Outreach in the Community
vision
To share Jesus’ love with the marginalized, unseen, and others in need.
Mission
To provide essential human needs while building relationships and transforming ourselves, our parish, and our community.
Values
Love, Respect, Compassion, Inclusion
Thanks to our supportive, generous congregation and Summer Concert Series donations, we are able to make a difference in the lives of many through the following projects:
Summer Concert Series
Each July St. Matthew’s hosts a series of concerts by local musicians. These events are our primary source of income, as the Outreach team is the recipient of all donations collected from the audience at each concert. Additionally, the Stone Soup team serves a hotdog dinner at one of the concerts to raise money for our cause.
st. Matthew’s house
Founded and supported by members of our congregation. St. Matthew’s House is within the Karis organization whose mission is to provide safe housing for teens living on their own in the Grand Valley. https://thehousegj.org/
chipeta Elementary School
We have sponsored this Title I school for several years by providing clothing, shoes, snacks, Thanksgiving dinners, and Christmas gifts for families who need help during the holidays.
Men in Heels
Deacon Rich led a team of men on September 12th at the last Downtown Farmer's Market. This fun and exciting race benefits Hilltop's Latimer House and Domestic Violence Services - providing emergency shelter and vital services to those affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. We raised over $500 and won our heat! For more information go to https://meninheelsrace.org/ and support our team as we participate again next year.
Ulman 4K for Cancer Bike Riders
Each summer a group of riders bike across the country to raise awareness and support for those effected by cancer. Members of our church provide a bed, hot meal, shower, and laundry services to the riders as they travel through Grand Junction.
To learn more about the riders and their mission or follow their progress go to: https://4kforcancer.org/
Mission Drives
We conduct food drives for the Community Food Bank, as well as clothing and shoe drives for Catholic Outreach and other agencies.
Stone Soup
In partnership with Solidarity Not Charity, St. Matthew’s formed Stone Soup, which prepares and serves food to our brothers and sisters in the park on the last Saturday of each month. We began this outreach service in October 2018. Our goal is to provide a nourishing meal and a friendly smile to those who are gathered there. We just want folks to know that they are loved and cared for by their community.
Robes and Slippers
During the Easter Season, we provide new robes and slippers for those in assisted living.
Christmas Giving
We give gifts and holiday cards to residents of The House, residents in assisted living, and also families who request help.
Street Ministry
We provide cold-weather clothing and protection, first-aid items and personal hygiene products to the unhoused.
Soles for Souls
We work with local schools to provide new shoes to children in the valley. We are expanding our shoe ministry to include adults.
Buddies
Our members sew “buddies” for a local hospital’s NICU. A buddy is a simple rectangle of flannel fabric that the mother places on her skin to pick up her scent. It then accompanies the baby to the incubator to comfort the baby and protect its eyes.
Piecemakers
The Piecemakers make quilts for “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town”, an organization that constructs beds for children in our community.
Goodwill Vouchers
Each month we are allotted vouchers from Goodwill to distribute to anyone in need.
You're Invited to join in the fun!
It doesn't matter who you are- God doesn't call the equipped, God equips the CALLED! You're invited to join in the fun of outreach. Be it a donation to any of our ongoing drives, joining in an existing ministry, creating a new ministry OR joining the team- YOU'RE INVITED! Contact Gretchen Davis for more information about how you can get into action!
St. Matthew’s Outreach Team Guidelines
1. The team will meet regularly on a monthly basis and will call special meetings when necessary.
2. The team focuses on the needs of the Grand Valley, but other areas may be considered if time and/or funds allow.
3. Funds for ongoing ministries take precedence over all other requests.
4. Monies will be held in reserve for ongoing ministries.
5. Requests for donations from Outreach must meet the mission.
6. Decisions regarding disbursement of funds will be made by the team at a regular meeting.
7. Emergency disbursement decisions will be made by the executive committee comprised of the chair, scribe, and treasurer.
Ongoing ministries at this point: shoes, hygiene products for the street ministry, Stone Soup, Thanksgiving turkeys, and support for Chipeta Elementary.
Funds for these ministries come out of the Outreach account. The congregation supplies items for other projects and drives.