Serving Others in Maryland
Bea Gaddy Turkey Prep Day
Bea Gaddy’s Thanksgiving meal service in Patterson Park is legendary throughout the Baltimore area. To help facilitate this amazing event, much preparation is needed. For the last two years, volunteers from St. John’s have participated in the preparation of the turkeys. Hundreds of prepared turkeys are delivered to the preparation site and volunteers are charged with the task of unloading, washing, and slicing turkeys on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Volunteer Groups from all over the Baltimore region work together to complete this task. www.bea-gaddy-family-center.org
Casserole Ministry
Through the generosity of St. John’s parishioners, thousands of hungry people have been fed. Every month, disposable pans and recipes can be found at each Welcome Center. The recipes change each month and a due date for the donation to be returned to the church is indicated on the recipe. Click here for recipes. We have delivered casseroles to The Elkridge Love Mission, St. Luke's Carey Street, The Helping Up Mission, Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, The Route 1 Homeless Ministry, and Our Daily Bread.
Clean Sweep Rummage Sale
Treasure hunters from far and wide descend upon St. John’s for the highly anticipated Clean Sweep Rummage Sale, which funds outreach efforts. Unsold items are distributed to local nonprofits for redistribution. The Baltimore Free Store, Springfield Hospital Center, and Second Chance Thrift Store receive items vital to continue their ministries. To learn more about each of these organizations, click on the following links: www.freestorebaltimore.org, www.dhmh.state.md.us/springfield/, www.teenchallengeofmaryland.com.
Holiday Baskets
Each year, St. John’s parishioners provide holiday comfort to the families of Collington Square in Baltimore through Episcopal Community Services of Maryland and the group homes of The Arc of Howard County. By providing baskets and bins with food, personal care items, and small gifts for Christmas and Easter, the holiday basket ministry not only helps to temporarily relieve the burden of poverty but also illustrates the tradition of the St. John’s community reaching beyond its borders to care for our neighbors. www.archoward.com
Hope Tote Campaign
Each January, St. John’s helps The Helping Up Mission kick off their annual Hope Tote Campaign. The annual Hope Tote Campaign provides an opportunity for caring families, churches, schools and organizations to give tangible help to men struggling to overcome homelessness, chemical dependency and poverty in the Baltimore area. Hope Totes are small plastic bags filled with inexpensive items like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, underwear and socks. A bar of soap or a stick of deodorant can be all it takes to restore a sense of personal dignity and encourage men to take the next step in recovery. http://community.helpingupmission.org
Route 1 Homeless Ministry with Grassroots Day Resource Center
A homeless survey conducted by the Local Board on Homelessness in September 2007 revealed at least 30 and possibly as many as 50 homeless persons living along the Rt 1 corridor without shelter. In December, advocates from the Board organized a pilot Homeless Outreach Project to determine the numbers, locations and needs of this population.
With enthusiastic support from churches, local government and foundations, the Grassroots Day Resource Center was opened in July 2008 to better serve this population. The Center provides showers, laundry, clothing, internet access, phone, mailing address, basic living supplies, conversation and referrals to social services. The Center is operated under the auspices of Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, staffed by volunteers and guided by a project coordinator.
For more information about this ministry or for volunteer or donation information, please visit www.daycenter.org.
Service Over Self
On March 19, 2010, approximately 200 St. John's parishioners answered the call to service by participating in the 1st annual Service Over Self day. Volunteers worked on a variety of Outreach projects in Howard County and Baltimore City. Service Over Self is an opportunity for people interested in working in an Outreach setting.
Serving Others Beyond Our Region
International Humanitarian/Medical Mission
Responding to needs abroad, missioners travel to provide comfort, aide, medical and spiritual support.
Kenya Connect
Working in partnership with a Maryland nonprofit, Kenya Connect, St. John’s parish and Parish Day School have brought clean water to the village of Wamunyu and renovated the Mbaikini Primary School. We continue this friendship and expand to other Kenyan communities.
LEAVEN: Supporting the Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals Committee, also known as Leaven, focuses on International Outreach activities which foster the achievement of the United Nations’s Millennum Development Goals (MDGs), The group’s activities include study, education, prayer, advocacy, fund raising, as well as project initiation, expansion and support. The goals are:
• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Achieve universal primary education
• Promote gender equality and empower women
• Reduce child mortality
• Improve maternal health
• Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
• Ensure environmental sustainability
• Develop a global partnership for development
