May 2008

St. Michael’s Outreach Committee


The Outreach Committee facilitates the involvement of the parish in ministries that assist the poor, alleviate suffering, overcome injustice and care for all God’s people locally, nationally  and globally.  The committee seeks out and funds worthy ministries and agencies which address these concerns.

Hands-on efforts include the annual Gifts of Grace event on one Sunday in November when approximately twenty agencies are brought together in the Parish Hall providing our parishioners an opportunity to learn more about those agencies and provide funding to the agencies of their choice.  An annual yard sale is held in the spring with the monies received designated for various projects.  Monthly collections for various agency needs are posted in the Sunday bulletins (see the 2008 listing below).

The Outreach Committee promotes the spin-off of groups concentrating in one area such as the Missions Committee and the Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry.

Funding sources include the projects mentioned above, the parish operating budget, Canterbury Shop, various endowments as well as special parish collections as a specific need might arise.

The committee meets the fourth Wednesday of each month in the Wall Conference Room at 6 p.m. with the exception of June, November and December.  We welcome visits from parishioners to see if this committee might be a suitable fit for service of talent and time.
One can choose to serve on the committee at large, or one can find a suitable niche in one or more of our efforts.  Contact Scotty Steele, Chairman at 782-2842 for additional information.  



2008 Outreach Committee Collections

January         “Souper” Bowl Sunday: Food items for Wake Relief
February/March    Easter Baskets for Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry children
April            Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry: Clothing and linens
May            Yard Sale: Remaining items donated to various agencies
June            Inter-Faith Food Shuttle: Backpack Buddies Program
August            School Supplies for Loaves & Fishes and Episcopal Housing Ministry
October        Blessing of the Animals: Proceeds to agencies caring for animals
November        Gifts of Grace:Proceeds to approximately twenty agencies

May 2008

Yard Sale Proceeds To Support Backpack Buddies


The 2008 Outreach Yard Sale, set for Saturday, May 31, will be chaired and coordinated by the ECW.  Each year the yard sale raises around $2,000 for outreach. This year with the ECW's leadership, a portion of the proceeds will go toward their newest endeavor, the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle's Backpack Buddies Program. This program supports children who receive free and reduced lunch through the Wake and Durham County School systems. Each Friday, Backpack Buddies supplies each child with a backpack filled with six shelf-stable meals and two snacks. The kids return the packs on Monday for refilling for the following weekend.

The Backpack Buddies program currently serves 515 of the 50,000 children living in Durham and Wake cou...

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May 2008

The 2008 Outreach Yard Sale, to be held on Saturday, May 31st, will be
chaired and coordinated by the ECW. Each year the yard sale raises an
average of $2000, with all proceeds going to outreach. This year
with the ECW's leadership, a portion of the proceeds will go towards
their newest endeavor, the Interfaith Food Shuttle's Backpack Buddies
Program. This program supports children who receive free and reduced
lunch through the Wake and Durham County School systems. Many of these
children may not eat *at all* over the weekends and holidays during the
school year. Backpack Buddies supplies each child with six shelf-stable
meals and two snacks in a discreet backpack. The backpacks are given to
the children at scho...

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April 2008

Committee voted to fund the following requests:
1.  Operation Bandanas ($1,000 to provide deployed Ft. Bragg soldiers camouflage bandanas imprinted with the Soldier’s Psalm [Psalm 91])
2.  Bishop Daniel of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan ($2,000 to use for refugee efforts at the bishop’s discretion)
3.  Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry ($2,000 to fund six monthly outings from May to October)
4.  Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry ($3,000 for operational support to replace funds used to repair the floor of the St. Martin’s Head Start building)
5. 85 Easter baskets prepared by St. Michael’s parishioners were delivered to the Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry and Father Tony Rojas.
6. Save your household items for the May 31 Yard Sale!