| Purpose:
Our mission is to assist
those both inside and outside our church who are unable to provide the
essentials of housing, food and clothing for themselves. As we do
so, we endeavor through example and personal interactions to provide optimism
for those who are also “poor in spirit.”
Activities and Programs:
Our mission is carried out
through many different ongoing and annual programs, including:
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A volunteer-operated, 5-day-a-week
food pantry on church premises.
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Participation in “Meals on Wheels”
program which delivers hot meals to shut-ins.
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Participation in Habitat for
Humanity, including both local projects and several trips to Mississippi
for Hurricane Katrina housing restoration.
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Participation in Faith Works
Coalition (FWC). FWC IS a Virginia Beach ministry that recruits volunteers
and solicits funds to provide home repairs for low income and elderly
folks to insure their homes are safe and comfortable.
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Bimonthly preparation and serving
of hot, nutritious meals for the hungry at Judeo-Christian Outreach Center.
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Hosting of Red Cross Blood Drive
on-site 4 times a year.
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Participation in Winter Shelter,
hosting 50-65 homeless for a one week period in December, providing hot
dinners, a warm and safe place to sleep, hot breakfasts, bag lunches, warm
clothing and toiletry articles, foot care, prayer and fellowship.
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Christmas gifts for those less
fortunate, supplied by individual donors who fulfill approximately 250
specific “Angel Tag” wishes.
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Delivery of approximately 60
Christmas poinsettias, with a personal visit and caroling, to Bayside Health
Care residents.
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Provision, as needed, of supplies,
socks, toiletry items, and/or sandwiches to the homeless at St. Columba
Ministry.
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Collection, organization, and
delivery of Easter baskets to less fortunate children at St. Columba.
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Coat collection for adults and
children in need. (Oct.-Jan.)
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Collection and delivery of school
supplies for children in need in our local schools. (August)
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Thanksgiving baskets for approximately
100 families, each containing a full turkey dinner and canned food donations
collected by our church-chartered Cub Scout Pack and Boy Scout Troop.
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Collection of baby items on
Christmas Eve for the Crisis Pregnancy Center.
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Collection, preparation and
distribution of weekly Panera Bread donations to those in need.
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Participation in twice-monthly
Bible studies at the Sentara Community Care Center for older adults.
Additionally, we provide financial
contributions to the following agencies:
The Dwelling Place
Samaritan House
St. Columba Ministry
Judeo-Christian Outreach
Center
Volunteers of America
(Lighthouse Ministry)
Zuni Training Center
Faith Works Coalition
Good News Jail and
Prison Ministry
Current Projects:
In addition to the above,
our ministry joins in, as needed, with other coordinated efforts in the
community to provide needed services. Most recently, some in our
ministry assisted a neighboring Presbyterian Church in their “Stop Hunger
Now” meal packaging program to benefit Haiti. In 2009, we assisted
a neighboring Methodist Church in the packaging and distribution of 40,000
pounds of sweet potatoes to those in need.
How Can I Get Involved?
Contact any member of our
ministry to become involved in our programs or even to just volunteer for
an individual program that is meaningful to you. We welcome working
hands, warm hearts, and any new ideas that you may have!
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