St. Paul's Episcopal Church

This ministry allows for the children and youth of St. Paul's to engage in the seed to table process and teaches them how to be great volunteers. Projects include: seeding, harvesting, transplanting, weeding, releasing lady bugs, worm bins, composting and more. We work in the garden and harvest the food together, deliver the fresh vegetables to our Crisis Assistance Ministries, and then spend time outdoors together. In the event of poor gardening weather, we meet in the Multipurpose Room in the basement of the Parish House. 

Every Thursday from 11:30am until 1:00pm a group of St. Paul’s volunteers meet in the Parish House for the purpose of meeting with and trying to help persons who need financial assistance with utility bills, rent, medicine and other specific needs. Lunch is served for persons as they wait to be interviewed. An interview team meets with each person to assist in determining whether the applicant is eligible for assistance and whether we have the funds to help them. In many cases we are able to partner with other churches and charities to meet needs beyond our limits of financial support (usually $75 to $100.) Volunteer opportunities include hosting and serving lunch, providing and or preparing lunch, set up and clean up of the Parish House, and serving on the interview team. 

Working in cooperation with community resources such as Job Link, Wilkes Community College, Department of Social Services and many others, the Step Ahead committee assists individuals in achieving educational and vocational goals. Assistance could involve car repairs, tuition, licensing fees, rent deposits, etc. The amount of financial assistance is generally much more than Crisis Assistance can offer and the goals are much more long term. Individuals who are recipients have a contractual relationship with the Step Ahead Committee to monitor progress and provide support. This program was developed with funding by the Human Hurt and Hope Fund of the Diocese of Western North Carolina. 

This committee has traditionally used small grants to fund a variety of ministry efforts in the Wilkes County area: h.o.p.e. Ministries Food Pantry and Christmas Toy Fund, Wilkes Homeless Shelter, Samaritans Kitchen Food Pantry and Back Pack Program. Funds were also allocated to St. Paul’s Crisis Ministry and Dishcloth project. While funding has been an important aspect of this ministry, the promotion of Volunteerism and ‘hands on’ programs are also supported. Probably our best example is the Stop Hunger Now project in which the parish raised funds ($5,916.59) and packaged 20,402 meals for distribution overseas.

Our Family to Family Grocery ministry helps our neighbors who are expriencing food insecurity by distributing nutritionally balanced grocery bags at our weekly Assistance Ministry day (Thursday 11:30am-1:00pm). This ministry relies on the support of volunteers to shop for food items, assemble bags, and help with distribution as well as financial support of our community.