May 2011

Volume 23 Issue 5

 

                                       Outreach at St. Paul’s

We are creating a new Outreach Committee!  Anyone interested in helping is invited to contact me for a deeper discussion.  The outreach opportunities at St. Paul’s are growing and we need good leaders and volunteers to get involved in this ministry. 

 

There are three specific ministries for the new outreach committee. 

1) We want to expand the food pantry. 

2) We are hosting homeless families this summer.

3) The revenue from the Rummage Sale must be given away. 

 

 

As the recession continues, we believe the poor will continue to struggle to put food on their table.   The Schwier family has asked the vestry to use funds from the Schwier-Lamb Endowment to expand our existing food pantry. We have operated a food pantry of dry goods for many years.   We receive phone calls for help almost everyday.   A dedicated group of volunteers screen the phone calls and then give away a three-day supply of groceries.  However, we only give away canned and dry goods. 

 

We do not stock perishable items like meat and milk.   This is what food stamps are for.  In my experience, people asking for meat vouchers or gift cards have often sold their food stamps for inappropriate purposes.  Also, gift cards can be used for inappropriate purposes.  There is no way to guarantee the recipient of our generosity is actually buying food.  Instead, they may be defrauding the church. 

 

On the other hand, bathroom supplies like toilet paper and toothbrushes cannot be purchased with food stamps.  So, we want to expand our food pantry to include items that are common to a grocery store, but are not eligible for purchase with food stamps.

 

The new outreach committee will address questions like: how do we staff our food pantry?  When are we open?  How do we stock it?  Who are we serving? And what are the criteria?

 

 

 

 

 

Family Promise is a Toledo agency that organizes churches to host homeless families.   We have partnered with First Presbyterian Church, Maumee, to host one week in July and one week in August.  There may be as many as four families sleeping in our Christian Education classrooms.  We will feed them and host them.  They will shower at the Family Promise headquarters downtown.  They will spend their days with Family Promise searching for employment and permanent housing.  

 

Please let me be clear.  This is an established ministry of First Presbyterian Church.  However, their building is currently undergoing major renovations.  They cannot host families this summer as they typically do.  They have asked us to partner with them and provide the building space.  They will provide the leadership.  Together we can provide the volunteers and the food. 

 

This is a great opportunity to engage the homeless ministry in the Toledo area.  The outreach committee will serve as leaders in training.  They will discuss ways we can participate with Family Promise in the future. 

                                                                                    

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