OUTREACH MINISTRY

"Live the change you want to see in the world."

-- Mahatma Gandhi

The Outreach Committeeseeks to demonstrate care for all people throughout God's world, utilizing our principal parish resources: time, talent, and treasure. Everyone is encouraged to participate in its activities.

You are invited to attend meetings in the Rectory Conference Room at 7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of most months.

Deborah Faust, Vestry Liaison, Jr Warden

outreach@trinitysolebury.org

Quick Links For descriptions of each Outreach Mission: Either click on the links below or just scroll down the page.
2007 Grant Application Form Aid for Friends Alternative Gift Market Animal Friends Cash Contributions to Charity Fair Trade Outreach	Habitat for Humanity Juan Ana Coffee Katrina Relief Projects Lambertville Food Panty Mayan Hands	Mission Philadelphia Mwamba Mission NGA Peacmeal Red Cross Blood Drive Tabasamu

Ongoing Ministries
	Aid for Friends - As part of a regional program, Aid for Friends (www.aidforfriends.org) provides frozen dinners and breakfast bags for the isolated homebound. Meals are needed throughout the year, especially in the summer months. Getting Involved: Participate in quarterly "cook-ins" at Trinity; look for notices in the bulletin for upcoming dates. You can also fill sets of trays, available in the Trinity kitchen, with leftovers from home. Freeze them, then bring them to the church freezer. Volunteers are also needed to drive meals over to Aid for Friends central storage in Doylestown.
	Habitat for Humanity - A worldwide housing ministry, Habitat for Humanity provides affordable shelter to impoverished families and individuals. As a participating church, Trinity offers volunteer labor and financial assistance to build houses in the Trumbaursville area of Bucks County (www.habitatbucks.org). Getting Involved: Volunteers are needed for Habitat "Work Days" approximately every three months. No prior experience is necessary; both skilled and unskilled workers are welcome. You can also make a financial contribution to the local agency. Look for notices in the church bulletin, and on this website.
Lambertville Food Pantry	Lambertville Food Panty - This food pantry provides non-perishable foods, paper goods and cleaning supplies to low-income families in the area. A weekly collection at Trinity is offered throughout the year. Getting Involved: Bring along an item or two of pantry goods such as canned foods, cereal, pasta, diapers, baby food, napkins, or laundry detergent each Sunday. Donated items are collected in the large basket at the Sanctuary entranceway.
	NGA - Our chapter of this worldwide organization (www.nga-inc.org) makes and buys new clothing, toiletries and linens for the needy in our area. During its fall "in-gathering," local agencies such as the Bucks County Opportunity Council, Family Services of Bucks County and Tabor Children's Home, receive donations of these items. Getting Involved: Shop the sales and clearance racks for bargain-priced clothing, linens and toiletries, and look for bulletin notices for collection of these items at Trinity. Consider volunteering - even just once or twice - at NGA's national headquarters in Warminster to sort donated goods.
Peacemeal	Peacemeal - Once a month Trinity Church hosts dinners and entertainment for people in our community living with HIV/AIDS. We provide not only a meal but also loving, non-judgemental fellowship. Dinners are held on the third Sunday of each month in the afternoon in McArthur Hall. Getting Involved: Prepare a side-dish or dessert and bring it to the Church on Peacemeal Sundays. Volunteer to help serve dinners or clean up those Sunday afternoons. OR support Peacemeal through United Way. Our United Way number is 028870. For an explanation of the United Way program or any other information regarding Peacemeal.
	Seaman's Church Institute of Philadelphia - This organization (www.missiontoseafarers.org) has a mission of hospitality, serving the needs of seafarers in the ports of the Delaware River. Serving these ports since 1843, the SCI provides assistance such as ship visits, land transport, international communications, social and recreational programs, toiletries, warm caps and clothing to over 55,000 seafarers each year. Getting Involved: Offer to knit a watchcap for this project, even if you are a beginning knitter. Participate individually or in fellowship with Trinity's knitting groups.
Special / Seasonal Ministries
Animal Friends	Animal Friends - Centered around the Blessing of the Animals service each October, this ministry provides food and funds for the animals in local shelters. A variety of pet food and supplies are collected before the service each year. Funds have also been raised to assist animals displaced by natural disasters. Getting Involved: Watch for notices in the bulletin and this website for collection of pet goods each October.
	Alternative Gift Market - Each holiday season Alternative Gifts International develops a global shopping list designed to meet the needs of the hungry, the sick and the homeless, and our endangered planet. Gifts are purchased in honor of family, friends and business associates in a market setting. Alternative Gifts International Getting Involved: Support this ministry by buying gifts from this market, held in McArthur Hall in November and December.
