The Benevolent Society

Raising the means to make change that matters.

Since our beginnings in 1888 we’ve been supporting local, national, and international charities and missions. 

Throughout the year, TBS hosts a variety of fundraising events that have become a celebrated part of our calendar. Three of The Benevolent Society’s most popular activities include:

The Benevolent Society Luncheons

The Benevolent Society arranges a series of educational and informative lunches that are open to members of our congregation and community, where delicious meals are served and speakers address topics of interest. 

Admission to these luncheons is $5, plus a donation of a canned good to support the Food Pantry. For more information, please send an email to fccol@fccol.org.

Ladies Who Stitch

The Ladies Who Stitch (LWS) is a group of extraordinary local craftspeople and congregation members who, under the direction of Eunice Taylor, sew clothing and other homemade crafts that are either donated to people in need or sold to raise money for the church’s missions. 

During the pandemic, the LWS distributed hundreds of handmade face masks to community members and charities. For more information, please contact Eunice Taylor by sending an email to fccol@fccol.org.

White Elephant Sale 

The Benevolent Society’s annual White Elephant Sale (WES) takes place every July. What started as a simple fundraising tag sale has become an extraordinary event that the entire Old Lyme community plans its summer around, one that raises massive funds for church missions and charities with the help of more than 200 volunteers and items donated by area residents. 

In December, we traditionally hold a much smaller version of the WES called the Elephants-in-Winter Christmas Sale to raise additional year-end giving funds.

More About Our Elephants