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Outreach
As an active and living parish, St. Thomas’ is vitally connected to the social causes that directly affect the community around us. The Outreach Committee serves as the hands and feet for the parish expanding its ministry of social justice and community outreach to both our city and the world beyond.
Outreach is one of the ways by which we live the Gospel outside the walls of the Church. St. Thomas’ has a long history of involvement in and commitment to many area charities, non-profits and special causes. Outreach communicates and promotes the spiritual/theological basis for social ministry, developing priorities of activity and guidelines for giving and coordinating the Church’s involvement locally, nationally and internationally.
» View photos of outreach at St. Thomas' Parish
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In the spring of 2004, St. Thomas' began supporting the Basic Grains Project, a micro-finance project, of San Mateo Parish in El Cerron, Honduras. Working directly with the Episcopal Diocese of Washington's Diocesan Committee on Honduras, the Outreach Committee contributed funds...
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 Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington is dedicated to helping the homeless or others in need help themselves to improve their lives. SMGW began in 1986 when 11 Episcopal parishes in the Greater Washington area (one of which was St. Thomas') decided to join...
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Since 2003, St. Thomas' Parish has participated in the Adopt-an-Apartment program with Transitional Housing Corporation (THC). THC finds and secures housing for families transitioning from homelessness to a stable and independent life. The hallmark of their program is the two year residential program at Partner Arms I and II where families making the transition from shelter life to home life are supported through onsite case workers and provided safe and supportive opportunities to develop valuable life skills.
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Melissa Barrett has been a member of St. Thomas’ Parish and the Outreach Committee since 1991. She served for many years on the board of Samaritan Ministry and was President of the Board for two years. She also served as Senior Warden, Vestry Member and Outreach Chair at St. Thomas’ Parish.
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The amazing thing about writing a profile such as this is you are offered a rare opportunity to reflect on how and why you started volunteering your time and energy towards a project or an organization. When I began attending St. Thomas' six years ago I was looking for a church and community I could call my own. New to D.C., I moved to here right after college and growing up in the Episcopal Church I naturally gravitated towards the familiar. St. Thomas' offered a progressive, Christian community one could easily want to be a part of, but honestly it was hard to find my place at first.
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Episcopal Relief & Development Stories from the Field
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Read true stories of success and triumph from some of the countries where we work. You will receive new and featured stories from our partners in the field as they are published. |
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A Boat of Her Own
Elena is a food vendor in the community of Uros-Chulluni, Peru, where the only mode of transportation is by boat. The expense of renting a boat to sell her food limited both her business growth and mobility. Although Elena dreamed of owning her own boat, she had no collateral to secure one. Through a micro-finance program supported by Episcopal Relief & Development, the Ecumenical Church Loan Fund and the Anglican Diocese of Peru, Elena and her neighbors formed a community bank. She was then able to obtain a small loan without traditional collateral, enabling her to buy her own boat. Now Elena’s business has expanded to include not only the sale of food, but also handicrafts and candy. She’s thankful to Episcopal Relief & Development for showing her how to improve her income, continue her children’s education and strengthen her family.
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Building Access to Clean Water
Maria, her husband Juan and their five children knew the harmful effects of dirty, contaminated water in their village of Bijagua, Nicaragua. They used to bring the household water for cooking, bathing, drinking and washing in buckets from a stream 10 minutes away from their home — the same stream where cattle roamed. The children were constantly sick with diarrhea, and getting the water each day was a real burden. “Our daughter spent so much time carrying water, she was falling behind in her school work. We always worried about her walking alone in the dark of the early mornings and evenings. There are poisonous snakes around here,” said Maria. Episcopal Relief & Development partnered with El Porvenir, an organization that works in Nicaraguan communities to develop water, sanitation and re-forestation projects. The program also provided Maria and her community with education and training on properly maintaining the water system, water hygiene and protecting children and families from preventable, water-related diseases. Instances of water-borne illnesses were also tracked by local health monitors. Now Bijagua has safe water and residents can stay healthy. “Our daughter is excelling in school now that she doesn’t have to carry buckets of water. And the children don’t have diarrhea anymore,” Maria stated.
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