Outreach Ministries

Outreach

Outreach happens when a group of parishioners come together in support of community services around the San Diego area. St. John’s Outreach activities are many and varied and touch the people of the South Bay, the Diocese of San Diego and the world at large. Locally, we work closely with the South Bay Community Services (SBCS). On an ongoing basis, we support their Food Bank, their Domestic Violence Shelter (with blankets and other supplies), and its Preschool (craft supplies). St. John’s Church also runs an annual Thanksgiving and Christmas campaign on behalf of SBCS. St. John’s is a founding member of the Service and Justice Coalition, a Diocesan group of about 30 parishes that meet quarterly to discuss their various outreach programs. Members share ideas and may decide to join forces to work on a project together to increase its effectiveness.

Outreach Brainstorming
The Outreach Committe is beginning to discuss what kinds of Outreach can we start planning for as restrictions start to lessen. This is where all of you can be a huge help by adding to that discussion. We are looking for your ideas. Remember, Brainstorming is simply coming up with ideas, "wouldn't it be great or a good idea to do --?"
Go to this link "Outreach Brainstorming", and let us know your ideas. At this point don't worry about the "how" to or "what" would it take, just enter the idea and send, let the Outreach committee research the details. If you want to get involved in the planning all the better, we will get back to you. Right now, we just want to hear from you and hear your ideas. This can be fun and a great way to communicate great ideas that might never get addressed otherwise, and really get God's working doing just that, "Working".

Ongoing Outreach Collections

Outreach Collections

St. John's continues our ongoing collections of:

Clean, Gently Used Blankets
New Blankets
EyeGlass Recycling
Pill Bottles
Greeting Cards
Emergency Food Pantry

Items may be brought to Nale Hall on Sundays when we gather for worship. You may also bring your items to the church during our weekday office hours, Monday through Thursday from 9am to 3pm. Ring the doorbell, and you will be buzzed in to leave your items outside Nale Hall. If you do not feel comfortable driving, we will find a volunteer to pick up the items from your home. See below for further information.

Clean, Gently Used Blankets
  Dreams For Change provides resources for people living in their cars in ‘Safe Parking’ places set aside by the County. Please bring your clean, gently used blankets and they will be delivered to the organization.

New Blanket Ministry
New Start Blankets benefits domestic violence shelters in San Diego. The blankets we collect go to women and children who have escaped domestic violence. Most of the time, women and children arrive at the shelters with only the clothes on their backs. They are each given a new blanket, usually the only new thing they receive, and it is theirs to keep. Blankets are multi purpose, providing comfort, warmth, and security.

Eye Glass Recycling
If you buy new glasses, bring your old pair to St. Johns. They will be delivered to LensCrafter, where they will be reground and used for those who can't afford to buy brand new glasses.

Pill Bottle Ministry
  Did you know that in developing countries, the pill bottle and cap is often more expensive than the medication inside? You can donate your empty prescription bottles by bringing them to the Parish Office. Matthew 25: Ministries accepts donations of empty plastic pill bottles for inclusion in shipments of medical supplies and for shredding and recycling. Their pill bottle program fulfills the dual needs of improving medical care in developing countries and caring for our environment. If you would like to contribute your financial support as well as your pill bottles, we welcome your donations.

Greeting Cards
Your greeting cards, stickers and other supplies will be delivered to our ECS Head Start program and to Mi Escuilita, a Head Start run by SBCS. All cards are accepted: free cards you have received from charitable organizations or greeting cards you were sent (you may cut off the back to remove any personal information). The children use them in art projects and to identify objects and make up stories.

Emergency Food Pantry
The South Bay Community Services "Emergency Food Pantry" needs donations every month. If you would like to donate, please bring your non-perishable food items to the Parish Office and they will be delivered to SBCS.
  These items are always welcome:

Dry and canned beans, boxed potatoes
Rice, pasta, Mac & Cheese
Canned meat or fish and can openers
Cereals, powdered and canned milk
Peanut butter and jelly
Canned fruit and vegetables
Soup, ramen noodles and crackers
Canned stews and Spaghetti-o's

If you would like to help even further during the pandemic, here are some other options:
Donate Snacks to Uptown Safe Haven- The ECS Uptown Safe Haven clients love snacks and treats as they shelter in place together. You can send treats via Amazon or drop them by the house and leave them on the doorstep.
Address for mailing or dropping off snacks:
Uptown Safe Haven, Attn: Christina Zeman/UTSH Staff
2822 5th Ave.
San Diego, CA 92103.
Volunteer with Head Start Food Distribution Program -
ECS Head Start preschool programs are closed, but we are distributing food to families Tuesday through Friday, 9:15am to 12:30pm, each week and are looking for volunteers to help! This is taking place outside in South Bay, families drive by to get bags of food, and safety precautions are in place. Volunteer roles include helping with set up, break down, directing traffic, and handing bags to families through car windows.
For more info about any of these ECS activities, please contact Deann Rios at 619-694-9892 or drios@ecscalifornia.org.
Volunteer applications: https://www.ecscalifornia.org/volunteer