Outreach at St. George's
Helping those in need is at the heart of our understanding of the Gospel as we reach out to the larger community of the city, the nation, and the world.
The Outreach committee creates the main avenues to put this core value into action, and other parish organizations occasionally create service projects.
The committee seeks to operate programs that create meaningful, lasting relationships with the organizations we serve. We continue to measure the success and continuation of the programs by seeing that the programs have broad parish participation, including opportunities for our youth, that the projects serve a meaningful number of people, and that we have an ongoing relationship with the organization served. Outreach is always open to new programs as members come forward anxious to address a need in the community.
St. George’s Episcopal Church Outreach Opportunities
Casa Marianella – Go Do Likewise
At Christmas, we donate funds for a migrant refugee family to move out of shelter and into their first home. Contact: Melissa Eason, melissaaeason@gmail.com
Christopher House Hospice
Each week, we deliver 2 bags of goodies -- toiletries, snacks, a handwritten note with a prayer - for families visiting a loved one. Volunteers buy two $20 bags each week and can choose to deliver or have Alice Nelson deliver the bags. Contact: Alice Nelson, mzlsnlsn@gmail.com
El Buen Samaritano
El Buen is a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas serving the Latino community of Central Texas. Volunteers donate funds and help hand out meals for the Hands of Hope Thanksgiving food drive. We also participate in serving families meals during the December Las Posadas event. Contact: Carolyn Moreau, moreaucarolyn@gmail.com
Field Trip for Guatemalan Children
Each March, we fund and staff an educational 4-day field trip for 5th graders from rural Guatemala, Quezaltenango, Guatemala’s second-largest city. Volunteers donate funds to pay for the costs of the trip for the children, and can help chaperone! Contact: Carolyn Moreau, moreaucarolyn@gmail.com
SAFE (Stop Abuse for Everyone)
In March and in September of each year, volunteers design, sew, and stuff Comfort Bags (filled with toiletries, snacks, a journal, a lavender sachet, and a handwritten note and prayer) for survivors of sexual violence. Contact: Sarah Campbell, cowmarket2@gmail.com
St. George’s Court 3rd Saturdays
We throw monthly birthday parties for residents at St. George’s Court, our ministry of affordable housing for senior adults and people with disabilities. Volunteers provide a light lunch and cake, and play bingo or uno, or do fun crafts or activities with residents. Contact: Andrea Sparks, andreagalsparks@gmail.com
St. George’s Court Food Ministry
Once a month, we provide fresh food for residents with a critical need (homebound, returning from the hospital, etc). Contact: Jenny Summers, summers.jennifer@icloud.com
At Christmas, we also provide $20 HEB gift cards for every resident. Contact: Melissa Eason, melissaaeason@gmail.com
We Are Blood
We Are Blood brings a mobile unit to St. George’s on a Sunday after church in November. Volunteers donate blood. Contact: Mary Coppinger, mecoppinger@gmail.com
If you are interested in learning more about a project or in becoming active in Outreach, contact Andrea Sparks at andreagalsparks@gmail.com.
Donations
St. George's always accepts donations to support our Outreach work. To give online, click the DONATE button to go to St. George's online giving page and scroll down. You can select a specific project or use the Undesignated Outreach tile. Follow the prompts to complete your gift. Payment may be made via credit card or automatic withdrawal from your bank account.
If you would prefer to give by cash or check, you may do that as well – please make sure that your check notes in the memo line if it is for a specific project, or that cash is in an appropriately labeled envelope. Gifts may be placed in the offertory basket on Sunday mornings, or mailed to the church office at 4301 North IH-35, Austin, TX 78722.