Loving & Giving

 

 

Home

Our Vision, Mission & Values

Meet the Staff

Directions to the Place

 

 Twenty years ago when the First Baptist Church Norwich founded The Place, the members wished to live their Christian faith through loving action to serve youth in the community.  This mission still pulses strong through the ministry of The Place, where ALL children are loved and helped to grow to their potential.  Love, of course, is the gift we give to help youngsters grow, develop, and overcome sometimes difficult circumstances.  In loving our children and youth through our work with them, we also give to the community and to each other.  At The Place, loving is enacted through giving. 

In our work with youngsters, we teach and model that giving is a cycle.  Through service learning, we show youth the satisfaction of contributing time, talent, and effort to the betterment of our community.  Through serving others, they realize that their gifts matter.  This increases their awareness of their own values as people and community members, sometimes for the first time.  In turn, they grow to become adults, continuing the loving cycle of giving. 

Our volunteers and staff also embody this living cycle.  In their commitment to youth, staff members model their ethic of giving by doing whatever is necessary for youth, often working above and beyond their job descriptions.   Volunteers who serve on committees, advise, and support with their intelligence, good sense, and hard-working hands also join in the cycle of giving.  "Walking the talk" of being an actively loving member of our community is demonstrated by their actions.