St Stephen’s Service Outreach projects allow parishioners to serve our larger community in one of 3 ways:
- Monetary Appeal: Bring attention to a local agency and take an offering to support their work.
- Hands-on work project: Participants sign up to work together for a charity. This type of activity is more difficult than usual right now, due to Covid-related limits on indoor gatherings.
- In-kind Goods Collection: Parishioners purchase items and St Stephen’s delivers them for distribution.
Backpack Project Continues through July 17!
This summer, we are continuing our tradition of providing supplies to local students through our trusted partners at Monument Crisis Center, which for many years has provided backpacks and supplies for at-risk students throughout Contra Costa County. The need for backpacks is great, both for elementary school kids and for high schoolers, especially teenage boys. (Teen boys sometimes become disenchanted or distracted from school, and our encouragement and support can be important to them. If you have older students in your family, you may know this already!)
We invite you to participate in the drive by purchasing a new backpack and age-appropriate school supplies. If you prefer, MCC will accept your $60 donation and will purchase and fill a backpack for you. You may donate to St Stephens, noting “Backpack Project.”
“Shopping lists” and more information are available from the Parish Hall Outreach bulletin board; please take a list!
Service Outreach Projects at-a-glance: 2022
Warm Welcome to Afghani Families: (Monetary and in-kind collection) During Epiphany, St. Stephens Outreach Committee collected essentials for Afghani families arriving in Contra Costa County. We collected new warm coats and blankets, gift cards, and money to support refugee resettlement through the Noor Center in Concord.
Four-Agency Lenten Appeal: (Monetary appeal) During March and April, information was provided weekly about the following agencies: Trinity Center, Walnut Creek; Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties; Shelter, Inc; and Loaves and Fishes. These agencies all serve people in Contra Costa, Solano and Sacramento Counties. Donations were raised to support the donor’s choice of one agency, or to be divided equally among the 4 agencies.
Ukraine Relief Appeal: (Monetary appeal) Also during Lent, parishioners donated to support Episcopal Relief and Development’s work for humanitarian relief in Ukraine.
Mothers’ Day is Babies Day: (In-kind collection) During April parishioners prepared small bags of toiletries and baby supplies, and purchased disposable diapers for distribution through Monument Crisis Center.
Backpack Project: (Monetary and In-Kind appeal) During May and June, we collected filled backpacks and donations toward backpack purchases. These back-to-school supplies are distributed each fall to K-12 students in client families by Monument Crisis Center.
Orinda Books Drive: (Monetary and In-Kind Appeal) During August, St Stephen’s will partner with Orinda Books to purchase new books, fiction and non-fiction kids’ favorites, for distribution to preschool through grade 12 students by Monument Crisis Center.
St Francis Pets’ Project: (Monetary and In-Kind Appeal) During September we’ll request donations of pet food and pet care items to be distributed through the AniMeals program at the Contra Costa Humane Society.
Thanksgiving Trimmings Bags: (Monetary and In-Kind Appeal) This is our annual appeal for non-perishable foods to provide a traditional holiday meal. Distribution is done through Monument Crisis Center.
Christmas Food Box: (Monetary and In-Kind Appeal) More than just one meal, this list of nonperishable groceries and a grocery gift card can provide a family several meals during Christmastime. Boxes are distributed by Monument Crisis Center.
January 2023, Winter Nights Shelter: (Hands-on) Our annual support for the families at this shelter will take place January 16-23 at St John Vianney.