<!doctype
html public "-//w3c//dtd html 3.2//en">WHAT IS
ABIL?
MISSION
STATEMENT
Acton
Boxborough Interfaith Laity (ABIL) is a volunteer organization made up of people
who reflect the multi-religious and ethnic communities in Acton, Boxborough, and
Stow. We come together to increase
mutual understanding and emphasize our common humanity with a desire to work
through God to benefit those less fortunate within the local and global
community, whether they be immigrants, people new to the community, indigents,
people abroad in need of education or a helping hand, or people in need of any
kind of support. Participation in
ABIL, with its focus on doing good works, is open to all individuals of any
affiliation or secular organization who wish to contribute, cooperate, and
consolidate community resources.
The projects and events we seek to create and perpetuate are conceived to
please God by building bridges between diverse groups and promoting
understanding within the pluralistic society in which we live and raise our
families.
CURRENT ABIL
PROJECTS AND EVENTS
RESOURCE
DIRECTORY: A
catalogue of help for immigrants and needy people to secure community services,
emergency treatment, hotlines, health care, etc. A multilingual version of the
directory is included.
HOUSEHOLD
GOODS RECYCLING MINISTRY -- A
distribution and recycling system for donated furniture, appliances and other
household items. This ministry offers all people the opportunity to serve
low-income families, students, victims of disasters or unemployment, and recent
immigrants. All items are free of charge.
SHARED
THANKSGIVING -- An
Annual Thanksgiving Prayer Service held on the Sunday before Thanksgiving,
involving various houses of worship in the area. Everyone is welcome, people with or
without any religious affiliation.
The Thanksgiving Prayer is an all-inclusive way to celebrate a common,
secular American holiday by offering prayers of gratitude in a congregational
setting, reading Holy Scripture, and presenting diverse cultural points of
view.
FESTIVAL OF
CULTURAL SHARING – Annual
event held in early February, with ethnic food and entertainment. It is a
community and family celebration of our diversity and
humanity.
EASTERN MASS
LITERACY COUNCIL --EMLC
is a volunteer based, non-profit agency that provides free one-on-one tutoring
services to adults who want to acquire basic literacy in the English
language. Trained EMLC volunteers
also facilitate conversation groups. EMLC also offers courses to prospective
teachers of English to those foreign born.
HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY NORTH CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS --HFHI
seeks to eliminate poverty and homelessness throughout the world and to make
decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Through volunteer labor and
tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and renovates
simple houses with help of homeowner (partner) families.
OTHER
AREAS--
ABIL members facilitate connections between faith groups by monthly meetings.
Members exchange information regarding prayer and education services, charitable
and social action programs, humanitarian and fundraising events, and much
more.