About our Program
The Outreach Program at Church of Our Saviour is directed to reach out into the immediate and larger community fulfilling our church’s mission to be “in service to others, in Christ’s name.”
The committee of approximately ten parishioners meets bi-monthly as the Outreach Committee. All members of the congregation and guests are welcome and invited to the meetings.
Recent Outreach Meeting Minutes
The Outreach Committee’s efforts are supported financially through the Church of Our Saviour operating budget and through fundraisers throughout the year.
Our outreach efforts have been structured around the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s), which were adopted as a framework for Christian action by the Episcopal Church in 2006.
As part of our mission in educating our community about charitable organizations, we refer to charitable watchdog organizations such as:
- American Institute of Philanthropy
- Guidestar
- Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance
- Charity Navigator
Our Recent Work
Micro-loans
We are continuing to fund ongoing micro-loans for four women entrepeneurs in developing countries through Kiva.org. Kiva was recently featured in an interview with Bill Clinton by Keith Olbermann at MSNBC.
Carpenter’s Kids
Focusing on MDG #6, to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, our parish has made a 5-year commitment to a sister parish in Tanzania. Through individual $50/year pledges from our members, we support 50 AIDS orphans as they receive their primary education. This work is under the sponsorship of the Episcopal Diocese of New York in partnership with the Diocese of Central Tanganyika through the organization Carpenter’s Kids.
More about Carpenter’s Kids:
Our link in Tanzania is the Ibihwa Parish, which is located 35 kilometers from Dodoma. Agriculture and small businesses are the main sources of income. The main crops include cassava, white and brown millet and maize. Cash crops include groundnuts (peanuts), sunflower seeds and simsim (sesame seeds). The road conditions are mostly good and public transportation is available. Tap water is available although it is poorly distributed. There is one primary school and one secondary school in town. There is no health center although there is one nearby. Healthcare until the age of 5 is free with a contribution made by the family for older children/adults. Healthcare, despite government subsidies, is often prohibitively expensive.
AIDS is responsible for the deaths of many parents and guardians in the village, resulting in many orphans. The most vulnerable of these children were chosen last September for the Carpenter’s Kids program. The children were fitted for uniforms and shoes and photographed. Uniforms and school supplies were distributed last October 2008. Breakfast by the Mama Lishes (the women who cook the children breakfast) began Oct. 27, 2008.
A review of the Ibihwa students we help sponsor was occurs every 6 & 12 months. School supplies and uniforms will be distributed every year. Two Communication Coordinators have been appointed in Ibihwa Parish, who will learn how to use the online bulletin board to be in touch with Church of Our Saviour. We look forward to getting to know our link parish in this way.
The Environment
Our Care of Creation Ministry now has its own ministry page!
Combating Hunger
On a Tuesday morning once a month, we cook for and staff a hot lunch for the hungry in conjunction with Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Mill Valley. Upcoming dates where we help with the lunch are December 20th, January 18th, and February 15th. Contact Jane Brophy for more details.
In September, we brought many loaves of homemade bread to offer as a symbol of so many who go hungry around the world. Following the service, our parishioners wrote letters to local and national government officials to support extending tax benefits for low-income families. This day was sponsored by Bread for the World.
Involving our Youth
Our youth are also involved in our Outreach Program. Our youth group, EPIC, joins with other members of our community in helping serve lunch with the Southern Marin Homeless Coaltion at Mt. Carmel Catholic Church. Members of EPIC helped with Rebuilding Together on April 26th, 2009, to rehabilitate a private residence in Nicasio.
Recently, we have started to join the volunteer base supporting the Hannah Freedom School in Marin City, an enrichment initiative that cultivates literacy and community action amongst Marin City children and youth.
St. Anne’s Circle
St. Anne’s Circle is the creative extension of our Outreach Committee. St. Anne’s gathers once a month on Sunday mornings after 10:00 am services to work on sewing projects and other crafts, including:
- quilts and stuffed animals for babies and children
- items, crafts, and cards for fundraisers to support our Outreach activities
We all prepare projects to sell at a Christmas Bazaar in December. Proceeds from the bazaar go to those in need in the wider community through the parish Discretionary Fund.
Over the next two months, St. Anne’s will be working on a Church World Service project to create school bags for children in need around the world. St. Anne’s will sew the bags and parish families will help fill them with school supplies at our annual Outreach luncheon in September.
More Information
For more information about our Outreach Program, contact Jane Brophy.
