Outreach Ministries

What is Hands Together?
Based in faith and a vision for community service, Hands Together is a unique collaborative effort among religious and educational organizations, businesses and other non-profit corporations.  It's purpose is to provide high-quality infant care and pre-school education for our neighbors, the working poor in the heart of Santa Ana.  The Center is conveniently located near the Civic Center across from Church of the Messiah at 201 Civic Center Drive East. 

Why is there a need for a center like this?
Santa Ana's very dense population, especially in zip code 92701, is primarily composed of young Latino families including many single parent families.  Unable to afford the cost of day care, these working parents must patch together child care day-to-day with friends, family or other unlicensed providers.   Hands Together was created to provide excellent care and nurturing on a scholarship basis for 84 of Santa Ana's children. 

Most of the children in the 92701 Empowerment Zone have very limited access to health care.  Working with the John Tracey Clinic, Hands Together meets the need for health screenings.  Problems which may need further testing or treatment are therefore identified early.

A majority of these children enter school without basic reading  readiness and without preparation for the classroom environment.  Hands Together Pre-School program emphasizes development of cognitive skills, reading readiness and language development as well as nurturing social and emotional growth.

How is Hands Together managed and staffed?
The Center is professionally operated by National Pediatric Support Services, Inc.  It has a staff of 19, most of whom are bilingual.  The program meets the standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

How is Hands Together funded?
The core funding for the initial project was the result of combined financial gifts and grants from the Messiah Parish, The Sisters of St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation, the St. Joseph Health System, and the Lincoln Mercury Corporation.  An Empowerment Zone grant through HUD allowed the renovation of the building while another grant from Proposition 10 provided for 30 scholarships over two years time.

However, an additional total of $350,000 annually is required to subsidize scholarships for the children and to cover operating costs.

How can I get involved?
Lend us your hands!  It costs an average of $30 a day for a child to attend Hands Together.

The first class of Pre-Schoolers has registered at the local elementary school kindergarten.  The principal of that school has commented that these children are well-prepared in reading readiness and well-prepared for success in school.

Lend your hands to support this program with a one-time gift or as a monthly pledge.

  Checks can be made payable to:
Hands Together - A Center for Children

Please mail check to:
Episcopal Church of the Messiah
614 N. Bush St.
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Or you can contact Father Brad Karelius for further information at (714) 543-9389.

 © 2004, Episcopal Church of the Messiah