Highlights

Did you know . . .

• JCOC began in 1984 as an outreach ministry of Galilee Episcopal Church, when John Jordan and Dick Powell formed the "Galilee Community Service Committee." At that time folks at Galilee went out into the community and fixed up houses for the elderly and disabled.

 

• In March of 1986 Frank Bragg, Art Mann, and Dick Powell served the first meal of the new Virginia Beach Christian Outreach.  There were five churches serving a meal every Saturday at the Fire Escape. Within one year, there were more than 30 churches participating and serving a meal 3 days a week.

 

• In the summer of 1990, the first meal was served in the newly built and dedicated Frank Bragg Dining Hall at the JCOC.

 

• In 1992 the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater offered to serve dinner on Christmas Day and has been doing so ever since. When in the spring of 1993, Temple Emanuel asked to become a regular in feeding the daily meals to the homeless; we became the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center.

 

• Today more than 100 churches, synagogues, civic groups, Scout troops and individuals participate in serving the meal 365 days a year.

 

• 50 emergency shelter beds are available 365 nights per year for a average of 18,250 shelter stays per year. 

 

• Since the beginning more than a half a million free meals have been served and nearly 10,000 residents have been housed at the center.
• 25,000 volunteers representing more than 100 volunteer organizations have donated their time and talents.

 

• The JCOC is the only organization in Hampton Roads serving single men and women, single parents (both male and female), married couples, and married couples with children.

 

• Any resident who does not have at least a GED must be working toward getting one. Our Education Program provides one-on-one tutoring/mentoring with the help of volunteers from all over Hampton Roads.

 

• Ten years ago we started the Kids’ Club, an after-school program for at-risk first thru fifth grade children. Two days a week, more than 35 children spend one-on-one time with a mentor working on arts and crafts, homework, computer lab and outdoor play.

 

• In 2003, we opened a free JCOC Oceanfront Preschool for at-risk, four-year-olds whose families cannot afford to send them to preschool.

 

• Twelve years ago we opened The JCOC Thrift Store that helps to support the ministries of the JCOC. Every dollar above expenses goes back to the JCOC to support the free comprehensive services.

 

• PLEASE consider donating your time, talents and financial support to this valuable community ministry. CALL 491-2846 or email us at jcoc@jcoc.org.