Another month has gone by and it has been a very busy month here at St. Mark's. Holy week services were well attended from Maundy Thursday with feet washing and stripping the altar to a somber Good Friday and then a glorious Easter when the church burst with people and flowers. It was great to see new and old faces once again. Looking forward we have the Youth Walk for Hunger to benefit Project Bread which needs our support. Plans are moving along for John's Between Jobs program which will start on May 5th   for people who are unemployed. The excitement is building for the Tea Party on May 9th to  benefit the Pantry. There are some beautiful baskets to be raffled off along with a couple of quilted table runners donated by the Burlington Senior Citizens Quilting group. The Team has put in a lot of hours preparing for this event. Please plan to join us.
 
When I was among the employed, my plan for my retirement years was to become a volunteer in some way. It is easy to find opportunities to volunteer at church but I felt I should extend myself beyond church and I find being an Ombudsman works for me. Recently I had the opportunity to attend the annual Minuteman's President's Volunteer Service Awards breakfast honoring 94 recipients who donated 15,569 hours of service valued at $378,171. As I sat in a large church hall in Bedford along with more than 200 people, even though this was a non-religious event, I thought how God's spirit had inspired these people to step up and move forward to help others. There was a married couple who had been volunteering for many years, they are both 93 years old but looked like they were in their 60's. They were bright, happy and full of energy. It was heart warming to see a group of high school students who are also participating in volunteer service. People who volunteer one or two hours a week not only help others and their communities but also experience better health in later years, whether in terms of greater longevity, higher functional ability, or lower rates of depression. Volunteering is extremely rewarding and one person can make a difference in the lives of many by serving in our local neighborhoods. Anyone is welcome to join me at any time.
 
Peace,
Shirley Estrella

The Wednesday Fellowship Lunch will be held on May 13th at 12:00 noon in the Parrish Hall at St. Mark's Church.  All are welcome to come and share lunch and  conversation.  Bring a friend if you would like.

 

The Outreach Team would like to thank all of you who were helpful in filling our box for El Hogar.  It was mailed on April 22nd.  St. Mark's sent 14 pairs of boys briefs, 5 Tee shirts, 4 pairs of boys socks and 17 coiled notebooks.  Perhaps we can start earlier in the fall filling a box and keeping it longer in the Narthax being able to have more time to get things together.  Our box weighed 20 pounds, maybe the next one will weigh 40.  Thank you all so much.

 

And don't forget........Jubilee Celebrates Africa.....May 16th, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Peters Church, 320 Boston Post Road, Weston, Ma 02493.  All proceeds benefit the Jubilee Committee of the Diocese of Mass.  Tickets for the dinner are $25.00.  Anyone wishing to go as a group from St. Mark's please sign the sheet in the Narthax (on the elevator door).  Anyone who would like to make a contribution to this cause may send a check  made out to the Jubilee Ministry and send to the Episcopal Diocese of Ma, 138 Tremont Street, Boston, Ma  02111.

Marge Douglass

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: Apologies for the error last month when El Hogar magically moved to El Salvador from Honduras. The fault is all mine, not Marge's

Can you sort paper? Make copies? Add using a calculator? If you answered yes you have all the qualifications needed to be a counter at St. Mark's!!!  Counters work in teams of two to add up checks and cash received during the past week and at the collection, and deposit it in the bank. We have four teams of counters so you only have to do this one Sunday a month. If you can't be there for your Sunday you can arrange either to swap with another counting team or with your fellow counter to count and do the deposit on an evening that week.

We are looking for one person to count as a replacement for Angela Anderson, who is now our treasurer. If you are interested please see Angela or Karen Donahue, or email Angela.

Supervise volunteers and collaborate with Volunteer Coordinator to adequately staff volunteer pool

Coordinate pick-up or delivery of items donated from area organizations

Coordinate pick-up of items from food donation bins

Receive and respond to phone calls daily.  Maintain appropriate greeting.

Maintain records of money received and acknowledge donations

Develop and maintain client database

Document family participation each month

Maintain current, accurate contact information for volunteers

Collaborate with Holiday Program Coordinators (November/December) to prepare for Holiday Program sign up

Collaborate with Basic Needs Coordinator to determine eligibility of clients

Communicate with Food Bank Coordinator monthly to place food order

Serve as spokesperson to the community on the needs of the Food Pantry

Attend monthly board meetings and prepare written report

Open Pantry 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month to distribute food

Coordinate deliveries of groceries to shut-ins

Make up bags on 1st and 3rd Wednesday each month

Shop for essential items and paper goods

Check grocery store flyers and cut coupons

Stock shelves with purchased and donated items

Sort bakery items donated by Panera Bread once each month

Sort produce donated by Rotary once each month

Maintain cleanliness of the pantry and safe access in winter