Opportunities for Christian Service

Family, Friends and Chicken Soup
A ministry comprised of many volunteers who provide practical, non-medical assistance to those who are alone, recuperating or frail. Members help when they can and do not need to commit to a regular schedule. Members drive people to the grocery, doctor’s appointments or therapy, run errands, provide a meal, visit a shut in, provide respite for a caregiver and other practical services. All members are registered, fingerprinted parishioners, but we are willing to assist non-parishioners as well as parishioners. Please call Pegge Stickel (407-629-9699) or the church office (407-647-3392) for more information or to volunteer.

Food Pantry
Parishioners bring food to church on Sundays; needed items are listed in the bulletin. Volunteers are needed for stocking, sorting and transporting food as well as office work at the pantry located at 620 Virginia Avenue in Winter Park. Call the office for details.

Habitat for Humanity

Contact: Robbin Bigelow:  407-644-9287 or robbin1960@aol.com

Interfaith Hospitality Network IHN homepage
The Interfaith Hospitality Network is a unique program to assist homeless families with children by providing them with a safe environment. This safe environment is found in a network of local churches that house the families for a week at a time. We are currently one of nine churches participating in the Orlando area. We need volunteers to cook meals, bring supplies, set-up and take-down the living areas, and most importantly act as a host to our families. To be a host you must attend a training class and have your fingerprints taken. Watch the bulletin for upcoming training.

Don’t miss out on this wonderful experience! Contact Robin Pasternak at rpasternak@cfl.rr.com or call at 407-699-8277 to find out more

Ministry with the Homeless
The First Wednesday Ministry prepares and serves meals at the Men’s Pavilion at the Coalition for the Homeless in downtown Orlando on the first Wednesday of each month. Meet in the parish hall kitchen to cook and then carpool to the shelter to serve. Contact: Mary Ann Gilbert 407-628-1324

The Fifth Tuesday Ministry prepares dinner and serves at the Women and Children’s Shelter at the Coalition for the Homeless in downtown Orlando on the fifth Tuesday of the month (four times a year). Meet at the Coalition to cook and serve at the shelter. Contact Pia Flanagan, 407-539-1560.

The Fresh Start Ministry brings dinner prepared at home to the Men’s Fresh Start Shelter at the Christian Service Center in downtown Orlando on the 22nd of each month. Contact Maddie Becker, 407-644-9988.

Saturday Center

Sewing Ministry
The Sewing Ministry is made up of a group of gifted and generous parishioners who donate their time and talents to help benefit the parish and the community at large. We have many very experienced sewers in our midst, but experience is certainly not a pre-requisite to participating. In fact, the sewing ministry is a great opportunity for those who have always been interested in sewing but have never had the chance to try. Regardless of the skill level, all of our sewers have one thing in common—an interest in helping those less fortunate.

Although the sewing ministry is relatively new, we have some completed some significant projects. A detail of our past projects follows.

In the fall of 2001 and 2002, our group sewed a total of over 200 polar fleece coats, 60 hats and 60 scarves for young children for distribution through the local Health Care Center for the Homeless. These coats are very simple to make (pre-cut material and directions are included in every kit) and each coat looks different since the pattern allows for the sewer to add her/his own unique accents. They looked great and we got a very thankful response from the Health Care Center.

In the spring of 2002 we sewed blankets and quilts for distribution through the Easter store sponsored by the parish. The blankets and quilts were received by expectant mothers or mothers with children less than one year of age. In total we donated over 30 quilts and over 40 blankets.

In the spring of 2003 we sewed very simple “quillows” also for distribution through the Health Care Center for the Homeless. These very easy quilts that can be folded into its own pillowcase were very warmly received.

Our goals for future projects are simple backpacks for distribution through the Children’s Home Society to benefit children who are entering the foster care system. Our hope is that these backpacks may provide the means for a child to keep his or her personal things together, and hopefully a small sense of security as well.

Since this is still a relatively new ministry within the parish we are hoping that the future will bring more and different opportunities to serve others. The ministry is open to everyone and we encourage you to consider putting your talents to work, no matter what your experience level may be.

Should you like additional information, please call Mary Ann Gilbert in the Social Justice office at 407-647-3392

Shepherd's Hope (website)
St. Margaret Mary and Blessed Trinity Catholic Churches have joined to make a difference in the lives of the over 250,000 uninsured individuals in the Orlando area. Together we are sponsoring Colonial Shepherd’s Hope Health Clinic located at the Family Service Center at Colonial High School with an opening date of September 23, 2003. Shepherd’s Hope is a faith-based organization that provides free medical care to low income, uninsured men, women and children using an all volunteer health care staff. We need volunteer doctors, advanced practice nurses, physician’s assistants, nurses, general office workers and interpreters. To find out more call Stacey Roberts, SMM coordinator, at 407-644-7573 or Cathy Rudolph, Parish Nurse. Please pray for this endeavor.

Stores
Annual effort with All Saints Episcopal Church at Thanksgiving and Christmastime where parishioners make reasonably priced food, clothing and toys available to local and Headstart families who are struggling to make ends meet. Parishioners donate food and toys. Organizations and individuals help to finance additional costs of food and clothing. Call the office for details.

Shopping Guide – 2002