OCEAN CITY CHURCH FELLOWSHIP FUND

Ocean City Church extends financial support to those in need through the Ocean City Church Fellowship Fund.
The purpose of the fund is to minister to individuals or families during a time of hardship or crisis by temporarily assisting them with their basic needs. We acknowledge that this assistance offers a short-term, relief-oriented, material solution to a problem that may require a longer-term, more relational and comprehensive strategy. The church will not provide help to anyone who, in its estimation, will have negative or irresponsible behavior reinforced by receiving financial assistance. 

GUIDELINES 

  1. The Fellowship Fund provides short-term (emergency) assistance and longer-term aid to ensure that those in need have the basic necessities such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, and medical assistance (including psychological counseling). 

  2. The type of assistance that is appropriate depends on the individual's needs and available resources. 

  3. The fund is intended to be used when the individual or family requesting assistance has explored all other possibilities of assistance from appropriate sources (i.e., family, savings, government, etc.). 

    There are some great local organizations who exist to provide support and assistance to those in need. We recommend contacting these organizations before requesting assistance through this application, as this is their primary focus and they are able to process requests quickly.

    BEAM  |  904-241-2326  |  jaxbeam.org  |  Financial & Food
    Mission House  |  904-241-6767  |  missionhousejax.org  |  Food, Clothing, & Medical
    United Way  |  2-1-1  |  unitedwaynefl.org  |  Financial, Food, Clothing, Medical, & More
    City of Jacksonville Emergency Assistance  |  904-630-2469  |  Financial
    Downtown Ecumenical Services  |  904-358-7955  |  descjax.org  |  Financial, Clothing, & Food
    Sulzbacher Center  |  904-359-0457  |  sulzbacherjax.org |  Housing, Food, Medical, & More

  4. Needs that may not be met by the fund include: business investments or debts or anything that brings financial profit to the individual or family; paying off credit cards (exceptions can be made when an individual has had to use a credit card in a crisis or emergency, such as hospitalization, death, etc.); needs of individuals wanted by the law or for paying fines as a result of breaking the law; legal fees arising from criminal behavior; gambling debts; penalties relating to late payments or irresponsible actions. 

  5. History of prior help will be considered to ensure fair and equitable distribution of funding for all persons requesting assistance. 

  6. Persons requesting aid are required to fill out an application and must be at least 18 years of age. (Persons under age 18 will be required to get a parent/guardian to request aid.) 

  7. Disbursements from the fund may not be made in the form of a loan. No gift may be repaid, either in part or in full, in money or in labor. 

PROCESS FOR APPLICATION 

  1. Please complete and submit the form linked below, including uploading supporting documentation. 

  2. Complete interview(s) with the appropriate staff, and if needed, one or more Elders. 

  3. Provide all additional documents and information requested. 

  4. The decision to disburse funds is at the sole discretion of the Finance Committee, along with appropriate staff and Elders, and can be denied for any reason seen fit by the committee. The decision is final.

DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS 

  1. The normal response time for processing requests is five business days from receipt of the form (unless emergency dictates otherwise). Ann Macferran, our Director of First Impressions and Integration, will be in touch with you after a decision is made.

  2. Funds will be paid directly to a vendor or business provider, such as landlords, JEA, etc., rather than to the applicant. Only in the case of exceptional circumstances will monies be given directly to an applicant. 

  3. Assistance may also be provided in the form of gift certificates or vouchers for specific goods or services.

CONFIDENTIALITY

All matters will remain confidential among the designated OCC staff person(s), members of the Finance Committee, and the Elders of Ocean City Church. Personal information may be divulged to specific financial, family, or spiritual counselors.