Serving the wider community
St Bart's parishioners are involved in many organizations that help those in need in the wider Portland area. Read below for further information on how we provide our time and talents.
Youth Service Project
Each Spring we have a special Service Project for our Sunday School children. This year we invited kids and their families to put together "Kits" to donate to the non-profit Maine Needs. This organization provides clothing and household supplies to families in need. Our families put together 20 kits that ranged from "Moment for Mom" to "Cleaning and Toiletries" to "Spring Care." Pal Covie, our Education Coordinator, said the folks at Maine Needs were thrilled and so thankful for all of our donations. Thank you St Bart's families!
Saint Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center
St Elizabeth's Jubilee Center is a low-barrier pantry serving non-food essentials to all those in need, including new Mainers and Mainers whose families have been here for generations. Every Tuesday at no charge, we provide basic, daily essentials to those living in need that cannot be purchased with SNAP funds, such as toilet paper, soap, detergent, and other hygiene essentials. Once a month we distribute diapers, bedding, bath and kitchen items. Every autumn over 500 winter boots and pairs of coats are distributed. We connect people with other resources in the community for needs such as furniture, language acquisition, job search assistance, and other social needs.
On average we serve about 150 individuals each week. The pantry is located in the lower hall of St. Luke’s Cathedral in Portland. Volunteers from seven participating parishes staff the pantry each week. In addition to collecting donations for the pantry at the church, St. Bart’s serves on the fourth Tuesday of each month. There are also other volunteer opportunities such as driving donations to the Cathedral and other special projects. For more information about the ministry of St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center and Essential’s Pantry and our current donation needs, or to learn how to make in kind donations or to provide financial support, check the St Elizabeth's website. If you would like to be a volunteer, please email Linda Draper, the St. Bart’s Board Representative
St Bart's parishioners are involved in many organizations that help those in need in the wider Portland area. Read below for further information on how we provide our time and talents.
Youth Service Project
Each Spring we have a special Service Project for our Sunday School children. This year we invited kids and their families to put together "Kits" to donate to the non-profit Maine Needs. This organization provides clothing and household supplies to families in need. Our families put together 20 kits that ranged from "Moment for Mom" to "Cleaning and Toiletries" to "Spring Care." Pal Covie, our Education Coordinator, said the folks at Maine Needs were thrilled and so thankful for all of our donations. Thank you St Bart's families!
Saint Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center
St Elizabeth's Jubilee Center is a low-barrier pantry serving non-food essentials to all those in need, including new Mainers and Mainers whose families have been here for generations. Every Tuesday at no charge, we provide basic, daily essentials to those living in need that cannot be purchased with SNAP funds, such as toilet paper, soap, detergent, and other hygiene essentials. Once a month we distribute diapers, bedding, bath and kitchen items. Every autumn over 500 winter boots and pairs of coats are distributed. We connect people with other resources in the community for needs such as furniture, language acquisition, job search assistance, and other social needs.
On average we serve about 150 individuals each week. The pantry is located in the lower hall of St. Luke’s Cathedral in Portland. Volunteers from seven participating parishes staff the pantry each week. In addition to collecting donations for the pantry at the church, St. Bart’s serves on the fourth Tuesday of each month. There are also other volunteer opportunities such as driving donations to the Cathedral and other special projects. For more information about the ministry of St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center and Essential’s Pantry and our current donation needs, or to learn how to make in kind donations or to provide financial support, check the St Elizabeth's website. If you would like to be a volunteer, please email Linda Draper, the St. Bart’s Board Representative
Volunteering at St. Elizabeth's Essentials Pantry
Friendship House
Friendship House is an organization committed to helping men seeking to overcome their addictions, mainly by providing guidance, encouragement, and a family atmosphere. This is accomplished by staffing the house with loving, compassionate, individuals who understand addiction and live with the guests. Herb Blake is the Executive Director. Friendship House is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors committed to providing the best home possible. It is located at 390 Lincoln St. in South Portland. Financial donations can be mailed to this address.
St. Bartholomew’s (families and individuals) have for more than 25 years supported this mission by preparing and delivering a meal (entrée, salad, bread and dessert) on the third Thursday of each month for 15 men and the house manager and his wife (17 total). Financial support is also provided from our fundraising efforts (Annual Lobster Bake and Art Show).
An ongoing Wish List includes: towels, sheets, toiletries, cleaning supplies, silverware. Clothing donations are also welcomed. Items may be left in labeled boxes outside at the church.
Please contact Pam Hobson with questions: email.
Lobster Bake fundraiser
Yarmouth Compassionate Housing Initiative (YCHI)
Starting in 2016, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church joined with First Universalist Church of Yarmouth and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to provide emergency, temporary shelter for homeless, asylum-seeking families unable to be housed at the Chestnut Street Family Shelter in Portland due to a lack of available rooms. Over the last few years, we have expanded outreach in numerous ways. Some of our most recent efforts have included temporary housing for newborns, English Language classes, permanent housing in the renovation of 95 Main Street in Yarmouth, and home-cooked holiday meals.
