Moving Forward in Faith
Jesus said, “As you have done unto the least of these, so you have done unto Me.” Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
Through this loving service, those serving and those served are both transformed. The following are ministries in which we partake through the year and invite you to make donations. If you have any questions about this ministry, please contact Ministry Leader Jennie Brock @ [email protected] with questions.
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Backpack Ministry
: This ministry is held annually in July. Part of the back-to-school excitement for children comes from picking out new crayons, folders, and backpacks; however, many families in our community are unable to provide these supplies for their children. As back-to-school shopping begins, will you please pick up a few extra school supplies for this ministry.
This year, the Outreach Ministry is working with Valparaiso schools social workers who will distribute supplies to each school based on need. The supplies will be distributed to the elementary schools, and possibly the middle schools and high school. There will be a “bus” near the Children’s Wing where you can drop off your donations. We are collecting supplies through August 13th. A heartfelt thank you to all who assist with this ministry, and for all who make donations.
List of supplies needed: #2 pencils, pens, highlighters, 24ct crayons, 24ct colored pencils, 10ct colored markers, tempera paint, spiral notebooks WIDE RULED, notebook paper WIDE RULED, 2-pocket folders, pink erasers, Elmer’s glue sticks, children’s scissors, 3-ring binders, reusable water bottles, backpacks, facial tissue, headphones/earbuds.
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The Caring Place:Two Men And A Truck – Items needed: dryer sheets, dish soap, laundry detergent
shampoo/conditioner, infant/children’s Tylenol, disinfecting spray/wipes, toilet paper, feminine products, paper towel, twin-sized comforters/sheets, NEW bras and underwear, Sharpie markers, Play-Doh, collapsible hampers, city of Valpo bus tokens, gift cards from Walmart, dollar stores, Stracks, Uber, Meijer, and gas stations. Please bring donations to the church and place them in the labeled bin in the Gathering Space. Thank you for ‘serving God by serving others.’Christian Food Pantry
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St. Andrew’s parishioners have a heart for serving the poor. We are part of a 40+-year long ministry with 7 local churches, wherein parishioners weekly donate non-perishable food items to the Christian Food Pantry of Valparaiso on Sundays, or Monday thru Thursday outside the church, or whenever the church is open.
Ongoing Donation Requests: Along with non-perishable food items, we ask for items that cannot be purchased with food stamps: diapers, baby wipes, toilet paper, kleenex, paper towels, dish soap, detergent, band-aids, toothpaste, shampoo, chapstick, tylenol or ibuprofen (in sealed containers), etc., along with brown paper bags and egg cartons. Any and all donations are appreciated, and may be placed in “Karl the Kart” in the church’s entryway. Monetary donations: Christian Food Pantry, c/o First Christian Church, 1507 Glendale Valparaiso IN 46383.
Easter Dinner Basket Requests: canned fruit, canned corn, canned cream corn, Jiffy corn muffin mix, Jell-O (all kinds), Hamburger Helper, cooking oil, ketchup and mustard, peanut butter and jelly, boxed potatoes (mashed, scallop, julienne, etc.), cake frosting, toilet paper, kleenex, paper towels
Summer Kids’ Kit Donations: Chicken noodle & tomato soup, canned pasta, mac & cheese, pork ‘n beans, cereal, fruit cups, applesauce, pudding cups, juice boxes, toilet paper, small snacks (cookies, chips, etc), toothpaste & toothbrushes
Thank you all very much for your continued support.
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Dressed for School: 
Dressed for School, INC is a local nonprofit organization providing a no cost clothes shopping experience in a store-like environment for Porter County elementary age children in need or in crisis. We are collecting NEW items only: socks, underwear, sport bras (up to kids XXL), boys and girls athletic shoes sizes 10-7.Episcopal Migration Ministries:
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The deteriorating situation in Afghanistan is a humanitarian crisis that has left upwards of 550,000Afghans internally displaced in the country since the beginning of the year, in addition to many more internally displaced at the end of 2020. Episcopal Migration Ministries, the refugee resettlement and migration ministry of The Episcopal Church, is currently working in partnership with the U.S. government to assist our Afghan allies with resettlement and direct services through a network of 12 affiliates across the U.S. To support their efforts, please donate to episcopalalliesmigrationministries.org.
