First Baptist is "a place for healing, community involvement, and spiritual grounding." Our congregation gathers weekly for worship and serves through community partnerships and initiatives addressing critical needs through our charity mall. First Baptist is a catalyst for community change bringing individuals, faith communities, and non-profits to serve the community.
Since 2007, First Baptist has been evolving its model for ministry, moving into a missional church paradigm: to serve and participate with the community in which the church is located, creating a new kind of faith community, responsive to community needs.
As an American Baptist church, First Baptist commits to become and live out the principles of a "missional church", a congregation whose purpose and energies are given over to the fundamental needs of its local context.
As part of this commitment, First Baptist has given new priority to the use of its church building, located at 601 Main Street in downtown Bennington. The congregation gathers weekly for worship and undertakes its own community ministries while inviting area non-profit organizations to utilize space to offer needed community services in a conveniently located downtown area.
In addition to offering space for short-term use needs* (see below), First Baptist is pleased to share its recently renovated, handicap accessible facilities with a number of charitable organizations: The Vermont Center for Independent Living (Bennington office), Family Time, and the Bennington Free Clinic.
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Citizens with disabilities working together for dignity, independence, and civil rights.
The Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL) works to promote the dignity, independence, and civil rights of Vermonters with disabilities.VCIL is committed to cross-disability services, the promotion of active citizenship, and working with others to create services that support self-determination and full participation in community life. Founded in 1979,VCIL is a statewide, nonprofit organization directed and staffed by individuals with disabilities.
Local staff: Tracy Dorman and Charlie Murphy
Contact information: Mailing (PO Box ___, Bennington, VT 05201)
Hours:
Telephone: 802/447-0574
Email: http://vcil.org/about/staff.php (Click on staff person's name to send email)
Physical Location: First Baptist, first floor, Room #104 (enter Nichols building front entrance and VCIL is the first room on the way down the great hallway).
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FAMILY TIME
Phone: (802) 442-7007
Email: familytime05201@verizon.net
Open seven days a week, by appointment
Fees based upon a sliding scale
Physical location: Rooms 201, 203, 205 (second level, upstairs accessible via stairs or lift)
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BENNINGTON FREE CLINIC
The Bennington Free Clinic is a not-for-profit medical clinic that provides free primary medical care, care coordination, and referral to uninsured adult residents of Bennington County and the surrounding area. The Bennington Free Clinic is administered by the Greater Bennington Interfaith Community Services, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization, also known for its work with the Interfaith Food & Fuel Fund.
The BFC is affiliated with the Vermont Coalition of Clinics for the Uninsured and Volunteers in Medicine, a national association of free clinics. The Bennington Free Clinic provides services by appointment at designated times, presently Thursday evenings (5 to 9 PM). The Bennington Free Clinic does not provide emergency care. No drugs/narcotics are kept on premises at any time. To learn about the services of the organization and eligibility requirements, please call the BFC or see the organization's website listed below.
Staff: Sue Andrews, Executive Director, Dr. Richard Dundas, MD Medical Director
Contact information: Mailing (PO Box ___, Bennington, VT 05201)
Hours: Thursdays, 5 PM to 9 PM (appt. preferred, walkins welcome)
Telephone: 802/447-0574
Email: benningtonfreeclinic@gmail.com (Click on staff person's name to send email)
Website: http://www.benningtonfreeclinic.org
Physical Location: First Baptist, first floor, Room #106 and 108 (enter Nichols building front entrance and VCIL is the first room on the way down the great hallway).