Local Outreach
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Community Project Fund (CPF) The Vestry announces an invitation to all parishioners to submit proposals to use the fund for one parcular project selected by the Parish as a whole cosng up to $80,000. CPF overview CPF Guidlines CPF Schedule CPF Application |
Habitat for Humanity St. John’s supports the work of Habitat for Humanity in Santa Cruz County. This organization has provided 40 affordable homes to local families, and a current project will add six more. Our parishioners have been preparing lunches for the Habitat volunteers for over 15 years. Individual parishioners also volunteer as construction workers. How to Help: Mary Nona Hudson coordinates the St. John’s members who prepare lunches. The Habitat website has contacts for helping build the homes. |
Sally & Frank Hewitt, after delivering the lunches, eat with Habitat volunteer workers.
Homeless Services
Rebele Family Shelter
St. John’s has been actively involved in various support services for the homeless. We raised funds to help build the Rebele Family Shelter, part of the Homeless Services Center (HSC), on the corner of River and Coral Streets in Santa Cruz. (The facility was named for St. John’s members, Rowland and Pat Rebele.) Upon completion of the facility, the Parish furnished two family apartments. The shelter accommodates 28 families with children for a maximum stay of six months, providing counseling and career exploration, and helping people find jobs and permanent housing.
Faith Community Shelter
Since the fall of 2015 St. John’s has been sheltering people without homes every Saturday night. People come for fellowship, a good meal, showers and a safe, warm place to sleep. As part of the Association of Faith Community (AFC) we join 30 other area faith communities in providing a far more stable environment for folks not much different than us. Along with AFC's SafeSpaces program, we help shelter 20 people.
How to Help: Contact Jon Showalter.
Rebele Family Shelter
St. John’s has been actively involved in various support services for the homeless. We raised funds to help build the Rebele Family Shelter, part of the Homeless Services Center (HSC), on the corner of River and Coral Streets in Santa Cruz. (The facility was named for St. John’s members, Rowland and Pat Rebele.) Upon completion of the facility, the Parish furnished two family apartments. The shelter accommodates 28 families with children for a maximum stay of six months, providing counseling and career exploration, and helping people find jobs and permanent housing.
Faith Community Shelter
Since the fall of 2015 St. John’s has been sheltering people without homes every Saturday night. People come for fellowship, a good meal, showers and a safe, warm place to sleep. As part of the Association of Faith Community (AFC) we join 30 other area faith communities in providing a far more stable environment for folks not much different than us. Along with AFC's SafeSpaces program, we help shelter 20 people.
How to Help: Contact Jon Showalter.
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English as a Second Language
English language instruction is held twice weekly at St. John’s, under the leadership of Gina Muller, a credentialed ESL teacher. Students are immigrants to the U.S. from Mexico and El Salvador. In addition to the classes, individual parishioners are paired with students for weekly one-on-one tutoring. This program takes place under the auspices of the The Literacy Project of Santa Cruz County. How to Help: Contact Gina Muller. |
Students from a recent ESL class.
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Prison and Jail Ministry
Prison ministry is an ongoing part of St. John’s outreach. Our members are involved in Kairos and Christian Hope. These team ministries involve small groups who present one- to three-day programs to inmates at various state prison locations. Some members visit Salinas Valley State Prison, Santa Cruz Main Jail, and the Women’s Blaine Street facility. How to Help: Contact Bill Kell to join this ministry or to contribute to it. |
Adopt-a-Family Project
In connection with the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz, during Advent we reach out to less fortunate families in our local community and “adopt” two or three of them. Parishioners donate wrapped Christmas gifts found on the families’ “wish list,” food items and/or money.
How to Help: You can purchase and wrap selected gifts in early December. Contact the church office at that time for the name of the current organizer.