In Our Local Community
Mission and Outreach (M&O) Overview
Whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. Galatians 6:10
We approach M&O at St.MM as part of God’s call to each one of us to be involved in ministry using the unique gifts we have each received. This describes local, global and youth missions in which St.MM is involved as part of the Gospel imperative.
Mission In Our Backyard
Turning Points in Bradenton provides many basic services for the homeless that we take for granted, such as a hot meal, a clean place to shower, a way to get clothes washed, medical and dental assistance, help with job training and finding a job. The big gray tub in the Narthex is looking for laundry detergent, new clean socks and underwear for men, women, and children, and hygiene supplies. Once a month, we take donated items to Turning Points and give them to the needy, along with fellowship, compassion and prayer. You can also help in the mailroom, sort clothes, provide computer assistance, cook or serve food. Susan Fischer is our primary contact.
Manatee Kiwanis’ Christmas in August Project provides school supplies at the beginning of the school year to screened Manatee County students who would otherwise start school without the basic items that individual students need in the classroom and are expected to provide themselves. In 2018, the Project helped over 400 students and the St.MM congregation donated hundreds of school supply items (binders, spiral notebooks, folders, packets of notebook paper, ballpoint pens, pencils and highlighters, boxes of crayons and markers, scissors and other items) to the Project.
Feeding the Hungry – We regularly bring non-perishable food to church on Sundays for the Food Bank of Manatee. During 2018 St.MM contributed 1,439 pounds of food.
Salvation Army’s Adopt-a-Family program in Manatee County gives St.MM an opportunity to help families in need. We adopt two families, children and their parents, and give toys, gifts, and food gift cards in time for Christmas. We select the children’s names with a gift request from the ornaments on our Salvation Army Christmas tree, enjoy shopping, and deliver the gifts to Salvation Army for distribution. Kathy and Donald Rollins spearhead this outreach.