Outreach Focus for August

Crayons, coloring books, and quart size bags for Children's Hospital.

Ongoing Ministries

Food Pantry: Boxes of food are prepared for a family of four for one week.  The boxes are distributed from the church office. Last year our parish gave out 51 boxes.

Heifer International:  We "feed the pig" (collect funds for Heifer in a piggy bank at the back of the church) year round. We also feature Heifer during one or more months during the year as our monthly focus. As of the end of 2009, we had contributed two cows, one hive of honey bees, two goats, two trios of ducks, guinea pigs, geese and rabbits, 13 trios of chicks, and two bunches of trees.

One Church-One School: Partnership with W. T. Hanes Elementary School.  As a result of our participation in the Dallas Justice Revival and the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas initiative, our parish has established a partnership with Hanes Elementary School.  The school, which will enroll 700+ students in the fall, is located in North Irving, at 2730 Cheyenne Road, just a couple of miles west of the church.  Our partnership will kick off this summer with a drive to collect socks and underwear for children, ages 5-7.  In the fall, we'll enlist, screen, and train volunteers for mentoring programs, reading programs, and pen pals.  Please contact Fr. Steve for additional information.

Monthly Ministries

One or more of these ministries are featured each month on a rotating basis.

Austin Street Center: Collection of winter clothing and toiletries for the homeless in Dallas.

Souper Bowl of Caring: Funds are collected on Super Bowl Sunday and donated to Irving Cares.

Habitat for Humanity: Funds are collected for building the house each year, and a team is sent to assist with construction on the house one Saturday in October.

Blood Drive: Carter Blood Bank sets up a mobile unit so that parishioners can make blood donations once or twice during each year.

North Texas Food Bank: We send a team of volunteers to work one Saturday morning per year, boxing and sorting donated food. Our donated time also earns food credit for Irving Cares.

Redeemer Montessori school: Fnancial support for our Montessori school during their annual fund drive.

Bishop's Summer Camp: Books are collected for the camp held at the Cathedral Church of St. Matthew, and we send volunteers to listen to children read.

Irving Cares: Donated box fans are collected for Irving residents during the summer months, and food is collected, to be distributed by Irving Cares during the winter holiday season.

Schools: School supplies are collected for needy students at Austin Middle School prior to each school year.

Children's Hospital Ministry: We collect crayons and coloring books for children waiting for testing and treatment at the hospital.

Blue Christmas: Donations of new toys that are distributed by the Irving Police and Fire Departments to needy families at Christmas.

Project Hope: Funds collected for the building of orphanages that are run by SAMS missionaries, in Arequipa, Peru.

Our Friends' Place: Various items and funds collected for this organization that serves abandoned and abused teen girls.

Christmas catalog – We encouraged parishioners to contribute to a variety of organizations in honor of family and friends, collecting $2,782 in 2009.