Our first mission trip as a parish took place August 22-28, 2012. Thirteen of us went to Staten Island to help with the annual clothing distribution that is put together by the Staten Island Moravians for the people there who need clothes for school and job interviews. In just three days, we unpacked 400 boxes of clothes and distributed the clothes and school supplies to 1086 people in need on Staten Island. In addition, we worked alongside the Moravians, and learned more about their worship and traditions, important for us since we Episcopalians are now in full communion with the Moravian Church.
In response to Hurricane Sandy, four people returned to Staten Island on a second mission trip during the first week of December to help sort the clothes that were sent to the island from all over the country to help those who lost everything in the storm. This group sorted mountains of donated clothes into four hundred boxes of clothes that are now ready for the next clothing distribution to benefit those who lost everything in the hurricane, and others who are in need on the island. These clothes will be distributed this February. In addition to providing hands-on help, our parish gave generously to the fund for hurricane relief run by the Moravians on the island, and the money given has gone directly to families in need as a result of the storm. Some of the money will also go to help support the ongoing mission work that will be taking place in response to needs created by the storm.
Closer to home, we collected newspapers and magazines as part of a mission effort by Salem Baptist Church in King George County. The young people in that church are collecting paper for recycling to support several local mission efforts through Salem Baptist.
Ongoing efforts to bring God’s good news to the world at St Peter’s included contributions to the Caroline County Food Bank of food that parishioners generously donate each week. Once again we participated in the Samaritan’s Purse program and provided shoe boxes to be sent to children all over the world.
In 2015, for the 4th year, Roger and Eunice are going to assist with the Staten Island Moravian Clothing distribution. The process of the clothing distribution is divided into collection, sorting and distribution and takes place over several months. Catherine’s sister is a Moravian Minister and originated the event over a decade ago.
There are 4 Moravian churches on Staten Island that collect clothing from late March through May. They ask the clothing is separated into male and female. Then, for a week in May (1oam-8pm) they work to sort all the clothing by gender and size and box it up until the clothing distribution in August. The distribution beginning Thursday Aug 13 takes place over 3 days this year at Brighton Heights Reformed Church. Here’s how the distribution unfolds: Boy Scout Troop 26 helps them move tables, supplies, and our boxes and boxes of clothing from Castleton Hill Moravian over to Brighton Heights Reformed Church. Thursday is setup day – tables, boxes, clothes on the racks. On Friday, they are open to the families from the local shelter and to clients of Arbor, a near-by back to work program. Clients gather in the Fellowship Hall of the church .A volunteer “personal shopper” takes each person into the gym to pick out clothing. With the clothes organized on the tables and racks and volunteers to assist, things move along fairly quickly. On Saturday they are open to the public all day and serve families from all over Staten Island. The need is great. At the end of the day they pack up the remaining clothing which typically will go to various agencies