Outreach at St. Thomas'

We are called to proclaim and make real the unconditional love of God for every person we serve in the community and in the world. Some of the outreach activities at St. Thomas' are listed below. We welcome your participation. 

Outreach Opportunities

Outreach Committee: This committee coordinates and seeks to expand the outreach ministries of the church, seeking to proclaim God’s message of justice, peace, and love by addressing hunger, sickness, loneliness, and neglect in our neighborhood and city. Contact June Hardy Dorsey (321-9548 ext. 12.)

Food Pantry: Assist in the organization and distribution of food through St. Thomas’ weekly food closet—St. Thomas' distributed 18,965 tons of food in 2003! Rotation: Monthly on Thursday mornings, 9:45–12:00. Contact Barbara Haas (261-0383) or Ray Jackson(329-0988)

Second Saturday Drop-In Ministry: The Drop-In Ministry serves the adult-home population on the North Side of Richmond. It provides a Saturday morning of fellowship, activities, and food for this population once a month, and it welcomes and serves adult-home residents who attend worship at St. Thomas’. Contact Daniel Rigsby (359-5567 / drigsby@stthomasrichmond.org)

CARITAS: Congregations Around Richmond Involved to Assure Shelter. Help provide food and shelter (at the church) for homeless families during one week in December or January. There are a multitude of needs during this week, from serving dinner to doing laundry, providing transportation, and helping with activities at night. Contact Beth Dorsey (359-6321)

Creation Care:  As Christians, our task is to join God in caring for Creation.  We are called to relate to nature in ways that sustain and nourish life on our planet.  The Creation Care Committee is dedicated to answering that call here at St. Thomas.  The committee works to involve the entire congregation in caring for God's Creation, at church and elsewhere, through prayer and contemplation, education and action. Contact Paige Goodpasture (358-7353) or John Haddad (266-5395)

Mission Trips: St. Thomas' leads periodic mission trips to serve and learn in communities away from Richmond.  We also facilitate our parish members joining other churches on their mission trips.  All youth being confirmed at St. Thomas' reaceive a $200 mission trip voucher from the Diocese of Virginia to help offset costs.  Contact: June Hardy Dorsey (321-9548 ext 12) jhdorsey@stthomasrichmond.org.

Bright Beginnings: At the beginning of each school year, St. Thomas 's parishioners help provide school supplies for local children whose parents cannot afford them. The program is coordinated through the local YMCA. Having the supplies they need enables the children to feel better about school and better about themselves. Contact June Hardy Dorsey jhdorsey@stthomasrichmond.org  (321-9548 ext. 12.)

City Jail support: We donate magazines and paperback books to women and men in Richmond City Jail. The simple pleasure of having something to read in such a grim environment makes a big difference to the inmates. In December, we also donate postage stamps, stationery, and Christmas cards as a way for inmates to connect with loved ones they are separated from. Contact June Hardy Dorsey jhdorsey@stthomasrichmond.org (321-9548 ext 12)

Cell phone collection: We collect cell phones, as well as cell phone parts and accessories. The phones are provided to victims of domestic violence to enable them to contact help quickly when they need it. Contact Margaret Woody (353-3913)

St. Thomas' Day School: Serve on the Day School Board or enroll your children at the Day School. For more information about the Day School, please contact Kelly Kane (321-9548, ext. 14 / kkane@stthomasrichmond.org) or Sharon Peck at 261-3867.

Sewing Guild: Participate in the design and creation of baby quilts that are given to new babies in the church and donated to those in need.Rotation: Weekly on Wednesday mornings, September through mid-June. Contact Judy Lusk (346-0108), Ginny Richards (358-1887), or Pat Tyree (740-8795).

SCAN: Greater Richmond SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) is a local nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect in the Greater Richmond area. SCAN was founded in 1991 in response to the rapidly growing rate of child abuse and neglect in the City of Richmond and its surrounding counties. http://www.grscan.com.

Al-Anon: The Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope, in order to solve their common problems. Al-Anon meets Wednesday mornings (HAPPY WEDNESDAY AL-ANON GROUP meet at 10:30) and the Friday group (FRIDAY AFG) meets at 11 a.m. http://www.va-al-anon.org.

Chamberlayne Avenue Veterans Home - St. Thomas' offers encouragement and ministry to the residents of a home for veterans on Chamberlayne Avenue.  Operated by Virginia Supportive Housing, http://www.virginiasupportivehousing.com. this home provides affordable independent living apartments to veterans.