Outreach Ministry Board

St. Philip’s Diaper Ministry partners with the Lower Cape Fear Diaper Bank to ensure that every family in our community has access to basic needs to support their dignity, health, and quality of life. Diapers (child and adult) as well as wipes and creams are distributed through the NC Diaper Bank. Volunteers are needed to work at the Diaper Bank on Wednesday mornings. Wrapping parties are held on a regular basis to package up donated diapers in smaller quantities to distribute. Since its establishment in April 2014, this ministry has continued to support families throughout the community. Contact: Maryann Darzano

SOIICF is an organization made up of 17 area churches who join to build community by serving others. It regularly supports the Food Pantry in Boiling Spring Lakes and assists with many human needs. Routinely the Pantry serves over 900 families monthly. They also provide assistance to individuals and families with emergency medical costs, rent, utilities, car repairs, etc. Annually SOIICF supports several community events – MLK Walk, Lenten Wednesday Worship and lunch, the ICF Walk for hunger and a Thanksgiving Prayer service. In 2024, a new event was sponsored by SOIICF – Day4Hope. This is a back-to-school readiness event for underserved children in the county. St. Philip’s supported this activity with many volunteers, collection of school supplies and financial backing from Outreach.  Representatives from St. Philip’s attend monthly meetings and partner in projects. Contact: Margaret Melando

The Chapel of the Cross Docent Ministry focuses on allowing the Chapel of the Cross to be open to the public for quiet reflection and/or historical education on a limited schedule. A historical book, authored by church member, Charles Pollock, is available to purchase for $10 each. Volunteers are welcome to join us; schedules are flexible. Please contact Deborah Alt, debann.alt@gmail.com or Kate Hardin, katehardin43@gmail.com for more information. Training will be provided.

For the 2024 Christmas season, St. Philip’s provided gifts of clothes, toys, and school supplies to 83 children ages 6 months to 17 years old. We also provided gift cards to two parents ($100 each) in need of funds for clothes and food. We worked with the South Brunswick Middle School counselor who provided names of 20 children, Day4Hope provided 50 names of children and Brunswick Partnership for Housing provided 13 names. This year we are working with the same three groups and have names of 75 children. Evan and Gayle Peterson continue to manage the program.

The Brunswick Partnership for Housing provides outreach and case management programs for homeless individuals and families, coordinates emergency shelter through area motels and provides transitional housing for homeless families. We publicize and support their fundraising efforts, such as Sleep Out Brunswick, as well as receive up to date information about the community needs. Director: Sally Learned

Day4Hope is an event that takes place before the beginning of the school year, to provide services and supplies to our most vulnerable children and families. The program is intended to initiate relationships between volunteers, sponsoring churches, and vulnerable members of our community. The vision and scope of continued ministering to these families is determined by the participants.

Episcopal Relief & Development works in collaboration with church partners and other local organizations to facilitate healthier, more fulfilling lives in communities that are struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease.

The remaining funds from the $5,000 grant awarded to Lil’ Bit of Help in 2024 supported the mission work begun at St. Paul’s by the Sea Anglican Church and School in Corozal, Belize. These funds were used to complete the church sanctuary’s window replacements and to install a new sound system. Lil’ Bit of Help board member Doug Cottrell—who lives part of the year in Belize and attends the church—helped oversee both projects and continues to keep the organization informed about ongoing needs. In addition, board members and donors provided new school uniforms for children unable to afford them, as well as new drums for the school’s marching band.