Communicant—Page 1

March 2012

VOLUME 24  ISSUE 3

Reaching out to our local, regional, and global community is just something that comes naturally to our parish.  During 2011 Vestry commissioned a new Outreach committee to provide leadership and enhance our many outreach programs.  First,  Outreach was charged with bringing all of our wonderful Outreach ministries under one umbrella.  We have begun to review those ministries to see where we can enhance and improve, as well as add additional projects. We want to offer a mix of projects that give us an opportunity to give a combination of our time, talents and treasures.

 

As we began to look at the many projects that we support at St Paul’s, we felt we were missing a project at one of the most important times of the year, Lent.  Lent is a time of reflection on Christ’s passion, the greatest sacrifice ever given.  What better time can you think of to take time out and sacrifice a little of ourselves for those who need it?  This year we are rolling out our new Lenten Project.  Each year we will do different projects during Lent to help our community.   We are offering opportunities for you to give of your time, donate items or donate money.  This year we are focusing our efforts on two local organizations, The Beach House and The Daughter Project.

 

The Beach House is a faith-based organization that assists homeless families get back on their feet.  The house is located at 915 N Erie St.  The Beach House resident program focuses on homeless women and

Outreach During Lent

families.  The residents are 47% children.  Beach House provides residents with food, clothing referrals, personal hygiene items, transportation, a healthy, secure living environment and an opportunity to participate in a wide variety of programs that helps residents regain independence.  They need help with some painting.  Part of our project will be to provide a few people to help them paint a storage area and a bedroom.  We also want to give the Beach House some much need supplies.  These supplies will be posted on the bulletin board and on the website.

 

The Daughter Project is an organization that takes in victims of the sex trafficking industry.  Unfortunately Toledo is a hub of the sex trafficking route along the turnpike.  These women are in bad shape when they are taken in.  The women are housed, fed, given therapy, and taken care of until they can get back on their feet.  It takes about two years.  The Daughter Project has built a home for these women and they have registered at Bed Bath and Beyond and at Kohl’s for things that they need.  They need a variety of things.  They give each girl new things to help introduce them to their new life, so they

are always in need of more items.  If you go to one of the stores, go to their registry and use TDP for both the first and last name.  You will get a list of items needed just like you were buying for a bride.

 

We are offering a variety of means to help because each of us can give in different ways.   For some of us time is better choice to give than money, others can’t give time but would like to offer financial support.  All is still outreach, all these means reach out to people to could really use a helping hand.  We really couldn’t be successful without both.  The details of these projects will be announced at services and at the Lenten Series, as well as posted on the website.  Please watch for more information.

 

The Outreach committee is committed to providing opportunities for St Paul’s to share our blessings with all of God’s people.  I would like us all to reflect on Luke 12:48, “Unto whomsoever much is given, much shall be required.”  As a parish we have been given much, and therefore are required much.  We will continue to enhance the programs we have and introduce new projects that the parish may find interesting and impactful. Our goal is to make the most impact using as many resources that we can scrape together.  With God on our side we are destined for success.

 

With all the love of Christ,   Beth Ruf, Outreach Chairperson