About Us/History

 

Our Purpose

“To serve the community, jointly and ecumenically, in such a way as to make the compassion and reconciling purpose of God felt where ever there is human need.”

Who We Are & What We Do…

 

The Watertown Urban Mission brings together about 40 member churches with local community-minded organizations, businesses and individuals to help people through difficult times with programs that feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, give shelter to the homeless, visit the imprisoned, give aid to the sick, and more.

Centrally located in the City of Watertown, the Watertown Urban Mission serves residents in the city and throughout the county, and works with other community service organizations in and outside the city to ensure needs are met adequately and efficiently. With generous donor and volunteer support, the Mission helps people rise above their circumstances and in turn, this strengthens our community as a whole.

Programs of the Watertown Urban Mission are designed to empower people by giving them a hand up to rise above what in many cases is the most difficult time they have faced in their life. Our programs include our Food Pantry, Critical Needs Program, The Bridge Program, Christian Care Center, Food $en$e, Dollar Dinners, HEARTH II Program, St. Dismas fund, and Community Service supervision.

Our History…

In June 1967, three ministers returned to Watertown from a conference inspired to form an urban mission ministry here in the North Country. The vision was to have churches of all denominations working together to help our neighbors in need. But beyond simple assistance, they saw the need to empower people to rise above the struggles in their lives.

By January of 1968, fifteen Watertown churches had come together to pledge support for the Watertown Urban Mission. The unity in serving our community went beyond denominational boundaries bringing together Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Episcopal, Baptist, Lutheran, Congregational, and Universalist churches.

Today, the Watertown Urban Mission has more than 40 member churches from throughout Jefferson County contributing to the well being of all and strengthening our community together through a unified approach. The vision of those pioneer churches in the 1960s has grown into a Watertown Urban Mission that truly carries out the commands of Christ in Matthew 25:31-46 to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, give comfort to strangers, care for the sick, visit the imprisoned, and more.

(Thank you to Dorothy G. Edson, whose research contributed to this historical summary)

How We Are Governed…

 

The Watertown Urban Mission is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that oversees the work of the Mission through committees and direct involvement with staff. The board has officers in the roles of president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.

The board officers for 2012 are:   Beverly Brown, President   Richard L. Halpin, Vice President   Marianne Malatino, Secretary   Peter L. Salmon, Treasurer   F. Toby Morrow, Assistant Treasurer

Beverly Brown, President

 

In addition to these five board members, the board has 10 more members: Yvonne Brown, Krista Kittle, Martha A. Loveland, Toby Morrow, Fr. Steve Murray, Dan Osborne, Lyle Pickert, JoAnne Rhubart, Timothy W. Scee II, Susan M. Snell and Rev. Joyce Woodcock.