Outreach

Children playing on a colorful playground fire engine structure.

St. Stephen's—Outreach, Serving One Another

Through gifts of service, financial resources, and prayer, St. Stephen’s parishioners reach out to help those in need–in our community, in our diocese, and across the globe. Our mandate comes from Jesus' words found in Matthew 25:

‘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 25:40

Serving Across Our Community

St. Stephen’s Child Development Center

CASA of Madison County

http://casamadisoncty.org

CASA’s (Care Assurance System for the Aging & Homebound) mission is to provide needed services to aging/homebound individuals that allow them to remain in their homes and age in place. St. Stephen’s participates in CASA’s grocery drive, home weatherizing project, and turkey dinners for Christmas.

North Alabama Coalition for the Homeless (NACH)

http://www.nachcares.org

Each fall, St. Stephen’s participates as part of NACH’s Blanket and Cold Weather Gear Drive, gathering blankets, coats, jackets, gloves, socks, and sleeping bags. And other items that our homeless neighbors will need during winter. Our deacon, Lynn, heads up this effort for NACH and serves on the agency’s Board of Directors.

Loads of Love

Loads of Love: Laundry Project on Facebook

Loads of Love volunteers gather once a month at a local laundromat, providing quarters for washing, as well as detergent and a warm meal for those who struggle financially. St. Stephen’s supports this effort with financial contributions.

First Stop Homeless Day Center

http://www.firststop.org

St. Stephen’s puts together meal packs, which are distributed by trained First Stop volunteers who go out to homeless camps weekly (meal packs contain self-opening containers of meat/fish, fruit, crackers, a dessert, juice or water, as well as a spoon and napkin). Also, parishioners serve on the agency’s Board of Directors and as agency volunteers.

Grateful Life Community Church

http://www.gratefullife.org

Grateful Life is a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregation located on Oakwood Avenue. Its congregation primarily consists of homeless and low-income members of our community. St. Stephen’s donated the chairs used during the church’s worship service, has

made and served meals before Grateful Life’s worship service and has contributed both monetary and supplied donations (everything from paper products to homemade soup) when the church is open as an overnight cold weather shelter.

Huntsville Assistance Program (HAP)

http://www.huntsvilleassistanceprogram.org

HAP is a group of Christian congregations that desire to provide a ministry of assistance and referrals to needy individuals and families in Madison County. This ministry focuses on the non-homeless and strives to achieve its mission by the pooling of volunteers, information, and financial resources of its members. St. Stephen’s contributes financially to HAP.

HEALS

http://www.healsinc.org

By providing on-site medical, dental, and optometry care; mental health counseling; and social services at our participating schools, HEALS, Inc. makes an immediate difference in the lives of many children. Its mission is to keep children healthy and optimize their opportunities for success in school and society. Our parish makes financial donations to support HEALS.

Serving Across the Diocese of Alabama

Sawyerville Day Camp

http://www.sawyervilledaycamp.org

Sawyerville is a free day camp for children and youth ages 6-14 living in Hale County. Campers are offered a safe space to learn, pray, and play. Transportation, meals, and snacks are provided. Daily activities include Bible lessons, games, arts and crafts, and every camper’s favorite—swimming. At the beginning of the session, each camper receives a free water bottle, backpack, bathing suit, pool towel, and a book of their choosing. These items are lovingly donated by Episcopal parishes around the diocese (including St. Stephen's), and they are a beautiful sign of hospitality for the campers.

Foothills Day Camp

http://www.foothillsdaycamp.org

Foothills is a free summer day camp taking place at Camp Lee in Anniston for children ages 6-10, most of whom would not otherwise be able to attend a summer camp. The camp is staffed by high school-aged young people, college students, and adults of all ages from all over the Anniston area and the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. St. Stephen contributes financially to Foothills, and each year parishioners drive to the camp and provide a BBQ dinner with all the trimmings for the staff volunteers.

Two men carrying an injured person on a stretcher through water.

Serving Across the Globe

Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD)

www.episcopalrelief.org

For over 75 years, the Episcopal Church, through ERD, has responded compassionately to the suffering in our world by strengthening local churches and empowering communities to fight poverty, hunger, and disease with sustainable, LOCALLY driven solutions. Over 90% of donor dollars go DIRECTLY to programs in the field! Every spring St. Stephen’s proudly has a special offering dedicated to ERD.