A GOOD & JOYFUL THING

Good News, Good Food, and Good Fun were had by all Saturday, August 23rd in the Community Room as St. Michael’s congregation and their friends raised $30,000 to support our Outreach Ministry Partners! These funds will go straight to our partner agencies and allow us to fulfill 100% of their grant requests. And thanks to Jeopardy, everyone knows who those incredible partners are! 

One hundred twenty guests enjoyed a fabulous coq au vin meal provided by gigi Wine Bar and Bistro, augmented with salads and appetizers from Moretti's. Be sure to support our donors' establishments and thank Chef Jessen from gigi and Mark Hoffman from Moretti's for their very generous donations of delicious food.

A special shout out to Sean Harrington, Master of Ceremonies Extraordinaire, who kept us on schedule and spending money, and Steve Osikowicz and Lynn (Vanna) Mayberry who led us in our rollicking Jeopardy Trivia competition. 

Above all, the family of St. Michaels has an abundance of the most precious gift of all: the gift of opening our hearts and arms wide, looking outside ourselves at a world in need of compassion, support, and care. That gift of abundant giving, sharing of time, talent and treasure, is the greatest gift of all. Your generosity for this event will feed children and the homeless person, will shelter someone from the storm, and will reach across miles to support women in terrific need. 

Thank you from all the Outreach Team Members!

Leaders:  Ann Ryba, Sam Adams-Lanham

Email:  

Outreach Ministry Partners

Barrington Area Council on Aging/Meals with Wheels (food for seniors)

Chalice House (housing for asylum seekers)

CUMALI (feeding homeless)

Food for Greater Elgin (food pantry)

Porche De Salomon (building homes in Guatemala)

Ravenswood Community Services (food pantry, emergency food for kids)

Redeemer Church Families in Crisis (emergency rent/financial support)

Rebuilding Together (repairing low-income homes in Chicago)

Renk, Sudan Microloan program (for women to build businesses)

St. Cyprian’s Food Pantry (food pantry)

St. Leonard’s Ministries (housing formerly incarcerated citizens)

Each of these agencies has been in partnership with St. Michaels Episcopal Church for at least 3 years (most have been supported for over 10 years). The Outreach Team reviews annual grant requests and funds are allocated with vestry approval.

Our Mission

St. Michael’s Outreach Ministries mobilize the human, spiritual and financial resources among the people of St. Michael’s Church in order to proclaim together by word and example the Good News of God in Christ. 

Our Goals

Whether we are considering grants or planning hands-on activities, we keep in mind the following goals:

• Align funding and activities with St. Michael’s mission and strategic goals.
• Maximize meaningful parishioner giving and involvement.
• Commit resources (financial and human) to activities that can be enthusiastically sustained over time.

How do we decide what organizations to support?

A variety of factors are considered when determining our involvement:

• Involvement of St. Michael’s parishioners
• Designation as an Episcopal charity
• Recommendation by parishioners, clergy, and diocese
• Effectiveness and efficiency of the organization.  Priority will be given to agencies demonstrating the ability to meaningfully impact the lives of the less fortunate. Priority will also be given to agencies that channel the greatest amount of funds into programs
• Maintain a balance of participation: locally, regionally, and globally
• Organizations that promote the health & well-being of the less fortunate
• Capacity for parish to fulfill the commitment (in terms of money, time, and commitment)

Learn more about:

Outreach Activities

Volunteer Opportunities

Grant Allocation Committee & Process