COMUNIDAD CON PROPOSITO INC

Description

In 2018, The Church of Jesus Christ The Heavenly Way (IJECC) in Flushing, NY developed a vision to reach the material needs of the underserved in the local community.

Flushing, a multicultural magnet, is home to a diverse population. Over half the residents are foreign-born. The church launched Community With A Purpose as a way to meet basic needs among the population, solely based on need, regardless of nationality, creed, or resident status. CWAP was incorporated as an independent nonprofit organization in 2018.

Initial programming focused on helping local children. In 2018, CWAP provided 40 free backpacks with school supplies for children in need. That number doubled over the next two years and in 2021, the agency provided backpacks for 116 children, nearly tripling its initial efforts. Once CWAP was incorporated and began providing for children’s school needs, other material needs came to light, particularly among the Hispanic population. The agency launched drives to provide families with nonperishable food items and warm clothing. CWAP currently provides basic supports for 200 families a year.

CWAP’s next step is to open a community center for the core service population to provide educational workshops, ESL classes, connections to health care, and job counseling.