Outreach
The people of St. Andrew's are convinced that God's desire is for all people to experience the promise and possibility of an abundant, vibrant, and hope-filled life, and that we have the responsibility to help make this desire become a reality for members of our community. It is how we are called to be in the world as Christians, and we do this in a number of ways through financial and volunteer support of many ministries. Read on to learn about some of our outreach ministries, including Shelter Lunches, Laundry Ministry, Blessings Fence, and St. Andrew's School.
Shelter Lunches
The Shelter Lunches ministry has core crew of loyal volunteers who come out on the second Saturday of each month to pack and deliver lunches to our neighbors in shelters near the church. Typically, 10-12 volunteers come out to help, and we've recently had Sunday visitors come out to help the following Saturday. The kind donations of food and monetary support from so many St. Andreans keeps our shelves fully stocked. We remain flexible and focused on both the needs of our neighbors and the resources of the church. We deliver to Good Samaritan Ministries, Liberation Veterans Shelter, and Home Again Women’s and Children’s Shelter. We continue to include homemade baked goods in our lunches, in order to add a warm and personal touch, and we label each lunch bag with a St. Andrew’s sticker that includes a verse of Scripture, so that our neighbors know that they are in our prayers. We are among a few churches in the region that commit to this ministry every month. St. Andrew’s parishioners shepherd the entire process, from shopping to assembly and delivery of completed lunches, interacting in person with the neighbors we serve at each shelter. The devotion, love, and generosity of the people of St. Andrew’s strengthen and sustain this ministry, so that we are able to gather as a church community every month and feed God’s people. If you'd like to help with lunches, please email the parish office. Contributions of any amount are welcome and needed: just go to tinyurl.com/GiveToStA (choose Shelter Lunches in the dropdown menu) or write a check to St. Andrew's with "Shelter Lunches" in the memo section.
laundry ministry
Laundry Ministry provided 205 loads of laundry for our unhoused clients in 2025! The ministry works in partnership with Pine Street Baptist, and meets on alternate Wednesdays at a local laundromat. We are a small crew and are still looking for volunteers. Recently, area youth volunteered for a day -- it was wonderful to see the young people interact with our clients and seeing/learning first-hand how outreach works. .
blessings fence
What started out as a one-time project for the season of Epiphany has now become a continuous ministry, to which our neighbors in Oregon Hill also contribute. During the winter months, parishioners are encouraged to bring and hang hats, scarves, jackets, and other warm articles of clothing on the iron fence in front of the church. Folks passing by are invited to take what they need. In the summer months, you'll find small bags of fresh produce, cards, small bags of gum or snacks, and other little items to help those in need - and sometimes we don't even know who the folks are who are bringing these things!
st. andrew's school
St. Andrew’s School is a K-5 tuition-free school serving nearly children who live within 200% of the federal poverty line. Our clergyperson serves as the school chaplain and offers weekly chapel services for the students as well as pastoral care for students, faculty, and families. School concerts, weekly chapel, and graduation are among the services held in the church. A St. Andrew's parishioner serves on the School Board, serves on the Community Engagement committee, and serves as a Reading Buddy! If you would like to get involved with St. Andrew’s School, please reach out to the parish office.