The mission of the Outreach Program at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is to provide funds and volunteer services to organizations that assist the homeless, the very poor and the disadvantaged. Currently, the Outreach Program has three major focuses: Feed My Sheep, The New Life Family Center and Our Little Roses Foreign Mission Society.
Feed My Sheep
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| Feed My Sheep |
Today, "Feed My Sheep" is a continuation of the program that was started in 1986. Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:15 a.m. volunteers gather at the Trinity Cathedral kitchen to assemble breakfast bags that include a banana, an egg, a can of Vienna sausages or pork and beans, 2 cookies, 2 crackers and a spork. Coffee is provided as well for the 120 to 150 people that arrive at the Cathedral door each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Members of various Episcopal parishes provide the eggs, while the Trinity Cathedral congregation funds the remaining items that cost approximately $800 a month.
The New Life Family Center
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| The New Life Family Center |
This Center was created in 1989 to provide housing for homeless families in a setting where they could remain together and not have split up in homeless shelters. The facility can house 30 families at any one time. These families are in transition from being homeless to getting back to a self-supporting position. More than 100 families are housed each year and more than 70% successfully make the transition into permanent housing. In addition to food and housing the Center provides numerous services such as counseling in parenting, employment, HIV/AIDS and nutrition, as well as after-school tutoring, social, recreational and spiritual programs. In addition to providing $400 each month, The Trinity Outreach Program provides donations of clothing, toiletries and household goods to the Center.
Little Roses Foreign Mission Society
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| Little Roses Foreign Mission Society |
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| Little Roses Foreign Mission Society |
Little Roses is a ministry for homeless girls, located in Honduras. There are no governmental social services or funds for Honduran children who become victims of violence, poverty, disease and oppression. Other services include: a health clinic, community for single mothers, bilingual school, Jubilee Center for justice issues, retreat center and a bed and breakfast and hospitality house.
OTHER PROJECTS
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR THE HOMELESS, INC. (HOMELESS ASSISTANCE CENTER):
Each month volunteers spend one Friday evening at the center to assist feeding the homeless.
THANKSGIVING:
Bags of groceries are assembled and donated to needy families. In 2003 those families were members of the Holy Cross Episcopal Church.
CLOTHING AND TOILETRIES DONATIONS:
Parishioners donate clothing and toiletries that are distributed to needy families.
THE CHURCH MICE:
Another part of the Outreach Program is The Church Mice. The mice are parishioners and other individuals that choose to do some special outreach activities on their owne. Some of their activities include providing Christmas stockings and baskets of food to needy families as well as giving books to the Homeless Assistance Center.
FUNDING
The Outreach Program is financially supported by the Parish. Several fund-raising activities occur throughout the year to raise approximately $15,000-$20,000. Those activities include 2 brunches in the Parish Hall after the 8am and 10 am service; two house parties – one given during the Christmas/New Year’s holidays and one in the spring of the year; raffles and theater parties along with individual donations received from parishioners and the public.
Episcopal AIDS Ministry
The Cathedral co-sponsors the activities of the Episcopal AIDS ministry. Healing services are held the every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., followed by a free dinner in the Cathedral Hall.