Outreach at St. Boniface
Explore and exercise your calling or curiosity through these ministries at St. Boniface! Check out the list of ministries below. For personal contact information for listed group leaders, consult your
parish directory.
From one-time-only to on-going activities, from local to global projects, from advocacy to financial to hands-on support, our opportunities for service offer something for every parishioner seeking to exercise their ministry as a Christian. St. Boniface enjoys a long history of service through our community support, grants and emergency relief.
ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK
Sarasota’s
All Faiths Food Bank provides food for those in need throughout our community – nearly a quarter million meals each month. Year-round St. Boniface supports our community's food pantry by collecting non-perishable food items in special bins provided in the Parish Hall.
Click here for a list of most needed items. So grab an extra can, jar, or box on your next shopping trip to support All Faiths Food Bank!
BEST
Boniface Eco-Stewardship Team seeks to include care of our environment in our call to be faithful stewards of God’s bounty. The team explores ways to become more ecologically aware and active, and provides educational opportunities for parishioners and community members. Contact Grace Riker to learn more.
BLOOD DRIVE
What better gift to give than "the gift of life"? St. Boniface hosts regular drives for the
Suncoast Communities Blood Bank, providing blood to those in our community facing surgery, chemo therapy and burn recovery. You need only be over 17 years old and weigh more than 110 pounds for this (generally) painless lifesaving act.
EPISCOPAL RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT
Episcopal Relief & Development is the independent, international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States. It has served in this role since 1940, and takes its mandate from Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:37-40. The agency works with the worldwide Church, ecumenical agencies, and local organizations to support local responses to disasters and unique long-term initiatives that address poverty, hunger, economic development, and disease, including HIV/AIDS and malaria. ERD saves lives and strengthens communities in the United States and more than 40 countries around the world. For more information contact thr church office (941-349-5616 x318).
FAMILY PROMISE
Acting as one of many host congregations for
Family Promise of Sarasota, St. Boniface provides a rewarding and easy way to help our community’s homeless families in crisis. For one week at a time, four times a year our campus will be “home” for up to three families. They will spend the night here, and have their dinner and breakfast here. (During the day they will be at the Family Promise Day Center in town, or at their places of work.) Parishioners have may ways to volunteer: preparing and serving meals, socializing with the families, helping school children with homework, playing with the younger children, staying overnight, helping set up the families’ rooms.
FRONT OFFICE VOLUNTEERS
These volunteers perform many duties, including greeting office visitors, answering the telephone and helping the church staff with special projects. Shifts are from 9:00am - 1:00pm or from 1:00pm - 5:00pm one day a week. For more info, contact Lisa Wolf, 941-349-5616 or
e-mail the church office.
GIVING TREE
It began as an Angel Tree one December, collecting items for a community group. But we realized that this group, and others like it, had needs all year long, not just at Christmas. And so was born our Giving Tree. Throughout the year you can support the work of worthy groups by picking a tag from the Tree. Previous Trees have supported education and mentoring, parenting, hunger, eco-stewardship and our troops in Afghanistan. Watch the newsletter, our website and the Sunday leaflet for announcements of future Giving Trees: you can be an angel any month of the year! For information contact Helen Francis.
GRANTS FOR OUTREACH
To further the ministry of Christ in the world, the
Grants Committee identifies individuals or organizations that are working to improve the lives of those in need. Committee members develop ideas and seek project suggestions from parishioners, as well as research all proposals. Since its inception in 1995, the Committee has recommended nearly a half million dollars in grants for local and global projects. Contact Helen Francis or
email the church office.
If you enjoy making new friends, this hospitality ministry is for you. Greeters work in rotation, one Sunday a month, by the door of the church before and after the services. They greet and welcome visitors, newcomers and fellow parishioners to St. Boniface, and help them feel comfortable while worshiping with us. They invite people to Coffee Hour or other parish activities. For more information email
Connie Mereness or
Rooney Mereness or call them at 941-346-1844.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY You're invited to join our cadre of volunteers from St. Boniface who turn out for a half-day's work on Tuesdays, Thursdays and/or Saturdays. Habitat will be constructing approximately 20 new affordable homes each year in our community. They do not require finish carpenters--just interested folks, male and female, young (well, over 16) and old (no age limit!). This will make it possible for hard-working families to live near their jobs here in Sarasota. The average family unit consists of 3-4 persons, therefore they will be providing new housing for 60-80 individuals each year. If you are interested please contact parishioner
Steve Reid.
THE LIBRARY TEAM
The library team is currently cataloging all books in the St. Boniface Library to create both a hard copy and a digital copy list of library books by category. In addition, our team maintains the Give and Take Cart which offers parishioners -- and visitors! -- a choice of novels to take home. With donations from the congregation, this ministry has been developed into a vibrant church activity. Contact Dor Brown.
RESURRECTION HOUSE
Resurrection House is a day resource center for the local homeless community, centrally located in downtown Sarasota, and offers a variety of basic services, including showers, laundry and breakfast (weekdays). Counselors are also available to assist clients in need of replacement ID's, birth certificates, and bus passes, and can help direct them to essential job and government resources, as well as substance abuse programs.
Click here for a list of much-needed items. Many volunteer opportunities are available, contact Reg Irvine for more information.
ST. JOSEPH WORKERS
St. Joseph Workers gather Monday mornings at St. Boniface. This crew of parishioners meets to help our Building and Grounds Manager with handyman projects that keep the campus spruced up. For more info, contact John Calhoun.
ST. NICHOLAS FAIR
This event centers around giving in the spirit of St. Nicholas, traditionally associated with generosity and protection, especially towards children. All proceeds from the Fair go to local charities. For more information contact Ann Hardcastle by
email.
