telephone: 301-884-3773: Community Service and Outreach
All Faith Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 24, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622
38885 New Market Turner Rd. (Rt. 6)
Mechanicsville,
MD 20659
email: allfaithchurch@verizon.net
Outreach News
Our outreach focus this month is on The Hungry Team.
The Hungry Team has been in existence for 18 years. It all began at Mount Zion and started out as a food pantry. The members were few and the mission quite simple – to serve the needy in our community. Since then the Hungry Team has expanded into 7 churches: All Faith Episcopal, Immaculate Conception, Living Word Community Center, Assembly of God, St. Anne’s Anglican, St. John’s United Episcopal and Mount Zion UMC.
The mission has expanded to not only include food but clothing, furniture and other critical needs of the less fortunate. The Hungry Team also works with other similar organizations in the area such as the Project H.O.P.E., social services and the men’s and women’s shelters in the tri-county area. The Hungry Team also sponsors the SHARE Program for the Mechanicsville area.
They operate through cash donations, non-perishable food donations, household goods and clothing donations, etc. Mount Zion has an annual yard sale in September and an annual auction in the fall to help raise funds for the ministry.
Currently we are feeding approximately 30 families a week. We are always in need of people who can help bag food, and children accompanied by an adult are welcome to help out. Mount Zion always tries to include a balanced diet of foods in the grocery bags which usually consist of cereal, protein items, canned fruit and canned vegetables. Other things such as hygiene items and detergents are also welcome.
During the summer months we usually give out more food as children are not receiving free or reduced priced meals at school. In the summer, we do not get in as much food as we do during other times of the year because people are out of town, etc. this time of the year. Items like peanut butter, jelly or jam, easy to prepare boxed food items, cereal, etc. are needed. Cash donations are also welcome because, from time to time, Mount Zion has to purchase stock to replenish the food pantry.
All Faith would like to thank everyone who contributes to The Hungry Team. Your time, talents and help are not unnoticed.
The American Bible Society has a bible drive currently under way to supply bibles to our service men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan. The cost is $4 per bible. Checks can be made out to All Faith Church with “American Bible Society” in the subject line. We feel that this is a wonderful “middle of the year” outreach to our service men and women.
The following are quotes taken from soldiers serving in the Middle East: "There is no God in Iraq," says an American soldier. "I've been here two times and I haven't seen him yet." Or that's the way it feels.
Members of the military face death every day. What they experience impacts their lives forever. Our sons and daughters who serve need hope as they face very real enemies. They need answers as they grapple with gut-wrenching issues associated with combat.
You can help the American Bible Society deliver answers from God's Word to our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the globe. Many have never held a Bible in their own hands before. And it only costs $4 to help reach a troop member with God's Word.
Please help provide the Good News to a lonely American hero!
St Paul’s Sandwich Program Thanks to those that have signed up to and/or have served. Without the generous support from our parishioners our ministries to the community would not be possible.
Our community involvement: Hungry Team: St Paul's Soup Kitchen : Christmas Sponsor: Good News Jail and Prison Ministries: Christmas in April: Angels Watch and Three Oaks Shelter
Hungry Team: St Paul's Soup Kitchen: Christmas Sponsor
These are wonderful programs provided by our parishioners. The Hungry Team collects donations of canned and non-perishable foods to go the the food pantry at Mt Zion United Methodist Church on a monthly basis. This service helps those in the community that may not otherwise be able to feed their families. The need is so great in our county, so keep on giving those jars, cans and boxes of non-perishable items!!! Let's reach out to those who need it most.
The Sandwich Program is 40 prepared lunches to the soup kitchen at St. Paul's Methodist Church in Leonardtown. The soup kitchen operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and is open to anyone who walks in the door. The bagged lunches supplement the soup meals, or may be taken home. Each lunch consists of a sandwich, fruit or vegetable, snack or dessert. While it doesn't seem like much, each effort adds up, and helps feed those who need it most. Thank you for all your donations !!!! We would like to thank those that have participated in this ministry. The 2009 sign up list has been posted on the bulletin board at the church entrance. For more information please contact Marge at the church office.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD: This was our first year participating in this particular ministry. We collected 48 shoe boxes filled with toys, school supplies, basic hygience items, etc. Thanks to those that helped make this outreach project a success! These gifts will go to children in dire circumstances in different countries around the world. In some cases it is the child's first Christmas present ever. For more information contact Marge in our office. Another source of information is http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Pack_A_Shoe_Box/ where you can find more information about packing the shoe box and appropriate and inappropriate gift items. Samaritans Purse collect gift filled shoe boxes year round. We are happy to share our blessing with others, and feel blessed to touch anyone who receives.
Christmas in April:
Yearly we contribute to these worthy community service projects. Please see http://www.christmasinaprilsmc.org/ for further information on this charitable organisation.
Angels Watch and Three Oaks Shelter: The cash offering on the first and third Sunday of the month goes to Angels Watch Womens Shelter and Three Oaks Center. Please see www.threeoakscenter.org/nothelpless.htmland www.catholiccharitiesdc.org/find/services/index.php?id=151 for more information on these organisations and their community involvement.
