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STREET MINISTRY
Three times weekly Malta teams go out to "meet people where they are" on the streets of Groton, New London, and Norwich. Meeting the homeless and needy at designated places, at designated times, we bring out thermoses of hot, hearty soup and individual sandwich, cereal or snack packs, coffee and other beverages.
Additionally, we supply socks, underwear, tee-shirts, thermals, jeans, jackets and other seasonal clothing and footwear. We distribute toiletry items, sleeping bags, blankets, tarps, and tents, as well.
Perhaps what sets us apart is that we focus on building relationships with individuals in need. And it all begins as we hold what are essentially "tailgates" each and every time we go out. As relationships build, many individuals are able to retain or regain a sense of dignity and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
The people who we see are from varied situations ranging from women who have recently fled abusive situations with just the clothes on their backs to the mentally ill; from men who have just been released from incarceration with nowhere to go to teens who are making unwise choices, and people in crisis situations everywhere in between. The common thread is that which is common to all people - the fourth basic human need: the need for love. We believe that the only love that is ever-true is the love of Jesus. It is His love that compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14-15) and it is His love that we bring out on the street to hurting people.
That is the Malta difference.
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