Mt Druitt Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia is planning to ramp up its community outreach after receiving a $A15,000, or USD11,000, grant from the NSW Government.

The grant is part of the Community Building Partnership program, which funds new infrastructure projects that encourage community participation and cohesion, and that deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes.

It will assist the Mt Druitt church to build a room to house its various community activities, including a weekly food pantry and craft classes. The food pantry currently operates in a covered outdoor space attached to the church. The plan is to enclose this space and turn it into a community room, by adding walls, flooring and other fittings and fixtures.

Mt Druitt pastor Matthew Pearce said once the room is complete, they plan to add to their weekly community outreach activities by running exercise classes, an after school program and cooking demonstrations.

“We are praising God that we got [the funding],” Pastor Pearce said. “I’m just praying we can stretch it as far as we can. Our intention is to be part of the community more than ever before. Basically our goal is to become a center of influence in the community.”

The total cost of the project is estimated at $A50,000, or USD39,000. The church will make a contribution out of its budget but will also need to fundraise.