and corporations are engaged, and even people that don’t belong to a church are engaged.”

About giving: “Giving to someone who can never give back to you is the way Jesus gave and He set the example for us that we should follow. Give without expectation.” 

About serving the Lord through Jericho: “If we truly allow ourselves to belong to Jesus, then doing His work, and serving the “least of these,” is just part of being in relationship with Him.”

About being around Jericho and its volunteers: “When you surround yourself with people who think of others first, it’s contagious.”

About leadership: “Scripture tells us that to whom much is given, much is expected. It also says that God expects much from those He places in leadership positions. The Jericho team are leaders – movers and shakers – and they are committed to making changes for the better, reaching out to Danbury, CT. It’s a privilege to be a part of this group.”

About City Serve’s potential: “I’m excited about the dynamics because you have all the pieces in place to make an impact regarding the needy in Danbury. You have corporate leaders/volunteers who can help make needed contributions. You have social workers/counselors who can best identify the needs and ways to meet them. You have churches to add volunteers and the spiritual component. It’s not just one group trying to put a Band-aid on a problem. It’s a community, working together for real change.”

About how serving has transformed me: “I have lived in many different cities, each one with their own needs. God has provided me with opportunities to serve in various ways; with children, teenagers, the homeless, and the elderly. Each experience has taught me new things and has allowed me to place myself in someone else’s shoes, if for only a small part of their lives. Until you give of yourself, you can’t know true compassion, something this world needs more of.”

CityServe Addresses New Pockets of Need

Jericho Partnership is on the verge of broadening its reach into the city of Danbury with a new initiative that will bring the love of Christ to new areas of need, different groups of people, and, even more important, involve untapped groups of volunteers.

Introducing CityServe.

For the first time in its 10-year history, Jericho is expanding its role and partnering with the City of Danbury in a new and exciting way. Leaders of our city have identified areas of significant need, and Jericho feels called to step in and serve. Jericho’s primary role: CONNECT, encourage, equip and empower people of faith and people of goodwill to further transform our city. So, whether someone has grown up in the church or has never been to one, CityServe needs them.

“We love and are deeply committed to our ministry partners and, of course, they remain at the core of who Jericho is, but this is an opportunity for us to expand our service model,” said Jericho President Carrie L. Amos. “CityServe is all about connecting our churches to areas of need in the city. I am so excited about and inspired by the potential for this initiative.”

Based on a model established by The Luis Palau Association in Portland, Oregon, CityServe provides an opportunity for people of faith to make significant and long-term impact in their city by addressing areas of great need.

“We’ve got a tremendous gift in this Partnership: 26 congregations who pray fervently for our city, who serve in our city and who want to be better connected to our city. We’ve got an army of volunteers ready for mobilization and the means to mobilize more,” Amos said. “So we went to Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, and Superintendent of Schools Sal Pascarella, and asked, ‘Are there other areas of need where we can help?’”

There was no hesitation. The two leaders cited the city’s chronically homeless population and a Title I Danbury elementary school – South Street School – as two areas where the needs are the most compelling.

Project CleanStart, announced by Boughton in his State of the City address in last month, will give the city’s homeless men and women the opportunity to earn compensation, in the form of gift cards for food and services, for being on work teams tasked with cleaning up the city. Mayor Boughton named The Jericho Partnership as the local non-profit he would like to partner with on this project. Jericho’s CityServe volunteers will provide job coaching, and will support the logistics for this program.

South Street School, which has 378 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, needs assistance in three main areas:

• bolstering students’ reading and other educational skills
• assisting in building beautification
• supporting Parent-Teacher Association activities

Jericho envisions volunteers going into the school to read with students, participate in recess and lunch programs, take part in initiatives to support teachers, and participate in building beautification project days. Jericho’s main role will be connecting volunteers to various service roles. Part of the connecting aspect will be vetting, equipping and training volunteers.

“I feel like we have been sent a group of guardian angels. Thank you so very much!” said Heather Pellicone, South Street School’s principal.

“This is all about inspiring people and pulling together as a community to impact others,” Boughton said. “It only takes one person, or one non-profit, or one company to raise a hand and say they want to do something amazing and touch lives in a meaningful way. That creates critical mass … and Jericho is leading the way.”

For more info on CityServe, or to volunteer, serve, or support, click here or call Jericho Partnership at (203) 791-1180.