We extend the mission of St. Luke’s into the community by supporting numerous organizations with volunteers, donations, and fundraising activities.
Community Ministry at St. Luke’s extends the mission of St. Luke’s into the community by supporting numerous organizations with volunteers, donations, and fundraising activities. The projects listed below are service to the community that St. Luke’s has done for many years.
Lenten Collection
During Lent sample size personal care items are collected for the Samaritan Center of Syracuse. Over 600 items are collected every year.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Each October and November a special food drive is conducted for the St. Charles Food pantry. At the same time we collect hats, gloves, mittens, scarves and socks on our mitten tree. These items are donated the week before Thanksgiving.
Salvation Army Gift Tags
Each year at Christmas time 60 tags are requested from the Salvation Army. Since there are so many programs for children during this season tags are specifically requested for mature adults. Our congregation generously fills all the tags.
Meals on Wheels Client Gift
Each holiday season a small gift is made for the 125 Meals on Wheels clients. Several relatives of clients have reported how welcome these gifts are, and how much it brightens the day, especially for clients that are alone and can’t get out much. A periodic check is made with Meals on Wheels to see if they have an adequate supply of Welcome kits.
Meals on Wheels Welcome Kits
The Meals on Wheels organization is St. Luke’s primary outreach focus. Some St. Luke’s members helped to found the local Meals on Wheels. Several members volunteer at this agency. Welcome kits are made for all new Meals on Wheels clients. The kits consist of full size personal care items and include shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, lotion and a comb.
Summer Food Drive
From mid-June to end of July a summer food drive is conducted. When school lets out items are collected that fulfil the need for lunch for children. All food donations all go to the St. Charles food pantry.
Seeds of Faith Garden
St. Luke’s has a dedicated group of volunteers who take care of the Sedds of Faith vegetable garden. All the produce harvested from the garden is donated to the local Meals on Wheels kitchen. It is the only fresh produce that Meals on Wheels receives.
St. Charles Food Pantry
Food items for the food pantry are collected all year long and delivered weekly. The St. Charles contact reports that St. Luke’s donates more food than any other group including their own congregation.
Camillus Erie Canal Park
St. Luke’s has maintained a longtime Outreach connection to the Camillus Erie Canal Park regarding the maintenance of the Marshall and Ruth Bishop Trail which is a segment of the Erie Canal Way Heritage Corridor stretching from Sims Store to Route 173. The Bishops were active members of the St. Luke’s congregation and at the Camillus Erie Canal Park. The parish also participates and operates the ice cream booth at the annual Towpath Day in early August at the Camillus Erie Canal Park.
Fundraising for Outreach
None of the operating budget for the church goes to the Outreach Mission therefore, each year special fundraising events are held. In July there is the Bake and Treasure Sale. The congregation donates items for the treasure table and make homemade baked goods to sell. It takes about three days to clean, sort and set up the treasure tables. The sale takes place on from 9am to 3pm on a Saturday in July. Outside vendors are invited to set-up outside for free. This provides a presence on the street so people can see that an event is in progress and it helps the vendors.
Ephaphatha Episcopal Parish for Deaf
Pennies and other change to support this ministry. Our efforts are greatly appreciated on this much needed endeavor.
On a National and World Level
The Diocese of Central New York has a companion relationship with the Diocese of El Salvador. St. Luke’s collects needed items for the medical mission trip that visits El Salvador every year. Several parishioners have participated in the mission trip.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
As well as the ministry we undertake on our own, St Luke’s partners with other community groups to promote our vision of a community where every person can thrive
Our Community Partners include:
ECHO Meals On Wheels
St. Charles Food Pantry (Drop off Mon to Thursday, 8A – 12 Noon)
Partners in Parenting – A fully licensed daycare provider
