Whether it’s supporting the Washington Interfaith Network(WIN), making cookies and assembling lunches for the unhoused, packing clothing for migrants, or writing letters to the incarcerated, St Mark’s is on the job.
We are St. Mark’s Service and Social Justice
Our mission is to engage boldly in the struggles of life and care for others with love, justice, and compassion.
That mission comes alive in hands-on activities and partnerships. We invite you to join us in caring for others in need in DC and around the world.
Volunteer Opportunities and Events
Caring for Others with Love and Compassion – Fighting for Justice – For over ten years, St. Mark’s has hosted the annual Newtown Vigil for All Survivors of Gun Violence. We have an active group of parishioners working on myriad issues surrounding incarceration justice, and St. Mark’s is an avid partner of the Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) in championing economic, public safety, and environmental justice issues in the city as well as having a Justice for Palestine group and supporting the Bishop Walker School in southeast DC.
For over 50 years, St. Mark’s has supported Everyone Home DC (formerly called Capitol Hill Group Ministry) which provides vital social services to families and single adults in crisis. In addition, we partner with the Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington, helping returning citizens and other adults facing challenges achieve stability and success in education, employment, housing and healthcare.
Feeding the Hungry, Sheltering the Unhoused – We are actively engaged locally with the Salvation Army Grate Patrol and make weekly donations in baskets under the altar for the Lutheran Church of the Reformation’s Emergency Food Pantry. We provide hot lunches for aboutclients who visit Shirley’s Place, Everyone Home DC’s day center, and provide snack bags for those served by Samaritan Ministries.
Preserving and Sustaining the Earth – Our Green Lions initiative provides ongoing education and advocacy addressing climate change, sustainable practices in the church and outside our walls, and local environmental cleanups. In addition, we support efforts in Central America through Sustainable Villages Honduras, which directly assists farmers with sustainable agricultural practices.
Welcoming the Stranger – We are sponsoring Afghan refugee families through the Refugee Resettlement Program and welcoming asylum seekers from the southern US border through our migrant support efforts.
We have also initiated a multifaceted relationship with St. Christopher’s Mission in Navajoland, including education programs and in-person engagement with our indigenous brothers and sisters in Utah.
You are St. Mark’s. Join us. Contact our Service and Social Justice Chair at socialjustice@stmarks.net.