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| Hunterdon Interfaith Outreach Council |
WHAT IS HIOC?
HIOC - Hunterdon Interfaith Outreach Council - - came into being in response to call several
years ago for the community to provide a Dental Clinic to serve those residing in Hunterdon
County who were uninsured or on Medicaid. Some forty clergy and lay people met at the
Hunterdon Medical Center to learn about the dental clinic and come up with a proposal to
bring communities of faith in Hunterdon County together to help provide part of the funding.
Fortunately, the funding was obtained through the efforts of Congressman Leonard Lance,
and our support in securing a dental clinic was no longer needed.
But the idea of a county wide council did not die. Clearly a number of different congregations
in the area were bearing a disproportionate share of the burden in helping those in need in
the community, and with the recession in 2008 and 2009, those needs were increasing. A
board was formed; an application to the IRS to become a 501C3 organization was submitted
and in September of 2010 the IRS granted HIOC non-profit status, with the ability to accept
tax deductible donations.
There were subsequent meetings of the Board and interested clergy; a website was created;
over the summer of 2011, the Board determined that for its first major fundraising effort it
would be both timely and within HIOC’s capabilities to assist the Interfaith Hospitality
Network (Family Promise) secure the necessary funds to provide utility assistance for its
clients for the coming year, 2012. At a meeting of HIOC participants on November 3, 2011
the Board’s choice was unanimously approved.
The details regarding this effort can be found with this description. It should be mentioned
that HIOC is looking for community wide support, rather than large donations that might
compete with other fundraising efforts: with the participation of all of Hunterdon County, our
goals should be easily achieved. HIOC respects the fundraising approaches of each faith
community, to collect funds as they wish. We hope to have many more such fundraisers in
the future; and the Board which now meets monthly, is open to other proposals and to lend
its support, in a non-financial way, to deserving agencies in the community. All funds
collected will go directly to recognized agencies, whose clients have been screened by
social services and will be exclusively for Hunterdon County residents. HIOC is all volunteer,
with few overhead costs.
In addition, HIOC hopes to expand its current website to include the various social ministries
and outreach efforts of each individual congregation. Clergy in the network will be able to
access easily what their colleagues and communities are doing, and will be able to refer
individuals in need to an appropriate church, synagogue or mosque, if his or hers does not
provide the service, or join together in different efforts throughout the year.
As its mission statement says: HIOC addresses poverty for individuals and families in
Hunterdon County, and connects people in need; with solutions as a funding resource and
clearing house of information.
For more information visit our website: www.HIOC-helps.org.
Contributions may be mailed to:
HIOC, c/o Flemington JCC, 5 Sergeantsville Road., Flemington NJ 08822
How to contribute to HIOC