Charlie's PlaceCharlie’s Place is an outreach ministry of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church. In 1990 the program was founded by the Rev. Charles Gilchrist to serve the homeless and poor around the church. When Gilchrist died in 1999, the Homeless Breakfast Program was renamed in his honor. The program has evolved to include social services, outreach services,legal services, health education, writing classes and other related services.  For more information about Charlie's Place please visit the website CharliesPlaceDC.org. Charlie's Place - Bread RunSt. Margaret's receives bread from Sudbury Methodist Church in Manassas. For more information about the Bread Run please contact Bob Blinn, binnrh@gmail.com, 703.298.3805. Charlie's Place - Neighborhood Walks Neighborhood walks primarily engage young people, but teachers, staff, parents, and other adults connected to the schools and the organizations hosting the walks are welcome to register and participate. St. Margaret's works with local schools and with its own parish to host a number of neighborhood mini-walks to supprort the Walk for the Homeless. The Rev. Emily Guthrie oversees this program and may be reached at eguthrie@stmargaretsdc.org. Charlie's Place - Walk for the Homeless Sponsored by Fannie Mae, the annual Help the Homeless Walkathon takes place on the National Mall in November. St. Margaret's registers walkers and encourages them to list Charlie's Place as their charity. A significant portion of funds received for Charlie's Place are raised through registrations for -- and participation in -- the Walkathon. Please contact Tom Goss, tgoss@stmargaretsdc.org. Diocese of HondurasSt. Margaret's outreach to our companion Diocese of Honduras focuses on the Medical Clinic of Proteccion in the city of San Pedro Sula. For nearly a decade, St. Margaret's has committed financial assistance toward the salary of the clinic's director, Dr. Waldo Madrid, as well as for the purchase of medicine and supplies for the people that the clinic serves.Episcopal Relief and DevelopmentPartnering with the worldwide Anglican Church, ecumenical agencies and local organizations, Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) works to alleviate hunger and improve food supply, create economic opportunities, promote health and fight disease, and respond to disasters by rebuilding communities. Partner Arms IIUnless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain…Psalm 127 Partner Arms 1 and 2 are apartment residences for 27 formerly homeless families in the Petworth neighborhood of NW DC, operated by Transitional Housing Corporation, a church-related non-profit. To meet difficult challenges, residents receive counseling, job-readiness and other services to help mitigate barriers to stable housing. St. Margaret’s assisted in the renovation of the vacant building on Georgia Avenue that opened in 2003 as Partner Arms 2. Through the “adopt an apartment” program we collect furniture and other equipment for an incoming family, and prepare a vacant apartment to serve as a new home. Earlier this year we gathered furnishings and household goods along with funds for the purchase of new bedding, and move-in day was a rewarding labor. Soon we received a heartfelt letter of thanks from the young mother who is getting a new start with her son in the home we prepared. During her recent visit to Washington, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katherine Jefferts Shori, visited St. Margaret’s “adopted” apartment, and learned about how this program allows us to witness to God’s transformative power in a life-changing process. In a new affordable housing venture made possible by a $200,000 working capital loan from the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, 114 units of permanent affordable rental housing will be developed. St Margaret’s was among the first parishes in the diocese to participate in the funding drive. For further information, please contact David Griswold, GriswoldDAG@aol.com, or Russell Ball, rball2002@yahoo.com. Seabury Resources for the AgingFormerly known as Episcopal Senior Ministries, Seabury Resources for Aging provides personalized, affordable services and housing options to help older adults in the greater Washington, DC area live with independence and dignity. Carolyn Eaves, cmeaves@hotmail.com, is St. Margaret's representative to Seabury. Seasonal OutreachEasterSt. Margaret's parishioners make and distribute 12-25 Easter baskets each year to the children of Mary's Center. For further information, please contact Dan Sealy at rangerdans@msn.com. ThanksgivingEvery November, St. Margaret's parishioners spring into action to provide Thanksgiving dinners for the families of Marie Reed School. We give thanks by donating 80 complete dinners, including a frozen turkey, that will feed 80 families. Our parishioners donate the fixins' and our local Adams Morgan Safeway supports our mission with deeply discounted prices on turkeys and pies. All menu items are delivered to Marie Reed on Tuesday before Thanksgiving. For information, contact Cathy Siders @ ctsiders@aol.com ChristmasEach year at Christmas time, St. Margaret's community brings joy by providing gifts of greatly appreciated clothes, school supplies and toys for approximately 50 families (200 people) served by Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care in Adams Morgan. The mission of Mary’s Center is to build better futures through the delivery of health care, education and social services, regardless of ability to pay. For further information, please contact Gabrielle Czaja at gabrielle.czaja@verizon.net. |