William Temple House feeds the hungry, clothes the poor, and helps provide for the mental needs of the working poor and those without health insurance. Donations of food and clothing are collected year-round at St. John’s, and volunteers are always needed to help with Emergency Services and the Thrift Store.
Western Farmworkers Association is a cooperative of farm workers and other low-paid workers and their family members. Their programs provide emergency food, clothing, preventative medical care, and job referrals. Some of our activities include collecting school supplies, packaging and delivering holiday meals, and providing funding through tamale sales. In July of 2016, our annual auction raised $18,000 for this group. Many volunteer opportunities are available.
St. John’s works with the Oregon Episcopal School in several ways: We support Project Second Wind which helps Neighborhood House. St. John’s parishioners volunteer in support of the Dorm Student Community. We help families that are part of the AASK [Aardvarks Advocate Skills and Knowledge] program, an intercultural partnership with Vose Elementary and Whitford Middle Schools, by putting up a Giving Tree and collecting gifts at Christmas.
Each year we participate in a diocese-wide ministry. This year it is “Educate for Hope.” This program provides scholarships to children who are members of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Zababdeh, Palestine, making it possible for them to attend the Latin-Patriarch school located next door to their church.
On the first Tuesday of each month from 1:00-3:00 p.m., interested knitters and crocheters meet to make items for our Prayer Shawl Ministry and for the Purple Hat Campaign. The Prayer Shawl Ministry presents shawls to people inside and outside the parish, for reasons of sorrow, pain, or joy. For the CLICK for Babies Campaign, we presented more than 100 purple baby hats for a Sunday blessing at the altar. (For additional information on purple hats for babies, go to the following site: http://www.clickforbabies.org) All knitters or crocheters — or people who would like to learn these crafts — are welcome.