Tuesday. & Thursday
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Outreach Director: Deborah O’Hare, ext. 122
stjohnsparishoutreach@gmail.com
Our parish community is eager to serve those in need in our area. In addition to food from Peggy’s Pantry, outreach extends to emergency requests for help with fuel, electricity, medical bills and more. It can be very upsetting for people to be in the position of asking for help. Emergency situations make it even worse. When we are able to offer the families food, they can use the money they save on purchasing food to help pay some of their bills.
The Wading River Motel, a county shelter for homeless families, is in our area. This is for low to no income, emergency, and temporary housing with a fluctuating number of families staying from week to week and month to month. In addition, these families have limited cooking facilities.
Our clientele also includes various trailer parks and senior communities. We are open to everyone within our Parish boundaries and there is no charge for our services.
An Overview of our Activities and Ministries
School supplies: August
Also called “Adopt a Student”( Back to school program)
During the month of August we help students going back to school. We assist families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade. The financial burdens of the new school year can put great strains on any family budget. This burden is even greater for the families that come to us for help. We also help children, placed by the county, in the homeless shelter at the Wading River Motel. We provide school supplies for these children.
Thanksgiving Drive: November
We help Parish families in need by providing Thanksgiving baskets donated by the parishioners. Along with our in parish families in need, we help families from St. Jude’s parish in Mastic Beach, families from a needy church in Patchogue, and the Eastern Farm Workers families. In total we will help 150 families.
Donations of a complete Thanksgiving meal, part of a meal or funds to help purchase some of the essentials for a meal, and grocery gift cards are always welcome.
Christmas Gift Program: December
During the first two weeks of December you will find our two giving trees in our parish hall with tags on them representing gift requests for children, teens, adults, and seniors that come to us for help. Many times these are the only gift they will receive. You may purchase as many gifts as you feel you can provide. After purchasing your gift, wrap and firmly attach the tag and return them by the due date listed on the tag. Outreach also provides a Christmas dinner basket. We continue to use the recycled Christmas card, thank you for your cards.
Linus Ministry: Third Thursday of the Month
This group meets on the third Thursday of the month from 10 to noon from September through June. The members crochet and knit blankets for those who are ill and/or homebound. The ministry consists of people who range in skill from expert to beginner. You can assist the Linus Ministry with donations of yarn which can be dropped off at the Parish or Outreach Office. To join this ministry, please contact the Outreach Director.
Easter Meal Basket
Outreach provides an Easter meal basket and Easter baskets to Children under the age of 10.
We also provide potted plants to the shut-ins that receive communion at home.