Outreach
Saint
Aidan’s Outreach Ministries support a range of projects, organizations
and activities. Our parish’s members give generously of their
time, talent and treasure to make a difference in the world in the Name
of Christ. From providing a meal for Aids patients to working with underprivileged
youth, Saint Aidan’s Outreach Ministries has a place for you.
Our outreach efforts are directed primarily at the homeless and disadvantaged and are accomplished in three ways:
- “Drives” and direct contributions donated by members
of the congregation outside of our normal operating budget.
- A percentage of the church’s outreach budget given to specific
charities each Month.
- Volunteer work and community service.
The following are organizations supported by Saint Aidan’s Outreach:
School on Wheels
School
on Wheels is a Malibu-based organization whose mission is to ensure
that homeless children in L.A and Ventura counties are registered for
and attend school. Their goal is to shrink the gaps in the education
of these children and provide them with the highest education possible.
During the year Saint Aidan’s donates backpacks and supplies and holds book drives. We also help find tutors to teach one hour per week. Anyone interested in tutoring should check the website.
Dorcas House
Dorcas
House is a shelter for 40 children of inmates in the Tijuana prison
system where they are able to live in a safe and clean environment and
attend school. This wonderful program has been part of St. Aidan’s
outreach efforts for many years.
In 2006 The Cathedral Church of St. Paul San Diego assumed responsibility for Dorcas House as part of their outreach ministry to the greater San Diego/Tijuana community. Dorcas House receives minimal support from the Mexican Government and exists through volunteer funding and support from Episcopal Churches in the Los Angeles and San Diego area.
In addition to financial support, St. Aidan’s supplies pajamas and sweat suits that are individually wrapped and given to each child at Christmas time. Also, both the church and individual members of the congregation “adopt” children living at Dorcas House, providing cash donations to cover their food, housing and necessities.
Malibu Labor Exchange
Malibu
Labor Exchange is an established day labor hiring center where the poorest
workers in the community have an opportunity to acquire day work that
could lead to regular employment and a better future. St. Aidan’s
has given the Labor Exchange financial support, legal assistance, food
and English lessons through Spanish-to-English Bible translation.
Operation Read
As
part of "Operation READ", volunteer parishioners tutor reading
to incarcerated youth at Camp Miller in Malibu. Many of the young men
there have known nothing other than gang life and learning to read
well is the first step at a chance to turn their lives around. Without
good reading skills they have little hope of finding work upon their
release. Project READ is our newest ministry and we're finding that
it can be a powerful catalyst for positive change. Just knowing that
there are people who care about their future has had an amazing impact
on the lives of these young men.
African Team Ministries
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| Some samples of the fine jewelry and carvings available for purchase through African Team Ministries. |
Sierra Service Project (SSP)
"Sierra
Service Project invites young people to experience the life changing
power of Christ's spirit through acts of service repairing Native American
homes. SSP is committed to creating community and teaching selfless
service by reaching out to those in need."
Summer 2009 will be St. Aidan’s 7th trip on a Sierra Service Project. We have been invited back to Walker River, NV. where we will undertake a major renovation project. Past SSP Projects have included: Round Valley, CA. (‘03), Chiloquin, OR (‘04) Big Pine, CA. (‘05) Lukachukai area of the Navajo Nation at Four Corners (’06), Walker River Paiute Reservation in Schurz, Nevada, ('07) and Big Rock Arizona in the Navaho Nation. (’08)
The High School Group enthusiastically helps with painting, roofing, and building stairs, floors and wheelchair ramps. In exchange they have had experiences they will never forget. SSP has a profound impact on the lives of its campers, staff, volunteers and host communities.
Come join us!
For more information please see: Spiritual Formation and Sierra Service Project
Community Outreach
St. Aidan’s community outreach takes many forms. The church served as a staging area for firefighters during fires in ’93 and ‘96, as well as a refuge and lifeline for people burned out in those fires. St. Aidan’s is also a familiar polling place for voters, and a regular meeting place for community groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous.
St. Aidan's Outreach currently has a solid base of programs and relationships with charitable organizations. In the future we will continue to expand and deepen our commitment to these groups, while at the same time exploring new organizations for potential support.
For more information on St. Aidan’s Ministries, please contact the Church Office @ 310:457-7966