At St. Monica’s, we believe that outreach into the surrounding community yields a strong parish life and is one of the best ways that we can share Christ’s love with our neighbors. This page lists just a few of our many outreach programs, all of which are only possible through our parishioners’ time, talents, and treasures.
Beans and Rice
St. Monica’s Beans and Rice Ministry is an outreach to our surrounding community. On the last Saturday of every month, we provide dried beans and rice to anyone who stops by.
The ministry began serving about 30 families each month in January 2014, providing beans and rice as well as canned goods and peanut butter when available. Once a month, our parishioners gather to prepare food packages for our monthly distribution. Like all of our ministries at St. Monica’s, we rely on donations from our congregation to keep this wonderful ministry in action.
Here’s how you can help!
- Help package food items once a month
- Volunteer to help distribute food on the last Saturday of every month at Beans and Rice.
- Donate supplemental food items, such as canned fruit, peanut butter, canned chicken, canned tuna, and canned vegetables
- Donate your spare plastic grocery bags
- Make a financial contribution. Checks may be made payable to St. Monica’s Episcopal Church with the notation of “Beans and Rice” on the memo line.
Back to School Bash
The Back to School Bash is one of our biggest events of the year. Over the last two years, we have given away over 75 backpacks, and we plan on doubling that number this year. In addition to backpacks, students may choose to take school supplies for their individual grade (K – 12). We provide free hot dogs, chips, and drinks for all students and parents and have a free water slide and water games, so come in your bathing suit because you will want to get wet!
St. Monica’s Saves
In association with The American Red Cross, Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church hosts St. Monica’s Saves, a CPR, First Aid, and Choking Rescue Training. Since its inception in November 2023, over 40 people have learned these life-saving skills at this location, at a discounted price of just $25.
From The American Red Cross:
In one year alone, 436,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest. Globally, cardiac arrest claims more lives than colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, influenza, pneumonia, auto accidents, HIV, firearms, and house fires combined. (Source: American Heart Association Consensus Statement). The location of Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrests (OHCA) most often occurs in homes/residences (73.4%), followed by public settings (16.3%) and nursing homes (10.3%). If performed immediately, CPR can double or triple the chance of survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Learn how to save a life by registering for a St. Monica’s CPR, First Aid, and Choking Rescue training class.
For more information, email Bill Garner
November 8 CPR Class Registration
Emergency Food Pantry
When financial troubles created a food insecurity in our local community, St. Monica’s founded an Emergency Food Pantry to provide basic food and hygiene items to those in need on the spot. We regularly have peanut butter, dried goods, and canned goods to supplement the food from our Beans and Rice ministry. In the aftermath of the flood that occurred in April 2014, we were able to offer help to families in our local area who were in need. Since the Covid-19 crisis, the St. Monica’s community has seen a rise in the number of people seeking assistance. At St. Monica’s, we firmly believe that no one should go hungry.
Monthly Learning Events
In early 2025, the Vestry of St. Monica’s initiated a new outreach program with the goal of spreading knowledge and joy to those inside and outside of our Church. These events are an opportunity for evangelism and fellowship, and exist to serve our community. Previous months’ topics include Intro to Chicken Keeping, Tai Chi Workshop, Flower Arranging Workshop, and a Crawfish Boil Workshop. Keep an eye on our Coming Events page to see when our next event will occur!
The United Thank Offering
The United Thank Offering is an outreach mission of the Episcopal Church. The prayers of Thanksgiving begin when we recognize the many blessings we have. We then make daily offerings which we place in a blue U.T.O. box. Each fall, we gather the U.T.O. boxes and offer them in thanksgiving. One hundred percent of the collection is granted for missions at home and abroad.