St. Francis Outreach
Current Outreach Opportunities
Saint Francis is active in community outreach programs. If you are wondering how you can become involved, check out some of our current endeavors.
Oak Mountain Missions: Keep those diapers coming. Oak Mountain Missions is always in need of diapers. "Oak Mountain Missions receives referrals from area domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, and social service agencies. We provide food, clothing, household items, linens, furniture, and limited financial assistance (for utility bills and rent). Everything in our warehouse belongs to God, and is given to qualified, screened clients free of charge. For more information visit http://oakmtnmissions.com/.
Special Equestrians: Donate money or time to Special Equestrians. Saint Francis has many members working with this organization. They provide therapeutic horseback riding for individuals with physical, mental, developmental, and behavioral disabilities. You can find out their needs at http://www.specialequest.org/support.html
Haiti Earthquake - a wonderful article to read from the Diocese of Alabama's website by C J Ross:
07/28/2010Alabama & Haiti Schoolchildren Reach Out to Each Other Carpenter Houseby C.J. RossHaiti Earthquake Relief - Answer the Call
Write a check to the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama.
- Note "Haiti Earthquake Relief" in the Memo line.
- Send these checks to: Carpenter House The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama 521 North 20th Street Birmingham, Alabama 35203
- OR - St. Francis can send your check to the Diocese. Please write your check as noted above.
Many of you have made New Year’s resolutions to improve your life. Please consider participating in outreach opportunities as a way to improve your own life and the lives of others. Below is a list of outreach activities. Please let me know if/ when you participate in an independent outreach program (for example Walk for the Cure, March of Dimes Mother’s March, etc.) . We would like to share these opportunities with our church community. Also, let me know if there is a cause that you would like to see St. Francis support. We are blessed to have such caring and giving members at St. Francis. Let’s work together to ensure that we share information and opportunities. You may contact me at LRish@charter.net.
At St. Francis, we believe in walking the walk of our mission statement to make God's love visible, tangible and real and are fully committed to our outreach programs. We try to have a balance of support for work done here in Birmingham, and other parts of the US, as well as supporting work done in other countries. What we always find is that through outreach, we are the ones who receive grace.
LOCAL OUTREACH
Summer Day camp - Sawyerville Day Camp: During the Month of May 2010 St. Francis contributed swimsuits, towels or giftcards. Sawyerville Day Camp is a summer day camp in Hale County,Alabama sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama Youth Department and the Sawyerville Commission. It is an annual camp for economically disadvantaged children and youth in the Black Belt of our state. Campers come to camp at no cost and there is no staff fee! The staff is made up of high school aged young people, college students and adults from all over the Diocese and Hale County. The camp is expanding this year and is going to offer two sessions to campers. They are in need of many items to provide this service. An important way that we can help is to concentrate on their need for towels and swimsuits. They are in need of 400 towels and 200 swimsuits for girls and 200 swimsuits for boys. All sizes are needed. They are also asking for gift cards from WalMart or Kmart. They can use these cards for any of their various needs. The complete list of needs will be posted on the website. Please contact Lisa Rish, LRish@charter.net, or Chris Gonzales, chris_gonzalez@hotmail.com, with questions.
May 8th - Gumbo Gala for Episcopal Place: Team 2010 was a great success. 
Gumbo Gala was held on Saturday, May 8th in the afternoon from 11-2PM. St. Francis team ‘s name was “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler” organized by Leathea Gray and team members Michael Gray, Archie & Jessie Creech, David Cypher, Elizabeth Swain, Phillip & Jan Underwood, and Betsy Whitfield. They made 9 gallons of gumbo and ran out early. The gumbo was outstanding!
Over 1,000 people enjoyed gumbo cooked by 30 teams in this year’s fundraising event, held in Caldwell Park and presented by Ezell’s Catfish Cabin, the title sponsor. Nearly $32,000 in proceeds from the event will be used to help pay for vital support services at Episcopal Place (EP), an affordable housing 
community for seniors and young adults with special needs. Services such as noon meals, subsidized housekeeping, health screenings, pastoral care, and planned social activities help residents to live independently for as long as possible in EP’s affordable housing community. “T
his event was started five years ago in honor of several residents who came to live at Episcopal Place after surviving Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans,” said Tim Blanton, executive director of Episcopal Place. “Thanks to great support from the community, Gumbo Gala has grown into a lively event with great gumbo and entertainment, and all proceeds go to support a worthwhile cause.”
The entry cost is $300 per team. Please contact Leathea Gray if you are interested in being on the Saint Francis 2011 Team. If cooking is not your passion, you may participate by making a monetary contribution towards the team entry fee. Leathea - Home 957-0539 or Work 934-3790. Leathea's email is grayart@care2.com at home or lgray@uab.edu at work.
