A new group forming in Central Delaware seeks to help those in need.
The Central Delaware Interfaith Alliance ramps up this week.
Jon Rania is among those helping start the group, which he says builds on previous efforts.
“There was an informal group that would meet occasionally more than 10 years ago. And actually that group was the precursor and actually the foundation for the founding of the Dover Interfaith Ministry Alliance, which does so much wonderful work with homeless people - not just in Dover but also in Central Delaware,” he said.
Rania notes the more formalized Central Delaware Interfaith Alliance will represent members of several faith communities, including Christian, Jewish, Quaker, Bahai and Muslim, and hopes to work collectively on projects throughout Kent County.
Rania notes the alliance also replaces the Kent Ecumenical Ministerium that has been in place for the past 20 years and administered the Kent Ecumenical Food and Crisis Fund.
The Central Delaware Interfaith Alliance will now run that fund.
The reason behind it was that we knew that there were other very strong faith communities in the area that were/are doing wonderful work, not just with people in need, but in the community at-large and in general," said Rania. "And we wanted to bring them into the fold so that we could all working together, collectively, for the common good.”
Rania says the group will continue to help Central Delaware’s homeless population. It will also help to pay utility bills, rent or mortgage payments for people in need.
The Central Delaware Interfaith Alliance officially launches Tuesday night with a 6 p.m. meeting at Christ Episcopal Church in Dover.
