Community Outreach through St. Stephen’s Preschool
Each year, St. Stephen’s Preschool supports several non-profits in an effort to share our many blessings and to teach our children how to give back to their community. All the non-profits we support help children just like ours! Throughout the year, you and your children will be asked to support these organizations through food drives and more. Here is an overview of the great work each group is doing.
St. Stephen’s Church Food Pantry-- http://saintstephensrichmond.net/foodpantry
- The St. Stephen’s Food Pantry served over 675 families and nearly 3000 individuals in the past year through weekly food distribution.
- In order to keep up with the need over the past six months, St. Stephen’s Food Pantry had to purchase 2.9 tons of food from the Central Virginia Food Bank in addition to donations from parishioners and the Farmers Market.
- Each Thanksgiving, St. Stephen’s Preschool children donate additional items to the food pantry as their offering at our Thanksgiving service.
- Because the need is so great, St. Stephen’s Preschool children are also encouraged to send in a non-perishable food item for the Food Pantry along with their snack room contribution
Peter Paul Development Center -- http://www.peterpauldevcenter.org/
- PPDC is an outreach and community center located in the East End that provides afterschool care, a summer institute, meals, and individualized academic learning plans to nearly 80 children in 2nd grade through high school as well as enrichment activities for high achievers and seniors.
- PPDC is within a one-mile radius of the city’s four largest public housing projects
- The average income in these four communities is less than $8,000 per year with over 40% of the families living below the poverty level and nearly half of individuals over 25 without a high school diploma.
- This year, St. Stephen’s preschool families will provide holiday “lunch boxes” so that the children from PPDC have a reliable food source during winter break from school. In the spring, we will have a “Summer Activities Drive” to collect swimsuits, goggles, sunscreen and more for the children of PPDC.
St. Andrew’s School -- http://www.st-andrews-school.org/index.html
- Located in Oregon Hill, St. Andrew’s School is a tuition-free school for 96 elementary-aged children from limited financial backgrounds. Nearly all the children qualify for federal free and reduced lunch (with a maximum of $41,348 annual income for a family of four in fiscal year 2011-2012). Parental involvement is key to the success of the school and a requirement for admission.
- St. Andrew’s was started through an endowment by Grace Arents in 1894 and continues today because of the support of generous community donors.
- This will be the third year that St. Stephen’s Preschool will form a Monument Avenue 10K running team to raise money to support the children of St. Andrews.
- In February, children from St. Andrew’s will travel to St. Stephen’s Preschool to read to our children and participate in a winter service.
- In November and February, we will do “Fit and Fun” Lunch Bunches with all monies collecting benefitting St. Andrew’s School
If you are interested in learning more, or touring one of our Outreach partner agencies, please contact Katherine Secrist, SSP Parent’s Council Outreach Chair and mother to Elizabeth (Yellow Room) and Charlotte (Toddler Morning Out Room).
