Local Outreach

God calls each of us to serve those in need. Our Outreach Committee, outreach@ st-john-aptos.org, helps those that have a ministry in their heart to bring it into being.
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With our hands, we support:
​Habitat for Humanity
​St. John’s supports the work of Habitat for Humanity in Santa Cruz County. This organization has built 62 affordable homes for local families with more to come.  St. John’s members prepare lunches for the Habitat volunteers and drop them off at the current building site.  Some of the more gifted 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.
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 stable environment for folks not much different than us.  Along with AFC's SafeSpaces program, we help shelterand case work for 55 people.

How to Help:  Contact Jon Showalter.

​Shower the People…
​Hot showers are provided for our unhoused neighbors by the Mid County Homeless Coalition several times a week.  St. John’s volunteers do the setup, pass out towels, and clean the stalls between showers on Saturday afternoons.  
 
How to help: Contact Brian Raney.
Citizenship Classes
Those preparing for their citizenship test benefit from bilingual instruction in the complexities of American government held at St. John’s, under the leadership of Gina Muller, a credentialed ESL teacher.   

How to Help:  Contact Gina Muller.
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Students from a recent ESL class.
Prison & Jail Ministry
Prison ministry is an ongoing part of St. John’s outreach.  Our members are involved in Kairos and Christian Hope programs ministering to hose incarcerated.  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 its upkeep.
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Beach Cleanups
Three times a year we do an organized beach cleanup. We have adapted
​Seacliff State Beach through Save our Shores.
The cleanups are two hours, usually on a Saturday morning.

With our treasure, we support:

  • AFC- Association of Faith Communities- afcsantacruz.org
  • COPA- Communities Organized to Promote Relational Power in Action-copaiaf.org
  • Pajaro Flood Relief