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Introduction

Getting Involved

St. Mark’s Outreach

Download Brochure (PDF)

There are many avenues for involvement in outreach at St. Mark's, whether you have an hour, a day, or an evening to give. You can prepare sandwiches or chop vegetables for the homeless, mentor a youth, work with other parishioners to discuss and confront racism, provide meals or stay overnight during the annual Congregational-Based Shelter Project.

To become involved and make a difference in your community’s life and your own see the links on the right.

The Outreach Board celebrates and gives thanks for the relationships, contributions, and hard work that make our Outreach efforts possible. We challenge you to question and act. Every day ask yourself: "What can I do to reach out?" Then do it!! We are here to help you reach out.

You are invited to contact the Outreach Board members for their personal perspectives and experiences. For more general information or to explore ways to become involved, please talk with co-chairs Grace O’Neill, (ge_oneill@yahoo.com), and David Johnson (njdevilman@gmail.com) or Board members Jack Burton, John Barton, Marco Caceres, Bob Ewald, Amanda Folsom, Beryl Lillaston, Rev. Susan Pinkerton, Jack Richards, and Eileen Blumenthal.

Recent Projects

Kids on an Inner City Outing Here's a sampling of the great outreach work our parish has done.

Thank you all for your time, energy and support!

  • Action for Community Transformation: The Action for Community Transformation (ACT) provides support for a voluntary HIV testing and counseling program for hard-to-reach populations in and around Meru, Kenya.

  • Alternative Gift Fair: The Alternative Gift Fair provides the opportunity to purchase alternative gifts for families and friends during the Advent and Christmas season. Last year, these gifts supported Capitol Hill Group Ministry, Heifer International, and World Neighbors. Another AGF is planned for Winter 2009.

  • Capitol Hill Group Ministry: Capitol Hill Group Ministry (CHGM) is an interfaith, interracial coalition of congregations and concerned individuals united to serve the spiritual and social needs of the Capitol Hill Community, Ward 6, and beyond. CHGM provides emergency assistance and long-term support to low-income households and homeless and at-risk families and individuals. Once again this year, St. Marks will help collect goods for the Thanksgiving food baskets.

  • Church of the Brethren Soup Kitchen: The St. Mark’s Soup Kitchen project functions in support of the nearby Church of the Brethren, by providing monthly casseroles and volunteer vegetable-chopping services, on a year-round basis.

  • Congregational Homeless Shelter Project: The Shelter Project provides overnight accommodations and meals for one or two homeless families during the summer. This summer, St Mark’s hosted two families for two months. The changes that were instituted this summer helped to make the project an overwhelming success and the next goal is to get a shower installed.

  • Episcopal Senior Ministries: ESM provides quality, affordable services to help seniors of all faiths to maintain their independence and dignity.

  • Honduras Committee: The Honduras Committee is an independent committee that plans and sponsors a bi-annual service trip for our youth. The commitee’s fundraiser, Wake Up the Earth, collects funds for physical and financial support of programs in Honduras. WUTE is scheduled for April 10, 2010.

  • Partner Arms II Apartment Project: Partner Arms II provides transitional housing for homeless families needing assistance in getting their lives together. Residents are given a low cost, fully furnished apartment for up to two years. During that time each family member receives support in counseling, therapy and life skills. St Mark’s will furnish an apartment in the Spring 2010, please save any items for donation and if you need them removed from your home before Spring, contact the Outreach Board.

  • RagDolls2Love: Rag Dolls 2 Love is a non-profit organization that, through volunteers, creates and distributes soft cloth dolls to children who are at risk for becoming emotionally damaged due to war, natural disaster, or serious illness. On August, about 25 dolls were cut, sewn, and stuffed for RD2L. On October 4, the dolls were dedicated and will be sent for distribution. The sewing event was a big sucess and another will be planned in the Spring.

  • Salvation Army Grate Patrol: St. Mark’s provides 150 bagged lunches once a month to the Salvation Army Grate Patrol. The assembly work is done by the youth of our parish right after Sunday School, providing an excellent teaching extension and service opportunity for them.

  • St. Mark’s Holiday Project: The Holiday project involves our participation in an area-wide program with other organizations and churches. The project includes an annual food drive, gift-giving, and Christmas music sing-along visits to a Washington D. C. hospital on Christmas Day. This project is currently without a project manager and we are unsure of what will happen this winter—a volunteer is needed!

  • Samaritan Ministry: Samaritan Ministries provides social services to the needy of Washington, DC and Northern Virginia. Specifically, they specialize in helping people get back (or on) their feet with career counseling, Metro tokens or farecards, job interview-appropriate clothing, and other essentials. In addition to the canned goods under the altar, Samaritan Ministry is also supporting the Fannie Mae Walk for the Homeless walkathon.

  • For Love of Children: FLOC focuses on “at risk” 10-14 year-olds in Washington, DC by providing them with intensive tutoring in reading and math as well as environmental experiences at FLOC’s Outdoor Education Center in West Virginia. FLOC also has a structured program, including scholarships, to support older “graduates” who want to attend college or a vocational school. Our middle school youth group has participated in service projects with participants in the LITM Program.

  • Outreach on your Own -- Parishioners took on many, many other outreach efforts, some initiated by St. Mark’s recommendations and others responding to community needs in parishioners’ home neighborhoods. These quiet everyday efforts are a core part of St. Mark’s outreach efforts. Thanks to every one of you that reaches out -- walking in the Homeless walkathon, tutoring at the SEED School, mentoring a young person, coaching a neighborhood team, and investing your time and money in other community efforts. Let us know if you need suggestions for finding a way to help your community!