Ovarian Cycle Ride to Change the Future: Sponsor a member of Saint Francis. Rachel LaMonte participated in the Ovarian Cycle Ride to Change the Future. She will be spinning to ride a virtual 100 miles. Rachel says, " I am riding in honor of my mother and other loved ones who courageously fight this silent killer every day and for those who have lost their fight." Please contact Rachel, rlamonte@att.net, or http://www.contentedits.com/admin/www.ovariancycle.org if you are interested in contributing. (Please feel free to contact Lisa Rish,LRish@charter.net, if you are participating in a charitable activity that you would like to share with your community at Saint Francis.)
OAK MOUNTAIN MISSIONS
One of our near and dear local outreach partners is Oak Mountain Missions Ministry - located right down the road from our church in Pelham, Alabama. OMMM is a non-profit organization serving people in the Shelby County and the greater Birmingham area. Their goal is to provide food, clothing, furniture and financial assistance to those in need. St. Francis provides financial support to OMMM and we are always collecting donations of diapers and other needed supplies to help keep their pantry stocked. Some of our parishioners have also volunteered to drive trucks and have helped organize their warehouse. For more information on OMMM, visit their website a http://oakmtnmissions.com/.
-End Oak Mountain Missions
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Annually, St. Francis participates in helping Habitat for Humanity. In July, a group of us had a great time painting a home in Fairfield. We were joined by volunteers from other groups and got the whole house painted. We were also able to install some kitchen cabinets. We're looking forward to organizing our next Habitat project team! Birmingham's Habitat for Humanity website is http://www.birminghamhabitat.org/.
-End Habitat for Humanity
The Table -
The Table is a grass-roots organization that provides food and hope to hungry and homeless people in the Birmingham area each weekend. St. Francis has pulled groups together on several occasions this year to assist our friends at the Firehouse Shelter downtown in serving meals to homeless men and women. This is always a great opportunity to contribute to the well-being of others. Some volunteers cook the food, and others take it downtown and serve it. This opportunity is open for adults and children and a great way to get the whole family involved in an outreach activity. St. Francis continues to serve the Table at planned intervals. Look for the sign-up sheet in the narthex, or contact Jeff Barber at jbarber600@charter.net or 903-5835 to help out. March 7, 2009 Photos of Jeff and Group serving The Table
St. Francis continues to volunter to serve the community . We cook for over 100 people by cooking the food at home and bringing it to the church that afternoon. We also have volunteers to take to take the prepared food to Birmingham and serve it at the shelter. For more information contact Jeff Barber at 903-5835 or at jbarber600@charter.net .
For more information, check out http://www.thetableonline.org/
-End The Table
SHELBY COUNTY DHR 
St. Francis is an annual supporter of Shelby DHR by sponsoring their Apple Tree Project, which collects school supplies for children in foster care, and we have our own Angel Tree for these children at Christmastime. Shelby DHR also gives us the opportunity with our youth group to deliver gifts from our Angel Tree to senior adults in their care who have limited resources. It is truly a blessing to share the spirit of Christmas with these families and an opportunity for our youth to actively participate in our outreach programs.
- End Shelby County
OUTREACH OUTSIDE ALABAMA
CAMP COAST CARE
April 2009 - Camp Coast Care in Long Beach Mississippi assists those still feeling the effects of Hurricane Katrina. The 2009 St. Francis Relief Team traveled to Long Beach Mississipi to assist in repairs and 
in building projects April 26 - May 1. A group of 8 from our parish were able to spend a week at Camp Coast Care helping those still feeling the effects of Hurricane Katrina 4 years ago. We did repair and building work and learned a lot about the wonderful propensity of our fellow Americans to help others in need. There is an ongoing need being addressed by the Lutheran Episcopal Alliance in Mississippi. Contact Ellen Hamilton, mailto:ellenhamiltonpt@bellsouth.net, for more information on how you can join in th
is mission effort.
The photo to the right is of the 2009 St. Francis team. The photo to the left is of the 2008 St. Francis team. Several of those team members returned to Camp Coast Care with the 2009 team to help with the rewarding work!
Photos below are from the 2009 Mission Trip at Camp Coast Care.
