Outreach Commission
St. Andrew’s Cathedral has a long and proud history of outreach in Jackson. The Outreach Commission focuses its resources on 21 ministries throughout the city (list below). In 2007 Outreach made grants and provided assistance totaling $93,000. For the volunteers who gave hundreds of hours touching thousands of lives, being the “Cathedral in the City” really means something. It’s been an exciting year.
When Dean Edward O’Connor began his ministry at the Cathedral, he affirmed his support of Outreach and infused new energy into the program. He sent a letter to the Parish about Outreach and included the updated Positively Outreach brochure which had been generously donated by Duke Cain. We’ve had the strongest response in years.
Families in Crisis: Working with Outreach volunteers and the staff of the Good Samaritan Center, Dean O’Connor improved the delivery of financial assistance to families in crisis as well as providing counseling.
Habitat: Partnering with St. James and St. Philip’s, St. Andrew’s built its 13th house. Since 1986 Habitat Metro Jackson has built over 400 new homes and ranks in the top 1% of Habitat chapters in the country.
Positively Outreach: Outreach Sunday took place November 11 and included commissioning of volunteers at the 8:45 service and distribution of the Positively Outreach brochures.
Site Visits: The Outreach Commission continued to visit the ministries we serve. This year included Good Samaritan Center, Good Samaritan Montessori School & Kitchen, and McClean Fletcher Center.
Alternative Giving: Many thanks to Christine Barron who designed and prepared this year’s Alternative Giving cards. She worked with EFM volunteers to sell the cards during Advent, raising $5,515.
Dean O’Connor is organizing the Outreach Commission with one member responsible for each of the 21 ministries and who agrees to serve a three year term, meet monthly, recruit volunteers for that ministry, and monitor any grant applications from that ministry during the annual grants review.
In 2008 Rev. Carol Stewart will become our outreach coordinator. We’re thankful for her new ministry with us.
Goals for 2008:
· To bring the Outreach budget back to its former level and to add a reserve fund.
· To place an article with a photo in each issue of At the Table.
· To build files of our 21 ministries with contact lists of volunteers, photos, and up-to-date information on their staffs and boards.
· To work with the Cookbook Committee on selling All Things Good.
· To create a video capturing the Outreach story.
- Thorne Butler, Convener
· Angel Tree: Christine Barron
· Breakfast Club and Coffee Club: Jim Powers
· CONTACT, The Crisis Line: Dorothy Triplett.
· Families in Crisis: Jan Brackett
· Good Samaritan Center: Christine Barron
· Good Samaritan Kitchen & Montessori School: Alice Skelton
· Grace House: Debby Egger
· Habitat for Humanity: Thorne Butler
· Harbor House: Flo Stover & Lynn and John King
· Homeless Coalition of Jackson:
· Jackson Free Clinic: Jim Powers
· Kairos Prison Ministry: Pat McNease
· Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi: Eleanor Fontaine
· McClean Fletcher Center: Kathy Woodliff
· Meals on Wheels: Christine Barron
· Mississippi Food Network: Bill Osborne
· North Midtown Community Development Corporation: Bill Osborne.
· Operation Shoestring: Jona Keeton
· Rowan Middle School: Malinda Prather
· Stewpot Community Services: Holmes Adams
Vestry Liaison: Esther Baugh and Jim Power Cathedral Liaison: David Reynolds
