Whether you're looking for a long-term project or to help out for a few hours, St. Andrew's has many opportunities for you to join us in service to our community and the world. All ages are invited and encouraged to participate in our outreach projects. Community Outreach Center St. Andrew’s houses a multi-use outreach center in the space formerly occupied by our day school. The center currently houses these organizations: Tidewater Community Writing Center (in cooperation with CNU) The Carrington Institute (tutoring) Families in Transition (after-school enrichment) Homeschool Co-op Sprouting Roots (speech and language therapy)
SEEKING HELP? First Call for Help: 757-594-4636. First Call for Help can link you with the closest food pantry and can also provide information about shelters. First Call for Help provides information and referral, not direct aid. LINK: 757-595-1953, 10413 Warwick Blvd., Newport News. LINK provides emergency services to men, women and children who find themselves in a housing crisis or other emergency situation and also connects with community resources to provide fast and affordable housing solutions to homeless individuals and families. THRIVE Peninsula: 757-877-6211, 13195 Warwick Blvd., Newport News. THRIVE Peninsula provides emergency food, financial aid for housing and utilities, household budget mentorship, transportation aid, and housing/job/medical info and referrals. Assistance is by appointment.
Sponsor a child from our Sedgefield Elementary Angel Tree St Andrew’s is providing gifts (clothing, toys, books, snacks) for up to 30 children at our partner school, Sedgefield Elementary. A Christmas tree with paper angels is in the Main Street lobby. This year we divided each child’s wish list into two separate “angels” so that more parishioners may participate. Each angel has a number on one side and the list of wishes on the other side. Numbers are being used instead of names, and each angel has either a “B” or “G” on it indicating Boy or Girl. As an example: 1-1 happens to be for a boy and lists his shirt, pants, and coast sizes; 1-2 lists his book, snack and gifts preferences. You do not have to buy everything on a child’s list. It is recommended that you request return gift receipts for each gift. Place them with the gifts when you wrap them. The gifts should be placed around the angel tree no later than Thursday, December 12. Please put the angel number (i.e. 1-1) on each item you wrap separately and return the “angel tag” also. Should you need them, there are holiday bags of all sizes in a bag next to the tree for your Sedgefield gifts. It would be helpful if you have multiple wrapped items to return them in one bag. Contact Bill Wilds (757-880-5460) if you have questions. Thank you so much for bringing joy to a child this Christmas! Gift bags for the Downtown Christmas Party Once again we are preparing 300 Christmas gift bags for the Downtown Christmas Party for the homeless hosted by St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. The bags have been decorated by Debi Nicolai and will be filled with food and toiletries. The generous donation of some items and funding is helping to offset the cost of this project. The St. Andrew's Outreach Fund will cover the remaining cost. However, if you would like to contribute to this project, we would be very grateful! Checks can be made out to St. Andrew’s with “Downtown Christmas” on the memo line. The gift bags will be assembled on Monday, Dec. 9, at 10 AM in the parish hall. If you would like to be a part of the "production line", please come and join us! It's always a fun time! Volunteers needed for PORT dinner and breakfast Dec. 11 & 12 St. Andrew's will be partnering with Sts. Helen and Constantine Greek Orthodox Church on Wednesday evening, December 11, through Thursday morning, December 12, for our first PORT commitment this season. PORT is a program that provides meals and overnight accommodations at host churches for the homeless in our community. Our volunteers will be feeding and hosting the overnight guests at the site location (60 Traverse Rd., Newport News). Our evening volunteers will greet the guests, help store their personal bags and hand out bedding. The St. Andrew’s cook team will prepare a hot dinner and “breakfast in a bag” items for the overnight guests. Morning volunteers will assist in handing out bagged breakfasts, returning personal belongings and taking in bedding. We are planning for at least 100 guests. If you would like to join us on any of these teams, a sign-up sheet is available in the Main Street Lobby or you can sign up online here. Thank you for considering to help! Tori's Closet in need of children's clothes Tori's Closet, the clothing closet at Four Oaks day shelter, is in need of children's clothes. The closet provides free clothing to families and individuals in need. Donations can be dropped at the Four Oak entrance daily 7 AM to 5 PM.
One way St. Andrew's serves our community is through the administration of grants from the Carolyn Lackey Trust Click here to learn more about the annual Lackey Trust and the grant-making process.
Parishioners may nominate organizations for funding via an application found here . The applications may be completed by someone from the organization, or a parishioner may complete it on behalf of an organization with which they are involved. Applications should be returned to the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 45 Main Street, ATTN: Diana Skelton, Newport News, VA 23601. The deadline each year for applications is the last Friday in November.
Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc.
St. Andrew’s is active in the Kairos Prison Ministry which takes place in various state prisons twice a year. The goal of the program is to create a self-sustaining Christian community within the prison. Team members receive 35 hours of training prior to entering a prison. You can support Kairos by baking cookies (Each team member takes 100 dozen), praying for the teams, or supporting a weekend financially. Upcoming opportunities with Kairos will be posted on the NEWS page of the website. For more information contact Matt Deller.
PORT
Over a 20 week period during the winter months, homeless individuals can find warmth and safety thanks to an ecumenical and community effort. Doors are opened and home-cooked meals are served. Anyone over the age of 16 can assist with the onsite shelter program. For more info, contact the church office.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry create shawls that will bring hope and peace to people at critical moments in their lives. Prayers of healing, comfort, love and support are shared or offered as the shawls are knitted or crocheted. All are welcome to participate by knitting or crocheting shawls or by providing yarn. To learn more or get involved, contact the Rev. Carol Chamberlain.
Gift Bags for the Downtown Christmas Party
This annual mid-December event results in the assembly of over 300 gift bags which are distributed at a Christmas party for the homeless in Newport News. Work begins in the fall with donations of snacks and toiletries. On the day of the assembly parishioners, friends, and community members come together in the Parish Hall, divide the tasks, and go to work filling the bags. For more info, contact Bill Wilds.