	Katrina Relief - Trinity Outreach supports and works with other Bucks Co. organizations to participate in relief efforts for the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Please click on the "green ribbon" icon, to the left, to be linked to a list of events hosted in this area by Bucks Mont Katrina Relief Project - benefiting the rebuilding in Waveland, Mississippi. and other areas. Getting Involved:For even more complete information about Bucks Mont Katrina Relief Project please visit their website: www.bucksmontkatrinaproject.org
Mayan Hands Juan Ana Coffee Upavim	Fair Trade Outreach - Fair trade enterprises such as: Mayan Hands, Juan Ana Coffee and Upavim strive to improve the lives of impoverished families in Guatamala. Proceeds from the sale of these items enable families to begin to raise themselves from extreme poverty and give them hope. Trinity sells fair trade coffee throughout the year, and hand-crafted items such as bags, jewelry and kitchen towels during the holiday season. Getting Involved: Purchase fair trade Juan Ana coffee through Trinity's ongoing honor system set up in McArthur Hall. Consider holiday gifts through Trinity's Mayan Hands and Upavim sale in December. Members also participate in mission trips to Guatamala throughout the year, organized by the Diocese of PA. For more detailed information on all these opportunities: click on logos above and/or go to the Diocese of PA website Episcopal Diocese of PA
	Mission Philadelphia - The Trinity Youth Group's yearly trip to Philadelphia in which they transform an abandoned lot into a garden or playground with the help of local residents and members of St. Thomas African Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. Check out the mission and photos from this years work!
	Mwamba Church Ministries International Annual Mission Trip & Scholarship Program for Students Trinity has been involved with Mwamba Church Ministries since 2004. Mwamba Church Ministries International's mission is "Transforming lives in the United States and Kitale, Kenya, by building mutual partnerships that enhance human capacity through education, shared resources, and cultural exchanges." Trinity is involved with Mwamba in two particular ways: • Annual Mission Trip-Trinity members make an annual trip to Kitale, Kenya for 10 days to help Mwamba Church Ministries International with their programs in education and community based initiatives. Occasionally, special projects are also identified with which the Trinity team offers both financial and physical assistance. This year's trip is scheduled for May 17-31, 2009. • Scholarship Program for Students-Another important function of this ministry is to sponsor students in secondary school, thereby improving their chance for a better life. Trinity members participate in that program as well. In fact, part of the annual trip to Kenya includes a three day retreat for all the students sponsored by individuals through Mwamba. Trinity members can sponsor students in school and also help to underwrite the costs of the annual retreat. 2012 Mwamba Brochure 2012 Mwamba Mission 2012 Mwamba Trip to Kenya Itinerary 2012 Mwamba Youth Retreat Schedule 2012 Mwamba Release of Liability Agreement 2012 Mwamba Communication Information 2012 Mwamba Fund Raising Letter 2012 Mwamba Sponsor Letter 2012 Mwamba & Tabasamu Suggested Reading A Faith Based Guide To Fund Raising Pictures from the Mwamba Trip to Kenya 2011! Click Here
	Red Cross Blood Drive - Trinity Church participates in recruiting blood donors twice a year to give the gift of life. Getting Involved: Volunteer to donate blood, or make phone calls to solicit participation. Red Cross Blood Drives
	Tabasamu Dental Mission - Tabasamu is a dental outreach project. The current mission of Tabasamu is a) to provide dental care, support and education to under served communities in the Diocese of Kitale of the Anglican Church in western Kenya, and b) to provide a cross-cultural, international outreach opportunity for members and friends of Trinity. For further information see brochure or check their website - currently under construction so check periodically - www.tabasamusmiles.org To follow Team Tabasamu on its mission, go to the Tabasamu blog: http://operationtabasamu.blogspot.com br>
Cash Contributions to Charities
The Outreach Committee provides cash contributions to charities nearby and throughout the world. Click here for a list of cash recipients from 2005. Getting Involved: Consider a monetary donation to an organization that Trinity supports.
2007 Outreach Grant Application Form
The Outreach Ministry of Trinity Episcopal church is requesting 2007 grant proposals to fund projects and programs that are consistent with our mission. To view the grant funding letter, please click here. To download a grant application form in pdf format, please click here. You may copy the pdf form, paste it into a Word document, fill it out, and email it to: outreach@trinitysolebury.org. Alternatively, you may print the form, complete it, and mail it. See form for instructions.