A few words from Ellen Hamilton... On our last day Kat sits with us during lunch. She tells us that of the many teams who have worked on their house, ours has had a special impact on her. It may have been the fact that we were all women, or that were all roughly her age, or who knows what- but it has been a very special week. Each of us has had time to talk with Kat and offer support in our own way. She confides that she has been in a very low place for several months, unable to get motivated to proceed with her life and struggling with depression. Our lives together this week have lifted her up, and she feels ready to make a change. She announces that she is going to start volunteering at Camp Coast Care. This is pretty amazing coming from a woman who is jobless, on crutches, and financially destitute. I feel certain she will also be watching out for Brooke from now on, and giving her some of that maternal care for which she is pining. Now I am finally getting it - "it is in giving that we receive". Don't we say that every week in our St. Francis prayer? It has taken on a whole new meaning for me. However this unusual group of women came to be together, we had a special magic for a week and each of us received a gift. It had very little to do with a remodeling job, but a lot to do with the power of women together, sharing, supporting and lifting up. The love we experienced transcended each of us, and created something new. This is an experience I will always treasure. -End Camp Coast Care.
INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH
MISSION TO NAMIBIA
Jeremy and Penny Lucas, former parishioners of St. Francis, are working in the Diocese of Namibia, Africa with a project to train priests. The people of the Namibian Diocese have had no resources for quite some time and have only 35 priests for over 150,000 parishioners. Jeremy, who is now an ordained priest, is working with local priests to develop and implement a training program. Penny is using her experience as a nurse to assist with HIV-AIDS programs and early childhood education. You can keep up with them at http://www.missiontonamibia.blogspot.com/
Jeremy and Penny Lucas visit St. Francis May 2009
Jeremy and Penny Lucas Return to the Place from Which They Began St. Francis was the first stop on Jeremy and Penny Lucas' visit home. The Lucases have spent the last year serving the Anglican Church in Namibia in southwest Africa. Two dozen Franciscans gathered May 24 to learn something about their adventures. Jeremy is assisting in an ambitious project to train fifty new clergy to serve among the 150,000 Anglicans in Namibia. He also assists the dean in ministering to the multi-cultural congregation of St. George's Cathedral in Windhoek. Penny offers her nursing skills in the Church's extensive ministry among those affected by HIV/AIDS, as well as volunteering in a pre-school education program. Jeremy reminded us that St. Francis was their first Episcopal Church home, and the site of his ordination to the diaconate following his graduation from General Seminary. Although he is an appointed missionary of the Episcopal Church, very little funding comes along with that appointment. The Diocese of Alabama and its parishes and interested members are providing funds for their travel and living expenses. Their mission in Namibia is one of the outreach projects supported by St. Francis. The Lucases will be visiting a number of the sponsoring parishes during their month-long home leave. They were accompanied by Monica Romano, Youth Adviser at St. John's, Montgomery, who had prepared an artful video presentation of the people and places of Namibia following her visit there. The gathering enjoyed an excellent meal provided by Jeff Barber and C. J. Ross. We are proud to be able to support them in their ministry.
-End Mission to Namibia
MAKE WAY PARTNERS
St. Francis has been a long time supporter of the mission work of Kimberly and Milton Smith, who used to attend St. Francis. They established Make Way Partners which is a Christian mission agency committed to preventing and combating human trafficking and all forms of modern-day slavery by educating and mobilizing The Body of Christ. Their website is http://www.makewaypartners.org/
-End Make Way Partners
HAITI RELIEF - Diocese of Alabama Medical Mission to Haiti
C.J. Ross Appointed to Companion Diocese Commission
Bishop Parsley has appointed our C.J. Ross to serve for three years on the Companion Diocese Commission. C.J. will coordinate medical teams for support for Haiti. Judy Quick, Liaison for Episcopal Relief and Development, will coordinate construction teams to work in Haiti. More information will come as plans are completed.
The First 2010 Medical Team to Haiti left February 21. Visit the Diocese of Alabama Website for news and information on the Medical Mission Team. Please see the below link for photos and information:
Please visit the Diocese of Alabama Website at www.dioala.org for an update from our Medical Mission Team which has been serving in Haiti.
Haiti Earthquake Relief - Answer the Call
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- Write a check to the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama.
- Note "Haiti Earthquake Relief" in the Memo line.
- Send these checks to: Carpenter House The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama 521 North 20th Street Birmingham, Alabama 35203
- OR - St. Francis can send your check to the Diocese. Please write your check as noted above.
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Photo: Waiting for Exams - 2010 MEDICAL MISSION EARTHQUAKE RELIEF
Haiti 2010 Exams
PREPARING FOR THE 2010 MEDICAL MISSION EARTHQUAKE RELIEF TEAM
From CJ Ross regarding The 2010 Trip fundraiser at St. Francis:
In Thanksgiving: To all of you who made dessert, cooked and/or ate soup for the Haiti fund raiser, my deepest gratitude. Your generosity, support and prayers allow us again to help the Diocese of Alabama bring much needed nutrition, and medical care to our brothers and sisters in Haiti. C.J. RossMedical ission to Haiti-Wednesday Night Soup Bar: on October 28, 2009 from 4:30-7:00pm. You may dine in or carry out $12.00 per person which includes your choice of soup, fruited coleslaw, French bread and dessert... All proceeds will go to support the upcoming medical mission to Haiti. For more information and to sign up please see the table in the Narthex, or contact C.J. Ross at cjenkinsro@aol.com.
