Outreach

$350 turns into $4,900! See whole story at bottom of this page.

St. Thomas Church is blessed to have a congregation with great fellowship and willingness to use their talents and gifts to serve God and others. The following includes some of these efforts.

St. Thomas serves as a host parish for the Interfaith Hospitality Network, a national program that aides homeless families in need of housing. Our church provides overnight lodging and meals for 3 to 5 families for 5 weeks a year. Volunteers will serve breakfast, dinner, help children with homework, and provide conversation and fellowship.

While still in planning and fundraising stages, we supported The Network Art Auction and provided baskets and food donations to be used at a silent (Chinese) auction.

In addition, our volunteers participate in a number of programs and ministries. They provide and distribute food at Samaritan House, Glassboro's food pantry, serving neighbors in need with food and good used clothing. Also successful outreach includes contributions to the Episcopal Relief and Development aid to Tsunami victims, funding for rebuilding a home for earthquake victims in El Salvador.

Contributions of sweaters, hat, vests, raingear and National Geographic Magazines are sent to the Seamen's Institute at Newark in support of their efforts with seafarers from all countries.

St. Thomas rummage sales provide good used clothing and household items to the community for a small fee. The remaining items are contributed to the Trenton mission.

Our church school enthusiastically participates by providing food baskets and gifts to needy families at Christmas and Thanksgiving. Household supplies are donated to the Domestic Violence Shelter. Each fall, several St. Thomas parishioners participate in the Crop Walk, which funds local food pantries as well as national and worldwide programs.

The women of Delta Sigma Group send cards and cookie treats to each resident of Friend's Home for the elderly as well as phone cards and "packages from home" to several servicemen in Iraq and overseas.

We welcome the Living Sober group as they meet each Thursday evening and we're most excited as we finalize plans for a handicap access ramp for our church building!

Finally, we feel most privileged to serve in a ministry of worship, fellowship, and outreach.

$350 turns into $4,900! That’s right! Over the spring St. Thomas members contributed $350 to our Fun in the Sun Wear clothing campaign. Fun in the Sun Wear was the brainchild of Linda Vazquez. After the successful winter campaign of Under Comforts for Kidz Linda realized that the need for clothing, especially in the summertime was great for needy children here in Gloucester County, the United States and in the tropical regions of the world. So she launched Fun in the Sun Wear. Over the 50 days of Easter St. Thomas members, their friends and neighbors collected over 10 bags of new clothing as well as $350 in cash donations. The bags of clothing, contained shorts, tops, tee shirts, swimwear, flip flops in sizes for children from toddler to teens, were taken to Volunteers of America Delaware Valley located in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in West Deptford. Director Tinisha Triplett was overjoyed to receive the clothing. Volunteers of America has a food pantry and clothing “store” open to Gloucester County residents who need assistance. They also run a homeless prevention program and a rent and utility assistance program. The $350 dollars was sent to World Vision. World Vision has partnered with clothing manufacturers and is able to purchase $14 worth of clothing for each $1 donated. That means that our $350 contribution was used to purchase $4,900 worth of clothing for needy children here in the United States and abroad. Thank you Linda for having a heart for poor and needy children everywhere! Thank you for your vision in developing outreach ministry programs that engage St. Thomas parishioners, our neighbors, friends and co-workers. Thank you St. Thomas congregation for responding generously to the heartfelt needs of children everywhere. Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. Matthew 25:37-40