Outreach

“Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor.”

– Proverbs 22:9

Outreach at St. Christopher’s Church

St. Christopher’s Church maintains an active Outreach program that is designed to improve the lives of disadvantaged people locally, nationally, and throughout the world.  In particular, we seek to use both cash grants and direct involvement to support organizations that empower the less fortunate to reach their full potential.

The centerpiece of the Outreach effort is a program that provides cash grants to organizations that work to alleviate hunger and poverty and provide services to people who are in need.  Much of the funding for this program is provided by the proceeds from Azalea Day, an annual country fair in which much of the congregation is involved in a variety of different capacities.  Additional funding comes from income generated from the investment of the church’s endowment.  Last year we supported over 25 organizations with grants or direct involvement and support.

The grant program is administered by a committee that includes both members of the Vestry and representatives of the congregation at large.  In making grants, priority is given to charities that are associated with the Episcopal Church and organizations in which members of St. Christopher’s are involved.  We also give to children focused efforts through the Bill Wood Fund. Most awards are in the range of $1,000 to $10,000.

Grants Program

To apply for a grant, an applicant must submit a request on an application form which is available by clicking on the link below or by calling the Church Office at (610) 642-8920.

All grant applications must be received by March 1st in order to be considered for funding in this current calendar year.

Grant Application Form

Committee members and parishioners may remind charities of application deadlines, but they should warn charities that submission of an application is no guarantee of funding.  The Outreach Committee makes grants to organizations and programs only. Grants are never made to individuals.

We are pleased to announce that in 2023 we awarded grants that totaled $61,000. These ranged from very local programs such as ElderNet in Bryn Mawr, regional partners such as Chester Eastside and St. James School, more wide reaching national programs such as rebuilding efforts in Maui, and international efforts with Friends of Children in Africa.

Food Sharing

Our volunteers and cash contributions support a number of organizations working to end food insecurity, including:

  • Church of the Advocate Café
  • ElderNet of Lower Merion and Narberth Food Cupboard
  • St. Mary’s Church, Chester
  • St. Mary’s Church, Ardmore
  • Welcome Table at St. James School
  • Episcopal Community Services Cook Off Program

Housing

St. Christopher’s supports and provides hands on volunteering for organizations that are committed to providing housing for families in need, including:

  • Family Promise of the Main Line

Education

Following our mission of helping to empower people, we support groups that provide education to the less fortunate, including:

  • St. James’s School, Philadelphia
  • Thresholds in Delaware County
  • Chester Eastside
  • Rise Malawi

Community Support Service

  • Episcopal Community Services
  • Legal Aid
  • The Clare Project
  • The G.I.F.T. Program
  • St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Ardmore – Ardmore Food Pantry

International and Domestic Relief

  • Forgotten Africa School
  • Bishop’s Pastoral Fund (Maui)
  • Urban Promise International

Outreach in Action

St. James, Outreach Partner

  • Azalea Day and Christmas Sale – Our annual holiday sale and Spring Fair, all proceeds are used to fund our Outreach program.
  • Jack Arndt Thanksgiving Turkey Ministry – This annual event is a tradition that was initiated by one of our parishioners. On the day before Thanksgiving parishioners are invited to bring cooked turkeys to St. Christopher’s where we gather to carve and pack them to be delivered to the Church of the Advocate, which provides a Thanksgiving meal to less fortunate families in the Philadelphia area.
  • Christmas ECS Gift Drive – we collect gift cards to be distributed to clients in ECS programs who may need help provide a Christmas celebration for their family.
  • We support several hands on volunteer opportunities including through the Ardmore Food Pantry, Episcopal Community Services, and the Clare Project.
  • Clothing Program – St. Christopher’s has a year round clothing drive for men’s, women’s and children’s clothing that benefits the Church of the Advocate and St. Mary’s Church in Chester.
  • Food Pantry – St Christopher’s supports a variety of local food banks through food donations.

Contact the church office if you would like to get involved in any of these ongoing efforts. WE have service opportunities for children and adults.