Supporting Service and Outreach at St. Columba’s
Searching for a ministry?
Select the Ministry Leader Directory from the Quicklinks menu at the top right of any page on our website, and you’ll get an alphabetical listing of all the ministry groups at St. C’s.
St. Columba’s service and outreach thrive thanks to those who give so generously of themselves, and we always have room for (and need of) more volunteers. If you’re not sure where your talents would best be suited, follow your heart or contact ministry leaders, any member of the Outreach Steering Committee or the Rev. Rose Duncan (outreachleader@columba.org). They’ll listen to your interests and suggest some potential ministries that you may explore.
We also conduct two annual initiatives to garner much-needed financial support for our service work. These two initiatives account for a large portion of our available funding, and we rely on the generosity and commitment of all parishioners to help us with these efforts.
St. Columba’s Annual Mini-Walk and Mall Walk to Benefit Our Homelessness Programs
St. Columba’s is fortunate to have been affiliated over the years with the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless program, which encourages organizations to educate individuals on homelessness issues in the Nation's Capital, and provides incentive money to bolster fundraising in support of programs serving homeless populations. Fannie Mae provides the infrastructure to help raise awareness of homelessness issues while at the same time raising funds to support our own programs helping to prevent and mitigate homelessness. Fannie Mae then matches what we collect with funds of its own.
The funds we raise by hosting a mini-walk each fall (one of the largest in the D.C. area) and by participating in the national walkathon on the Mall are a critical part of our service budget. The money supports such programs as the Water Ministry, which provides showers, laundry facilities, and meals to our needy neighbors in Northwest DC; The Haven, which provides transitional housing and support services for up to six women at Fletcher House, our former rectory; and Rebuilding Together, which by our labor helps keep low income—often elderly—families in their own homes.
Contact: Rose Duncan (outreachleader@columba.org)
Reach Out in Advent
This annual event provides an easy way to buy Christmas gifts that make a real difference—and that make an impact beyond our immediate circles of family and friends. St. Columba’s annual Reach Out bazaar takes place in the Common on the first three Sundays of Advent. Visit tables offering a wide array of opportunities for alternative gift-giving in support of the work performed by our service ministries, as well as the occasional tangible gift item. Click here to download a PDF about Reach Out 2012. For more information, e-mail reachout@columba.org.
Click the following link for more information:
Fannie Mae Help-the-Homeless program
Contact: Rose Duncan (outreachleader@columba.org)
Photo: Susan Elliott
