Reaching out to those in need is important to Good Shepherd. Parishioners regularly donate to local charities and aid those in need by gifts of food, clothing, toys, etc., as well as giving financial support.

On the first Tuesday of each month from October through March, volunteers prepare dinner for about 50 men at St. Paul's Shelter in Paterson. Other gifts include food donations to St. Paul's Pantry (which provides food for the needy throughout the year); money, infant formula and clothing to North Porch in Paterson (aiding mothers and newborns); money and Christmas gifts for children at the Holley Center in Hackensack; Christmas cards and Campbell's Soup labels to St. Jude's Ranch for Children in Boulder City, Nevada; and cash donations to St. Peter's Haven in Clifton, Children's Love Fund in Midland Park, Independent Farm Workers in Florida, NY, the Valley Hospital Pastoral Care Program, Bergen County Animal Shelter, and Food for the Poor.

Donations to other Episcopal Church organizations are made to the Episcopal Relief Development Fund and to the United Thank Offering. We also collect used postage stamps and discarded eyeglasses for distribution by other organizations. During Lent we solicit daffodil orders for the American Cancer Society. Most recently we provided food for the work crews at the World Trade Center disaster site.

Our budget for the year 2002 includes a contribution of 15% of our annual income to the Diocese of Newark as well as additional dollars targeted for local outreach projects.