Funding has come from two recurring funding sources: The St. Bart’s Annual Lobster Bake and the First Universalist Church of Yarmouth. For the first time, YCHI also received funding from St.Bart’s through the proceeds from the Yarmouth Art Show. We also received donations from private donors and the Maine Council of Churches. We have used these funds to provide support for food insecure families, bus tickets, ELL supplies, moving and settling in expenses, translation services and COVID supplies. The demand for funding continues as we branch out into new areas of need. We have continued to serve immigrant families in significant ways over the last 4 ½ years. Relationships continue to grow and deepen.
We are grateful for the many volunteers and generosity of the St. Bart’s community!
Please contact Carla Hunt, Coordinator, YCHI, ychiyarmouth@gmail.com
Starting in 2016, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church joined with First Universalist Church of Yarmouth and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to provide emergency, temporary shelter for homeless, asylum-seeking families unable to be housed at the Chestnut Street Family Shelter in Portland due to a lack of available rooms. Over the last few years, we have expanded outreach in numerous ways. Some of our most recent efforts have included temporary housing for newborns, English Language classes, permanent housing in the renovation of 95 Main Street in Yarmouth, and home-cooked holiday meals.
Funding has come from two recurring funding sources: The St. Bart’s Annual Lobster Bake and the First Universalist Church of Yarmouth. For the first time, YCHI also received funding from St.Bart’s through the proceeds from the Yarmouth Art Show. We also received donations from private donors and the Maine Council of Churches. We have used these funds to provide support for food insecure families, bus tickets, ELL supplies, moving and settling in expenses, translation services and COVID supplies. The demand for funding continues as we branch out into new areas of need. We have continued to serve immigrant families in significant ways over the last 4 ½ years. Relationships continue to grow and deepen.
We are grateful for the many volunteers and generosity of the St. Bart’s community!
Please contact Carla Hunt, Coordinator, YCHI, ychiyarmouth@gmail.com
Yarmouth Food Pantry
The Yarmouth Community Food Pantry had to quickly adopt new procedures when the pandemic hit. The way food was traditionally distributed would no longer work. Patrons could not come into the pantry, volunteers who were over 60 or immuno-compromised could no longer volunteer. First Parish Church closed their doors to the public and opened their multi-purpose room as a staging area for the pantry to work and distribute in a new way.
Bags are pre-packed ahead of time. Patrons wait outside in a line, socially distant and wearing a mask and come to the Pantry door and pick up a bag. They are offered additional items such as meat, bread and bakery products, produce, deli, milk and eggs. Hannaford’s $25 gift cards are being given out once a month to each family as well. The Pantry continues to regularly serve about 80 families in a modified Grab and Go process.
St. Bart’s parishioners contributed numerous items to fill Thanksgiving baskets distributed to about 60 families. We have tireless volunteers who schedule volunteers, pack bags on weekends, distribute food during open hours, do home deliveries, go to Wayside weekly for milk pick-ups, place orders with Good Shepherd, do dump runs, and anything else that needs doing. If you are interested in volunteering or making a donation don’t hesitate to reach out to Anne Ball email, Yarmouth Community Food Pantry Steering Committee
The Yarmouth Community Food Pantry had to quickly adopt new procedures when the pandemic hit. The way food was traditionally distributed would no longer work. Patrons could not come into the pantry, volunteers who were over 60 or immuno-compromised could no longer volunteer. First Parish Church closed their doors to the public and opened their multi-purpose room as a staging area for the pantry to work and distribute in a new way.
Bags are pre-packed ahead of time. Patrons wait outside in a line, socially distant and wearing a mask and come to the Pantry door and pick up a bag. They are offered additional items such as meat, bread and bakery products, produce, deli, milk and eggs. Hannaford’s $25 gift cards are being given out once a month to each family as well. The Pantry continues to regularly serve about 80 families in a modified Grab and Go process.
St. Bart’s parishioners contributed numerous items to fill Thanksgiving baskets distributed to about 60 families. We have tireless volunteers who schedule volunteers, pack bags on weekends, distribute food during open hours, do home deliveries, go to Wayside weekly for milk pick-ups, place orders with Good Shepherd, do dump runs, and anything else that needs doing. If you are interested in volunteering or making a donation don’t hesitate to reach out to Anne Ball email, Yarmouth Community Food Pantry Steering Committee
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396 Gilman Road, Yarmouth, Maine, 04096 CONTACT US
Church Office Phone: (207) 846-9244 Office email: admin@stbartsyarmouth.org Receive our Newsletter! Click here to receive our weekly newsletter and monthly Mustard Seed publication via email. St Bart’s is a parish of the Diocese of Maine, of the Episcopal Church, a province of the Anglican Communion. |
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