POSTED FEBRUARY 2010: There are immediate needs. You can support the team by donation. Bass Pro Shops is giving the team a generous discount to purchase two 10X10 Coleman Tents at the price of $225 and gasoline in Haiti will cost the team approximately $27.00 per gallon. Your donations can help defray these costs and much, much, more. Also the following supplies are needed, please consider donating:
Triple antibiotic cream Cortisone Children's Tylenol and Motrin Adult Motrin, Aleve and Tylenol Antibacterial sanitizers - all sizes at least 30% alcohol Anti-diarrhmeds - Imodium and Pepto-BismolContact CJ Ross for more information on the 2010 Medical Mission to Haiti @ cjenkinsro@aol.com _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Photos from the 2009 February Haiti Medical Mission.
FRESH NEWS - POST MEDICAL MISSION
A word from CJ ROSS on mission posted in the June 2009 ASSISTER newsletter.
My Haitian Adventure by Charlotte (C.J.) Ross
The word "adventure" has different meanings for different people. For some it is simply trying something new. Others find adventure in attempting to something that defies common sense; they do something risky even though most people would avoid it. A good example is skydiving (you have to jump out of a perfectly good airplane). Some might say another good example is intentionally travelling to Haiti.
I have personally dealt with this question and with the perplexed looks from those who remind me that it's too dangerous and that I must be nuts. I think behind their comments is the belief that we have enough poverty, hunger, crime, and healthcare needs right here at home Why waste resources on a little-known island country like Haiti?
I agree that these are real issues as we face a world economic crisis. I can only say I've been called. A call can be as simple as telling your children you love them each day, taking food to someone who is sick, or making room to allow a car to enter Red Mountain Expressway at rush hour. Sometimes a call can become a vocation of ministry-in overseas missions or in organizations that serve the homeless, the hungry, the elderly, and drug addicts. Most of us fall somewhere in between these parameters.
We are all called to love our neighbors. Some need to be close to home and others need to go out into the world. God does not place a higher value on one than the other; he just says, "Go." We respond to what feels right at the time, sometimes with our hearts.
So why Haiti? Now that I've gone twice, I can speak to my own experiences-caring for ill infants and their malnourished mothers, hearing the cries of a newborn delivered on the warm cement floor of our clinic, watching the children of the villages walk long distances to get water from a well for their families and hearing God's praises sung in creole.
But this ministry is about much more than my own experiences. It is about God working through the generous hearts of a faith community like St. Francis, allowing the least of these to have opportunities to experience his love in receiving health care, nutrition and education. My experiences left no doubt that the Holy Spirit led me there.
Over the years I've become aware of my ability to place obstacles against that "knock on the door" till the cows come home. Maybe eventually God says, "Enough already." All I know is that the door of my heart opens wide and I jump out to find new work and new joy in his world, and in another new adventure.
Wishing you a good flight, Charlotte
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Dear Commission Members,
I just received a call for C.J. Ross, team leader for our medical mission presently in Haiti. She reported that their mountain-top adventure (Alabama's first camping mission) went well and they are safely off the mountain. They hiked in to Crochu on Tuesday and made it off the mountain late this afternoon. All are well although the hike in was accomplished with some difficulty. I believe she told me that they saw some 400 patients while there. One highlight: They delivered a baby. Mom arrived in labor. Villagers carried her in on a bed from her home an hour's walk away. Baby and mom were doing well. The team will be back in the States Saturday night. Please continue to keep them in your payers.
Peace,
Dave
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A THANK YOU FROM HAITI - POST MEDICAL MISSION 2009 FEBRUARY
Dear CJ
We would like to thank you for all your team have been done for many sick people in Haiti. I saw some they are feel much better, like the ladie with the infection in the hand at Gorman, she went to the hospital, as the dotor refered her. Thank you again for the milk you brought for the children in the nutrition program, for the condom and for everything. Please send to everyone our love, and prayers.
