St. Michael’s Episcopal Outreach Ministry
We welcome all parishioners who wish to be part of our committee!
Convener: Brian Morgan, email morgan.bg@gmail.com
The Outreach Committee of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church initiates and supports efforts through which we, committee and parishioners alike, can manifest our Christian beliefs by helping those in need, locally (Windham County), nationally, and internationally, through charitable organizations. This work involves not only our ‘treasure,’ but also our ‘time’ and ‘talents.’ Distribution of our resources is limited to meeting needs for heat, shelter, health, and food insufficiency.
One of our guiding messages is the prayer of our beloved Rev. Joel Hill:
‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food? We saw you thirsty and gave you something to drink? We saw you a stranger and welcomed you? We saw you sick and took care of you? We saw you in prison and visited you? “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”’
Matthew 25:37-40.
Some of the projects we support include:
International
Foyer Evangelique, a part of the Haiti Orphanage Sponsorship Trust, through which we ensure that children have access to food and necessary clothing to attend schools and training programs.- Kaiguchu Village Schools in Kenya, where we worked with Guilford Community Church to bring donated clothing and funds to continue efforts for water purification and assisted in purchasing cows to help with food independence.
- Carry Me Home, a New England-based non-profit that has assisted with asylum seekers from Syria by providing clothing and other necessities. We have co-sponsored fund-raising suppers to defray the costs of international shipping of donated items.
National
- St. Thomas Clinic in New Orleans, in conjunction with parishioners who work there, where we have supported medical relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Episcopal Relief and Development to facilitate support of the people of Puerto Rico in their rebuilding after the devastation by Hurricane Maria.
Local
Parks Place Diaper Bank, for which we host semi-annual diaper drives and have assisted in supporting families with their needs.- Groundworks Collaborative, which is an organization that provides ongoing support to families and individuals facing a full continuum of housing and food insecurities in the greater Brattleboro area, via overnight shelters, the Foodworks food shelf, case management, mental health services, and advocacy. We hold an annual service day when we assemble “Bags of Basics” that contain essential personal care items.
- The Putney Food Shelf, where we have facilitated the delivery of food donations from Aldi Supermarkets and supported financially to assist the Putney community.
- The Southern Vermont AIDS Project, which provides health support for people with AIDS
- The Brattleboro Walk-In Clinic to provide support for the acquisition of medical supplies.
- The Brattleboro Heat Fund that helps people in the community with winter heat needs.
- Community Asylum Seekers Project (CASP) to support immigrants who need housing, food, and other re-settlement efforts.
- The Windham Southeast Supervisory Union’s summer food program to support children’s food needs.
- Loaves and Fishes to support their community food programs.
- Brattleboro Women’s Freedom Center, which assists women and children who need shelter from domestic violence.
- Kurn Hattin Homes for Children to provide support for their programs.
Our funding comes from the generous support of the St. Michael’s Episcopal Church family, Tag Sale proceeds (which are donated in their entirety to the Brattleboro community), the Brattleboro Strolling of the Heifers, and our annual Shrove Tuesday pancake supper.