St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
Saturday, May 25, 2013
There's a place for you here.
Local outreach and missionSt. Stephen's invests leadership, volunteer time and financial resources in a number of organizations in the metropolitan Richmond area, providing a broad array of services. Our principal commitment is to the East End of Richmond, particularly its children and elderly, as demonstrated through our involvement in Fairfield Court Elementary School, Peter Paul Development Center and Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School. To learn more about any of the following local outreach efforts, please contact Deb Lawrence.
Summer is a great time to get involved with one of these partners. Deb can help you find an outreach opportunity that works with your schedule, whether you have an hour, a day, a week, or a month to offer. If you are a student looking for community service hours, we have opportunities for you, as well!
A brief story about one of our volunteers:
In the service of children
In the service of families
Ministering to the sick
Examples of opportunities with community partners
Ongoing volunteer opportunities
HANDS Ministry: Hammers and Nails in Devoted Service builds on our experience with the annual Rebuilding Together of Richmond day. Participants complete a few light construction projects throughout the year. In addition to our neighbors in the East End, recipients of these efforts might include some of our own elderly or homebound parishioners who need a few things done in their homes. Please contact Deb Lawrence if you would like to participate.
Community Garden: Last year, parishioner Dan Lette generously provided land on which St. Stephen’s planted a vegetable garden to serve clients of our food pantry. We are grateful to be able to to supplement our shelf-stable foods with fresh produce. Would you like to work in the garden with other St. Stephen’s volunteers? Please contact Deb Lawrence in the parish office.
Libbie Market drop-off to support our food ministry
We are delighted to announce that Libbie Market, located on Libbie Avenue between Grove and Patterson avenues, has agreed to offer a drop-off point for donations to our food pantry. If you are shopping at Libbie Market, you can pick up a few extra items for the food pantry to help meet the growing need for assistance. Of course, you are still welcome to bring food to church on Sundays. New after-school program
Peter Paul Development Center has begun an after-school program at Fairfield Elementary School (both are among our outreach partners) and volunteers are needed! Volunteer opportunities include classroom assistant, homework assistant, mentor, and room “parents.” Special annual events
CARITAS
St. Stephen’s annually hosts a number of homeless people in our parish house, providing hospitality, meals and a warm, dry, safe place to sleep, in partnership with CARITAS, Congregations Around Richmond Involved to Assure Shelter. This ministry usually takes place in the fall. Volunteers help with various tasks, such as preparing dinners and bag lunches (all food provided), spending the night at church (CARITAS staff will be here too), and helping unload and load cots on both Saturday mornings.
Turkey Box drive
Each year, members of St. Stephen’s provide turkeys and food staples to families from our East End partners, allowing them to partake of the kind of festive holiday meal that we take for granted, but which might be out of their reach if not for our assistance. Many parishioners like to decorate a box in which to place the items they purchase for these families, as well. Instructions for participating in this ministry, which takes place in November, are available here. A one-day helpfest Project Homeless Connect is a one-day, one-stop event that connects individuals experiencing homelessness with on-site medical care and a variety of social services. It is held at the Richmond Convention Center in the fall. More than 300 volunteers are needed to staff this event. |
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