Community Outreach
Outreach at All Saints primarily has two branches: one represented by the Women’s Guild projects, and the other represented by Vestry-approved projects.
Since 1999, the Vestry has typically committed 5 percent of the annual profit/gains of the Endowment Fund to outreach. Whenever possible, the church has increased the amount of its donations. Among the recipients in recent years have been Mary’s Table (which provides hot meals once a week to needy families), the Friendship Dinner (which is hosted by a different church in the community each year), St. Mary’s-by-the-Sea, the Human Trafficking prevention project of the Millennium Development Goal, and St. Paul’s (Camden).
In addition to our financial commitment to helping others, many of our members devote numerous hours of service to various projects. A particular favorite event each summer has been hosting a group of teens from St. Paul’s in Camden. For many years, St. Paul’s has offered Camp Faith to inner-city children, who are assisted by these teens. To recognize the joyful service that these teens provide, All Saints hosts them for a day at the beach—with free beach passes, a cook-out in the churchyard, and a visit from the ice cream truck. For many of these teens who come from an impoverished area, it is the first time they have ever seen the ocean.
Outreach efforts need the support of parishioners throughout the year. In the autumn, we join with local churches in collecting turkeys and “all the fixin’s” so that needy families can enjoy a special Thanksgiving meal in their own home. The first Sunday in Advent brings the arrival of our “Giving Tree,” which posts specific requests for items that financially strapped parents would like to wrap for their children at Christmas. During Lent, we work with the local food pantry to create Easter baskets full of goodies for the little ones. We also have collected warm coats for St. Paul’s and have raised funds for Nets for Life. We also extend a helping hand across the globe for unique projects.
