Outreach Ministry

Outreach is part of the fabric of St. Paul’s. Parishioners have always been actively engaged in reaching out to those around them. Members of the congregation have served as volunteers with the Hmong refugee resettlement program, in the local hospitals, reading to young students in our schools, helping with the CHUM food shelf and CHUM Church, serving at the Damiano Center’s soup kitchen, planning the annual Opening our Doors-Opening Our Hearts conference, Duluth’s Human Rights Commission, rocking babies at Little Treasuress Child Care Center, facilitating support groups (AA, Al-Anon, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, etc.) and in a host of other ways.

St. Paul’s also has an active Social Ministries Commission—This group of dedicated parishioners meets monthly to review grant requests they’ve been asked to fund. Through the years they’ve provided support to : Women’s Transitional Housing Children’s Fund; Little Treasures Child Care Center; St. Paul’s Parish Nurse; St. Paul’s Outreach Discretionary Fund; Life House; Salvation Army; Health Care Access Office; the annual Crop Walk; CHUM Emergency Shelter; Origam Accessibility; Clayton, Jackson, McGhie Memorial; Veteran’s Outreach North; Environmental Racism; Men as Peacemakers; Emgabee House Canoes; Arrowhead Juvenile Detention Center; families needing help with burial costs; and many others.  This commission also provides leadership in empowering our parish to actively serve the larger community in a wide variety of ways. For more information on how to participate in this vital and vibrant ministry, contact the commission chair, Charlie Bertel (728-4640).

In addition, an Outreach Coordinator—is available (Tue-Wed-Thurs, 8-noon) to visit with individuals who are experiencing a crisis of some sort and come to the church requesting assistance. This ministry serves parishioners, as well as those who are not. Requests for a variety of things are made: diapers, rent/deposit assistance, help with prescriptions, prayers, transportation (gas vouchers, bus passes, bus tickets to a loved one who is ill/dying), food, advocacy with a creditor, utility assistance (deposits or a higher-than-usual bill for gas/electricity/water), clothing for children in school, clothing for job interviews, etc. The majority of requests are referred elsewhere – to a local agency whose mission more closely fits their particular need. For others, a modest gift of financial assistance may be offered from the Outreach Discretionary Fund.  If you have questions or would like more information on how you might help with this important ministry, please contact Barb Hauck (724-3535 x13).