God bless you
Carmel and pere VAl
--- En date de : Mer 4.3.09, CJenkinsro@aol.com CJenkinsro@aol.com
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Preparing for the 2009 Medical Mission
The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama has a companion relationship with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. Working with the Rev. Fritz Valdema, priest in-charge of the Croix des Bouquets parish which consists of six geographically separated churches, we send mission teams on a regular basis to Haiti to provide much needed medical care and supplies. Our own C.J. Ross participated in a recent trip to Haiti with our Diocesan team.
February - Support our Haiti Medical Mission - For more information on donations and supplies please Contact CJ Ross at cjenkinsro@aol.com. -End Haiti ReliefCROP WALK FOR HUNGER
2009 CROP Hunger Walk: Sunday afternoon April 26 at 2:30 PM. Funds raised will assist anti-hunger projects locally and around the world. Thanks to all who walked or contributed. 
Team St. Francis 2009 was a great success! Registration and kick-off were at Rushton Park in Southside, right next to Independent Presbyterian Church. EYC members who walked with Team St. Francis met after the 10:45 service and had lunch at Taco Bell before the start of the walk. Adult walkers joined the youth for lunch and carpooled to Rushton Park. Joining team captain Bob Byrd were team members Alina Voicu, Patti Shiesz (with son Michael), Angela Szasz, Terri Coley, Jessica Lingle, Taylor Coley, Emma Ramey, Sara Dayhood and Archie Creech, Jr.
Thanks to your support Team St. Francis raised $1200 and once again appears to have raised more money than any other team. The final numbers are being tabulated. To the right is a photo of Team St. Francis 2009. 
In April 2008, St. Francis assembled a team of walkers for the CROP walk for hunger. There were 8 participants with two legs and one with four- Leopold the dog. Our team walked 5 kilometers and raised around $2000.00, which made us one of the top money raising teams in Birmingham. For a first time team this was a great achievement. Thanks to all who walked or contributed.
To the left is a photo of Ellen Hamilton accepting recognition for Team St. Francis 2008 as one of the top money raising teams in Birmingham.
-End Crop Walk For Hunger
OUTREACH 2009 SUMMARY
I feel so fortunate to be part of a church that has such a vibrant and active outreach program. Our members are involved in a plethora of outreach opportunities. We are truly blessed to have so many caring individuals in our congregation. My wish is for everyone at St. Francis to find their perfect outreach home. I have listed the organizations where our members are currently serving. If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please contact me at LRish@charter.net. Please also let me know if there are other opportunities that you would like for our members to be aware of. Please make sure to check the weekly announcements and our wonderful website to stay abreast of all of our outreach opportunities. Thank you all for your "hands to serve."
• Oak Mountain Missions - Mickey Farmer
• Habitat for Humanity- Tim Shaffer
• The Table - Jeff Barber
• Shelby DHR Angel Tree- Lethea Gray, Lara Dworshak
• Camp Coast Care - Ellen Hamilton
• Mission to Haiti - CJ Ross
• Special Equestrians - Lisa Rish
• Crop Walk for Hunger - Bob Byrd
• Episcopal Place - Anne Hartline
• AIDS Outreach - Janet Palmer
Our parish also makes monetary contributions to Oak Mountain Missions, Alabama Arise, Mission to Namibia and Episcopal Place. Lisa Rish.OUTREACH 2008 SUMMARY
This is my last report to you as I rotate off the vestry next month. I have LOVED being on the Vestry and encourage any of you who are interested to think about it next year. It is a great way to get to know some wonderful people and you are SO plugged in at church! I love being in the know- you know the old saying, "inquiring minds want to know ..." !!
I started Vestry as the EYC person, and ended by being on Outreach this year. That was a refreshing change for me. People at St. Francis really stepped up to the plate to lead a number of projects giving us the opportunity to serve others in a variety of ways:
The Table (feeding men at the Firehouse Shelter) twice - Bill Farmer, Jeff Barber
Habitat for Humanity - Bill Farmer
CROP walk for hunger - Jammye and Eric Holmes
Camp Coast Care building housing on the Mississippi Gulf Coast - Lynne Wilbanks, Sam and Renee Brown, Harry Babbitt, Bill Farmer, Neil Kominski, Michael and Ellen Hamilton
Haiti Mission- CJ Ross
Angel Tree - gift collection and delivery - Lara Dworshak and EYC
Episcopal Place Birthday Party - Anne Hartline
Episcopal Place Liason - Leathea Gray
Oak Mountain Missions - Deacon Don, Mickey Farmer
We also gave financial support to Alabama Arise, Jeremy and Penny Lucas' mission to Namibia, the Smith family mission with Make Way Partners, Oak Mountain Missions, Episcopal Place and Shelby Co DHR.
To me, the mission of the church and its membership is to serve others and I have been proud to work with our congregation in this area for the past year. Thanks to everyone who participated.
Ellen