Make Service a Family Affair

Members and regular visitors of St. Andrew will never have to look far to find an opportunity to express the faith they know in Christ. Service opportunities abound and range from the simplest of opportunities; bringing donations for Christian Assistance Ministry or the Food Bank to more time- consuming and rewarding projects such as participating in a Habitat for Humanity Home Build or Mission San D’wich.

Service opportunities at St. Andrew are constantly changing and being updated. Go to our web calendar and click on Interest Groups and choose "Service Opportunities" to see what events are coming up, or contact Carol McClusky, the Service Team Coordinator at 497-1248 or by email at mcclusky@sbcglobal.net to get involved. To volunteer at St. Andrew please contact Pennie at 493-9832.

Ongoing Service Opportunities:

The SAMM Team: Our SAMM Shelter team serves at the shelter 3rd Sunday every 2 months. Night teams come to the shelter at 4:45 p.m. and stay until about 8:00 p.m. Teams help check in guests, distribute sheets and towels, and spend time with the people. The team also leads an occasional Bible Study. Six to twelve volunteers are needed each month. For more information about the SAMM team at St. Andrew, contact Carolyn McClusky 479-1249. Information about the SAMM Emergency Shelter can be found at www.samm.org

Lutheran World Relief Layette Project: We are requesting baby supplies Items Needed: Sleepers, sweat shirts, sweaters, jackets for babies up to 24 months. Place items in the Lutheran World Relief Baby Layette Project baskets in the Giving Closet.

Mission San D’Wich: This innovative ministry is notable for its simplicity. On the first Saturday of every month, a group of St. Andrew members assemble in the St. Andrew kitchen at 10:00am and make hundreds of sandwiches. When done, the sandwiches are loaded up and taken downtown to a spot where many of our city’s homeless gather. The sandwiches and other lunch items are distributed to those who need them. It’s that simple. And that powerful. Youth, adults and families are strongly encouraged to take part in this simple but vital ministry. Contact Michael Soulek at 497-1775.

Youth Service Projects: The Youth at St. Andrew are often involved in monthly service projects. For up-to-date information about youth opportunities, contact Renee Martin or email her at renee@standrewsa.org or go to our Calendar to find out more about upcoming Senior High or Middle School events.

Donations: Look in the Narthex at St. Andrew for the “Giving Closet.” It is here that you can drop off items you’d like to donate to Christian Assistance Ministry (CAM) or the San Antonio Food Bank. While St. Andrew is continually collecting donations for these ministries, there is often a special drive for other specific causes. An example is the School Supplies drive we do each August. Contact Pennie at pennie@standrewsa.org to find out if there are any special drives going on at this time.

Blood Bank: The Blood Bank visits St. Andrew on a regular basis. They are always looking for a new blood, so to speak. Their will be sign up sheets in the narthex.

Holiday Food Baskets: Before each the Easter holiday, you will have an opportunity to sign-up for various items needed to fill food baskets for senior citizens. Delivery help is always needed and welcome.

Servant Celebration: Once a year St. Andrew hosts a celebration of the various programs and causes that the congregation members are involved in. Be sure to check it out, and see what interests you.

SA Food Bank: Pick up some extra food/supplies when you are at the grocery store, and put them in The Giving Closet when you come to church. A list of suggested items is on the Service table.

Habitat for Humanity: This organization moves people from poverty housing to affordable housing by giving building partners the needed resources to help build their own homes. Habitat for Humanity is not a handout, it is a hand-up. Not only are the immediate families helped but they set the stage for other family members and future generations to have the expectation of home ownership and all the expectations, joys, headaches and responsibilities of such an ownership. This program is so successful in moving people from poverty housing to affordable housing that in the more than 25 years of the San Antonio program we have less than a 2% default rate. The goal is to eliminate poverty housing in San Antonio. St. Andrew has been very active with Habitat for Humanity in the past and is usually working on a Build or a fundraiser for Habitat at any given time of the year. Contact Pennie at pennie@standrewsa.org for more information about what’s going on right now with St. Andrew and Habitat for Humanity.

***Note: You must be at least 14 years old to be a Habitat Volunteer. 14 and 15 year olds are allowed to paint, landscape, pick-up trash, move dirt, provide and serve lunches, etc. They cannot do general carpentry. Sixteen and 17 year olds are allowed to general carpentry, which can include activities such as hammering, putting in insulation, etc. They cannot do excavation, demolition, roofing, use power tools or work at heights above 6 feet. They must follow all rules pertaining to hardhat use, height requirements and power tools. For more guidelines about youth involvement with Habitat, go to http://www.habitat.org/script/link.asp?url=www%2Ehabitatsa%2Eorg.