Social Justice
Putting beliefs in action, making the world a better place
West End Church has a thriving food justice ministry, where neighbors of all faith backgrounds come together to help those in need.
Our Tuesday Table program provides a hearty and healthy meal–no questions asked–for anyone who wants one. Meeting on Tuesdays from 4-6 pm, we also connect community members with social services and, when able, warm clothes and new toiletry items. (Our church and Scout communities support this work by sourcing and packing Holiday Hope Bags with items requested by our Tuesday Table guests at Christmastime.)
Overall, we believe in dignity: dignity for all people, who deserve to feel seen and loved, no matter their circumstances. Perhaps that’s why our Tuesday Table Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners are so appreciated by our community–they’re real family affairs, where folks are invited to enjoy a fully home-cooked meal and gather around tables to eat their favorite holiday dishes with all the fixin’s. To find out how to get more involved, email Program Director Matt Puckett.
But that’s not all…West End’s people are naturally civically engaged, taking time to support voting rights and speaking up for those on the margins.
Since 2020, members and friends of West End Church have joined with faith-based groups and community organizations in a voter outreach campaign. Coordinated by Reclaim Our Vote (ROV), a national initiative, our 35 volunteers have sent over 3,500 postcards to registered but infrequent voters in Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida and Texas. ROV provides the postcards, scripts, addresses and stickers with local voting information; West End organizes the packets and provides the stamps. Volunteers provide their passion and pens! Postcarding can be done on your own or with a group–if you’re interested in getting involved, email Marilyn Flood.
A committed band also joins with our neighbors on the corner of 79th Street and West End Avenue Wednesdays at 3:30 pm for Reality Check Protests to stand in witness of injustice wrought by the U.S. government in our names.
No matter what, West End is a place where you can find people who share your passions. Not all of us share the same causes, but all of us are committed to the idea that we all have gifts to share in making the world a better place.
Our Program Director, Matt Puckett, is a Grammy-award-winning musician who has toured extensively across the United States.
Matt has his Master’s of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing ordination within the UCC. He has always been passionate about social justice: prior to joining West End, Matt worked as an organizer for the Poor People’s Campaign, and he is involved in initiatives throughout the city that fight for dignity and kindness. When not at church, Matt can be found exploring (and participating in) Brooklyn’s vibrant music scene.