Heartfriends Community Services (HCS)

Heartfriends Community Services - Sharing a friendship that helps…

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Heartfriends is the Community Services arm of SJSM. It is also part of the Dover Ministries to bless and connect with Dover residents. Our mission is to serve the community, irrespective of race and religion with relevant community and welfare services, programmes and initiatives marked by Christian service and love.

PROGRAMMES / VOLUNTEERS	DESCRIPTION	COMMITMENT REQUIRED
BE-ENGAGED encourage and motivate those out of work source / create work opportunities	Empowering the needy through creative work opportunities.	ad hoc / project basis
GAMES & CHAT play with or coach children in sports / board games engage adults who are gathered in informal chat	Engaging the residents and community children in sports, play and chat on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-6.30pm at the playground near Blk 3, Dover Road.	monthly / weekly / daily during school holiday periods
BASC coach / supervise schoolwork conduct special classes: art & crafts / sports / literacy (reading) / dance / music participate / organise indoor or outdoor activities	After School Care Centre for children aged 7 to 13 at Blk 3 Dover Road.	weekly / monthly or during school holidays
LEARNING ARK read / enact a story teach English supervise homework	Literacy programme for community children aged 5 to 12 every Saturday (except school and public holidays) in SJSM from 2.30-4pm.	weekly basis for at least 6 months essential
CAREGIVING & RECYCLING befriend and visit transport / manual help to deliver household items ferry or accompany for appointments organise outings/marketing/ jumble sales	Community Caregiving through a listening ear, regular visits, providing needful assistance and redistributing household items.	monthly / ad hoc / project basis
COLORS	Single parent ministry aiming to give support to children/women affected by separation or divorce	* New initiative

Contact Person: Jezreel Pillai - 773 9432 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click here for the HCS Volunteer Sign up form.

Our Journey from 1999-2009

As early as 1991, SJSM has been involved in social actions such as running a Tuition Programme for the community kids and a programme for Moms and Tots. From 1993, the scope of our social services was enlarged to include the Boys Brigade (BB) Ministry (1993), Single Parenting Ministry (1997), Community Health Screening (May 1998) and Dover Befrienders (Aug 1998). By 1997, a Community Service Steering Committee, chaired by the Vicar and comprising laity and full time staff, was formed to coordinate the growing ministries to the community.

In late 1998, Heartfriends, the community service arm of SJSM, was conceptualised to signal to the church and community that community services, especially to the hidden needy, is our God-given responsibility and mission. The church leadership felt strongly that we need to do something concrete to "re-member" those living around our parish.

Hence, 1999 marked the start of a journey to educate our Church and engage the wider community (namely Dover) with several important firsts:

Heartfriends' logo and philosophy of ministry were made public;
Heartfriends had its first full time director in Kim Chin;
Heartfriends Before & After School Care (BASC) at Block 3 in Dover started its operation;
A Good Neighbour's Carnival was organised to invite Dover residents into our premises; and Moon cakes were distribution to Dover residents.

Over the years, Heartfriends has organised many activities like the English Conversational Classes, Good Friday Dover, Sweet Memories and Yum Cha for the Dover residents. While some of these activities had ceased, others have evolved to become part of SJSM's mainstream activities, e.g. the annual Christmas Cake and Chinese New Year Orange Distribution, weekly Learning Ark and Kopi-Stop, and the biennial Dover Celebrates Christmas. Besides Dover, Heartfriends also extended the presence of SJSM into Henderson Secondary School through new initiatives such as counselling services and BB Ministry for their students. All these activities and services give SJSM additional avenues for outreach to children, youths, elderly, and families, especially those at risk or displaced.

Throughout this journey, the Lord has faithfully led and blessed SJSM with favours and good relationships with the grassroots' leaders and people. With His Spirit moving ahead of us, doors – both physical and spiritual – have been opened to the Church and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Families and individuals have been brought near to know God and His people. Today, Heartfriends focuses on four main movements, namely, the Literacy Movement for children, spearheaded by the BASC and Learning Ark; the Games & Chat Movement for children and families; the Community Visitation Movement by our Care Givers; and the Be-Engaged Movement which seeks to provide meaningful activities or work referral for residents who need them.

So as we continue this journey as a Church, the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 1:2ff are apt for this 10th Anniversary Celebration of Heartfriends, i.e. "We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." May the Lord's message ring out from us not only in Dover but everywhere as we let our light shine before men, that they may see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven (Mt 5:16).

Heartfriends 10th Anniversary Celebrations

Last Updated on Saturday, 30 April 2011 15:02