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community outreach

Susan Doherty, Chairman

The Community Outreach Board is interested in extending Christian compassion and helpfulness to people of all ages in need of aid.  We strive to enlist in these efforts as many of the individual members and organizations of thie congregation as possible to respond to those in need.  This committee studies social conditions, primarily in the local community, but also nationally and internationally, and keeps the congregation apprised of their findings.  Contact Susan Doherty for information.

Donations

Community Outreach has begun a new program to support the Ronald McDonald House in Richmond, the closest to us.  Many Ronald McDonald Houses work with local recycling centers to receive money for collecting tabs from aluminum cans - including those from soda cans, vegetable and soup cans, and pet food cans.  There are large round plastic containers intended for offices that consume a LOT of soda.  If your office fits this description, please pick one up.  We ask every congregation family to please begin collecting soda, vegetable, soup and pet food pop tops.  There is a plastic box for weekly donations of this kind in the narthex and the program will run indefinitely.

York County Church Women United Food Pantry

The second Sunday of the month is York County Food Pantry Sunday.  Members of the congregation bring food items to be delivered to the York County Food Pantry.  See the collection table in the narthex for the current program.

Lunches Provided for the Hungry

St. Paul Episcopal Church - Newport News, VA  (Quarterly)

The next opportunity for the St. Mark congregation to support those in need will be in Newport News, hosted by Saint Paul's Church on Saturday, May 6, 2006.  Participants will prepare 180 bag lunches and a hot lunch for fifty people to be served at 12:00 p.m.  Be at St. Paul's at 9:30 a.m.; plan to depart by 1:00 p.m.  Financial donations are also welcome to buy three big bags of salad, fifty bananas and one large bag of ice.  Please mark donation envelopes "St. Paul's Lunch."

Friends of the Homeless Shelter - Newport News, VA  (Monthly - third Saturday)

Friends of the Homeless opened it's doors on September 1, 1989. This 50-bed emergency shelter offers refuge to the many homeless people looking for means of reestablishing a meaningful life within their communities. The organization helps individuals who are experiencing difficulties in their lives; helps them get back on their feet, and provides the opportunity for them to find work and places to live - helps them become productive individuals within their communities. There are programs within the organization to work with the children of homeless families ensuring they get appropriate immunizations, proper diets, and education. There are guidelines in place that must be adhered to for shelter guests to remain in the shelter.

St. Mark Lutheran Church members became involved in 1998 when Julia Stegner suggested that we as Christians reach out to help others in our community. Within a short time frame, Ms. Stegner transferred on military orders, and Pat Valvo and Louann Zaremba continued the St. Mark mission. Today, nearly eight years later, this mission remains an ongoing project of the St. Mark Community Outreach Committee with responsibility shared by many members of St. Mark. For more information on how you can help, visit the Friends of the Homeless website at http://www.fothva.org/ or contact one of the St. Mark Community Outreach Committee members.

Christmastime Traditions Operation Christmas Child  November Fill shoe boxes with small gifts for children in over ninety third world countries through Samaritan's Purse. Hat, Scarf, Mitten Tree November - December Decorate Christmas tree with children's items for York/Poquoson and Newport News Social Services. Coat Drive November - December Collect new and gently-used children's and adult's coats for the needy and homeless of Hampton Roads.

International

Heifer International

(January)

Collect monetary donations to provide gifts of livestock and training in more than 125 countries.

Lutheran World Relief

(As needed)

Collect monetary donations in times of disasters; i.e., earthquake, tsunami.

Souper Bowl of Caring

(February)

Collect monetary donations for ELCA World Hunger Appeal on Souper Bowl Sunday.

Ecuadorian Children's Mission

Thanks to the congregation:

• 27 children are starting Elementary school.
• 12 children are starting High school this fall.
• 11 students are considering Higher Education
• There are funds for medical emergencies.
• There are funds for emergencies that come up in the Refugio such as buying gas to cook for the children.

This community of boys and girls has accomplished so much and are very appreciative of any donation you might offer. There is a drop box in the hallway off the narthex.  The needed items are: New or gently-used shoes, socks, underwear, tops and pants or a monetary donation (checks payable to Ecuadorian Children’s Mission). Please speak to Susette or Rob Goff if you have questions.

   

  

2006 Mended Heart Pillow Workshop 

Share a heart...to make a heart...for a mended heart.  (February) On two Saturdays in February, volunteers will meet at the church to share in making heart-shaped pillows to be donated to Riverside Regional Medical Center's Open Heart CSICU.  Come in and help mend, sew, cut, stuff, and hand stitch 50 pillows to support open-heart surgery patients (dates to be announced.).  Check the kiosk in the narthex or call the church office for more details or to sign up.

World Hunger Appeal

(February)

Collect monetary donations for ELCA World Hunger Appeal on Super Bowl Sunday

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Previous Projects

Sunday Church School Outreach

Donate to the S.P.C.A. The Sunday School children accept donations to go to the S.P.C.A. Items suggested: dry cat food; kitty litter; towels; sheets and blankets; bleach; cat/dog flea treatment; nuts and corn; hay; grooming supplies; instant hand sanitizer; shoe boxes for cat beds; veggies or fruits for zoo animals; fresh or frozen raw chicken, chicken let quarters and beef roasts for wild cats. The donation box is available in the hallway off the narthex. See the sign on the kiosk in the narthex for more details, or call the church office.  Dates are to be determined.

New Playground for St. Mark Pre-School and Family Focus Children

Members of the church, the Youtherans, the pre-school, and the Coast Guard worked together in June 2005 to assemble the new playground equipment donated by the pre-school.  Here some of theworkers test driving the equipment.

Family Violence Services

TRANSITIONS   A pathway to safety...a source of hope.

Transitions Family Violence Services has sheltered more than 14,000 victims of abuse since 1980.  Clients receive all services at no charge.  The agency assists adult and child victims through shelte, counceling and support.  Self-sufficiency and life skills education programs will assist in gaining the confidence and skills needed to break the pattern of violence and begin a new, violence-free life. For more information, see the Community Outreach display in the narthex, go to their web site http://www.transitionsfvs.org/ or call the Hotline: 757-723-7774

We can provide a helping hand by collecting the following items to donate to TRANSITIONS :

Diapers	Twin Sheets
Toiletries	Household Items
Toothpaste	Cleaning Materials
Hair Brushes	School Supplies
Bar Soap	Art Supplies (water color paints)
Towels	Water Color Markers

Support for Our Wounded Troops in Iraq

This is our opportunity to show support and God's love for soldiers wounded in Iraq.  Wounded soldiers being transported from the field to military hospitals beyond the borders of Iraq are in need of articles such as gym shorts (S,M,L), cotton long pajama bottoms (S,M,L), and travel-size hand lotion.  Let's help make this trip as comfortable as pssible for our soldiers.  A collection box is set up in the hallway off the narthex.

 

- And Also -

USO "Read with the Troops" - new and used books

USO Adopt-a-Serviceperson for Thanksgiving

Cell Phone Drive for domestic abuse victims

Orphan Helpers - sewing and cosmetology items for El Salvadorian orphanage

School Supplies for local and Ecuadorian children

Menchville House - personal, household & cleaning supplies

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Habitat for Humanity - local and in Malaysia

World-wide Health Kits