FAITH IN ACTION COMMISSION
The Mission of the Faith in Action Commission is to identify opportunities for the St. John’s Congregation to serve the community by using the resources of its building and the gifts of talents of its members. Faith in Action also recruits members to participate in outreach activities, reviews organizational requests for assistance, allocates a modest annual budge, and works together with the Homelessness Commission.
We meet quarterly at 7:00 p.m in the Fireside Room. Our meetings last about 1 1/2 hours. At our meetings, we review current projects and our “to-do” lists, develop new ideas for commission involvement, and plan commission events and promotional activities. We would love to have new members, and need all interests and skills. For further information, contact Jennifer Kinkead. Volunteer opportunities are publicized in the Evangelist and weekly bulletin.
Faith in Action volunteer opportunities include:
- Home Place Dinner (ongoing)
- Project Kathleen
- Foodshelf Donations
- Homelessness Commission/Project Home Family Shelter (February)
- Habitat for Humanity (Summer or Fall)
- Adopt-a-Family (Christmas)
- The Big Net/Job Seekers Support Group
- Clinic in Kayoro Village, Uganda
- Partner Parish – Holy Apostles
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
MONTHLY FOOD COLLECTION
Suggested donations include canned tuna, mayo, juice, canned vegetables and fruit, rice, noodles, pasta sauce, cereal, peanut butter, diapers, toothpaste, shampoo, laundry detegent, etc. Other nonperishable food, pet food and supplies, and personal care items are always welcome, as are monetary donations.
Bring non-perishable items to the barrels in the Narthex or the box in the Fireside Hallway anytime. Collection is the second Sunday each month. Monetary donations are welcome: make the check out to St. John’s and note “Food Collection” in the memo. Donations will be delivered to the Neighborhood House and Keystone Community Services.
PROJECT HOME – Overview
In 2007, Project Home, with the help of dozens of area churches, synagogues and schools, housed 452 families, including 836 children.
Project Home Family Shelters
Project Home provides overnight emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness after the main Ramsey County shelter in Maplewood is at capacity (55 beds for families). Two different area churches, synagogues or schools host Project Home each month. Each host site has 20 beds for families. The majority of our shelter guests are children. Project Home is a hospitality-oriented shelter and is primarily run by volunteers. Most hosting congregations do not have enough volunteers to cover the needs of the shelter for an entire month. Thus, partner congregations or schools gather needed volunteers to help at the host sites.
Each night two shifts of volunteers are needed: evening and overnight hosts.
Evening Shelter Hosts volunteer from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Main responsibilities include: greeting shelter guests, serving a healthy evening snack, playing and reading with teens and children, conversing with guests, and orientating the Overnight Shelter Hosts.
Overnight Shelter Hosts volunteer from 8:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. (weekdays) or 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 a.m. (weekends). Main responsibilities include playing and reading with teens and children, conversing with guests, securing the facility before bedtime, waking guests up, serving a light breakfast, and securing facility after guests have left for the day.
In addition, each host or partner congregation or school needs a Volunteer Coordinator for the week(s) they are in charge of gathering volunteers. The Volunteer Coordinator acts as a liaison between Project Home and the host or partner congregation or school, working together to schedule volunteer trainings and signing up volunteers.
To learn more about how your congregation could help as a shelter Host or Partner, please contact Sara Liegl at sliegl@spacc.org or 651.646.8805, extension 18.
Project Home is a program of the Saint Paul Area Council of Churches
Connecting Congregations for Service and Justice for 100 years
Saint Paul Area Council of Churches Project Home Info.
THE FAMILY PLACE DINNER
If you are willing to be part of this hands-on outreach–cooking, serving, eating with the families, or clean-up , please sign up at the Usher’s desk or talk to Sue Cadwell or Gabrielle Lawrence. The location of Family Place is at First Baptist Church, 244 10th St. East, at Wacouta in St. Paul.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Watch for notices of the time assigned for Saint John’s to help
PROJECT KATHLEEN
Project Kathleen supports families with children that show the potential and desire to establish secure homes in our community. We partner with Episcopal Community Services in their Supportive Housing Program. ECS provides social services and we provide a mentor, persona, and financial support to families while they are in transition. [More information]
ADOPT A FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS
Coordinated with Episcopal Community Services
THE BIG NET
Where Job Seekers Connect