Making Things:
Making Quilts for seriously or terminally ill children through national organization Project Linus. See www.Projectlinus.org for local area contacts-- all types & sizes of new blankets/quilts are accepted. One parish only “ties” the quilts at their meetings. Volunteers sew crib/lab size fabrics (they watch for fabric sales all year and especially “boy” type prints which are apparently less donated than feminine styles) they buy king size batting when on sale and cut 4 quilts from it. A person with a sewing machine places wrong sides of fabric together with batting on top and sews up as a pillow case shape, then turns right side out and presses, turning under open edge and sewing down. Both ends of Quilts are taped to two tables. Women sit in space between on both sides of quilt and hand tie at regular intervals 4-6” apart using embroidery floss or yarn. Ends are knotted and clipped to 1/4” – They get many touching letters from parents of sick kids even teens who hug and carry their quilt around the hospital.
Making baby blankets (to date,180 by one parish) for the neo natal unit of a local hospital, as well as a blanket for each baby that is Churched in the parish. They use baby flannel, washed, and then hand cut using a round dinner plate as a template for rounding corners. Then edges are surged all the way around the entire blanket, eliminating hemming. A personalized computer-made card is given to the babies that are churched. A deacon's wife makes the deliveries to the hospital.
Making audio tapes for the blind –volunteer readers are needed for Library for the Blind, Books on Tape and every state has a closed circuit radio broadcast for the Blind of taped reading (books, articles etc.) Perhaps this could be done on a local or parish level with Orthodox books.
Making video & audio tapes of the liturgy to send out to shut-ins (can recycle previous week’s)
Making Ethnic cookies from various Orthodox Countries for Ethnic Cookie Booth at local fair to support area food bank and introduce Orthodoxy to neighborhood
Making food baskets every year at Thanksgiving and or Christmas time for parish elderly and shut-ins, or for names received through local social service agency
Making shoe boxes filled with toiletries, etc. for needy children, women and men. One parish makes about 50 boxes labeled with the appropriate age to give a charitable organization to distribute.
Making Care packages to send to parish military deployed overseas.
Making sandwiches for local Salvation Army Feeding Program (one parish does 150/wk!)
Making lunch sacks with none perishable foods for parishioners to keep in their car to hand out to the beggars at the stoplights. Message/greeting/blessing on outside of bag. AW can even provide supplies and Sunday School kids make the bags.
Collecting Things:
Continuous or special collection of food for area food banks in basket/box placed in Narthex or fellowship hall.
Continuous collection of baby supplies,(diapers, formula, clothes, etc) for
An “Easter Tree” where needed items for the local women's shelter are listed. Parishioners take a card off the tree to donate an item.
Collection of clothing for needy various times of year
Collection of old cell phones and computer ink cartridges sold to recycler as long term fund raising for any project
Providing food vouchers from a local grocery store as well as some canned and dried foods for anyone who stops in to the church for help.
Contribute financially to a soup kitchen
Give to meals on wheels
Give to a pregnancy help center
Financially support the local fire department that is raising money for a defibrillator.
Financially support the Hogar Orphanage in
Support the local prison ministry
Sponsor several handicapped children
Caring-Inside Parish:
Sending cards on Name day, Valentines Day, Mother’s Day etc. to parishioners, especially shut-ins (also involve cards made by children in Sunday School, AW organize and mail)
Caring- Outside Parish
Maintain food pantry for local community
Offer workshop with local Dr. addressing specific health issues important to women: breast cancer, etc.
Christmas Tree where names (from social services) are printed on paper or other type ornament and people purchase gift items for that person. Most churches have variations of this, but a new privacy law as of April 2003 may require changing old methods, as names are likely to be confidential with the gov’t social services now. Checking early with your agency may prevent problems with your usual system.