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Episcopal Relief & Development
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Help Ukraine: Helping families fleeing violence has been at the heart of ER&D’s mission from the very beginning. In fact, we were established by The Episcopal Church to assist people fleeing Europe during World War II. As we pray for an end to violence and for those fleeing Ukraine, please also pray for Episcopal Relief & Development and other ecumenical agencies working to respond to the current crisis. Please join us in providing any relief and comfort we can — make an urgent donation to our Ukraine Crisis Response today at International Disaster Response Fund. Your support will help meet critical needs for people fleeing the violence including food, cash, blankets and hygiene supplies. Thank you in advance for your compassion, and for praying for those affected by this conflict.Episcopal Relief & Development is in constant communication with impacted dioceses working to reach vulnerable populations devastated by storms. Donate today to support these efforts, and please continue to keep all those affected in your prayers. https://support.episcopalrelief.org/hurricane-relief
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The God Pod at Porter County Jail
: The Jail Ministry is intentional to bring this group of inmates to God with bible studies and discussions, and is back up and running at the Porter County Jail after Covid quarantine although with fewer inmates and staff in the God Pod to comply with social distancing. Two of our parishioners, Tom Muchesko and Mance Parks, serve as instructors.
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Help Our Companion Diocese: Honduras: 1) VU’s Social Action Leadership Team has selected the Humanity & Hope United Foundation, based in Warsaw IN, for the 2022 World Relief Campaign to assist three villages in Honduras. An effort to raise $25,000 to turn two shipping containers into fully-functioning health clinics staffed by trained healthcare professionals, for these villages is underway. To make a donation, go to Facebook.com/ValpoSALT and click the “Learn More” button;
Donations from our diocese and others are helping to provide food and other assistance for these families. $100 will feed four families for a week and a half. Please send donations to Honduras Development Network, at the following address: Honduras Development Network, P.O. Box 450865, Sunrise FL 33345
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Warm Clothing Drive: We collect coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and boots in both children and
adult sizes. Please share the gift of warmth with our friends at the Hilltop Neighborhood House . Your gifts of new warm coats, socks and new or gently-used winter boots, etc. will be a blessing to the children and adults in the neighborhood. “and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” Ephesians 6:15
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Housing Opportunities
.: Valparaiso and Porter Co. have not been immune from the economic and pandemic crisis affecting our nation, further compounding the problem of homelessness and home insecurity. One of the issues that impacts racism in our nation is affordable housing. Housing Opportunities is a Valparaiso nonprofit whose mission is to provide affordable housing to the most vulnerable members of our community. Throughout the season of Lent, we are asking you for financial donations to support this important ministry. Checks may be made to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church with the words “Housing Opportunities” in the memo line, and sent to church. Thank you for your support of this vital service to our community. To learn more about Housing Opportunities, click these links:
HO Fact Sheet _______ HO Impact Report
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New Creation Men’s Shelter Dinners
: Different ministry teams and/or individuals at St. Andrew’s host a monthly dinner from October through April for local homeless men of New Creation Men’s Shelter at The First Presbyterian Church, on the corner of Valparaiso St. and Bullseye Lake Rd. Volunteers offer to make a dish to share and/or volunteer to serve and clean up on the 4th Wednesday of the month . Please contact Jennie Brock at [email protected] for more information.
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Red Cross Blood Drive
: St. Andrew’s hosts a quarterly blood drive for the American Red Cross inside our church’s gathering space. With the demand for blood donations at an all-time high, our community partners with the Red Cross to provide much needed blood to people throughout the midwest.
The next Blood Drive will be held on Thursday, March 14th from 1:00pm-6:00pm.
Please reserve your time slot at www.redcross.org
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