Serve in the Community
Mission Distribution/ Fundraising from all sources
In addition to what we do with our hands and feet Christ Church is generous with its financial resources. In 2024 we distributed over $400,000 to local and regional organizations.
Backpack Buddies
Backpack Buddies provides nutritious food for elementary school students on free and reduced meal assistance, helping them through the weekends.
Each Bag Includes: 2 milks, 2 juices, 2 proteins, 2 fruits/veggies, 2 breakfast items, and 4 snacks
Coordinated by Susan Shipman, this program involves shopping, packing, and delivering food to St. Simons Elementary, Oglethorpe Elementary, and Burroughs-Molette Elementary. You can support the effort by joining a packing team or donating, with $100 providing food for one child for 38 weekends.
Mission
As followers of Jesus, we are called to step outside our comfort zones and take the Gospel to places where the Church may not regularly be present. Mission is about building relationships and reaching those beyond our regular contexts, whether through mission trips, public ministry, or youth outreach. It's also a part of a lot of our outreach.
The primary focus of outreach is to support local organizations and meet needs. Mission is the aspect of outreach that reminds us that what we do in the name of Jesus is important, too. We serve others because it's what Jesus tells us to do, and we believe others can benefit from the life-giving Gospel of Jesus. We never require someone to listen to our version of the Gospel before we serve them, and yet we preach the Gospel through our deeds AND our words. The mission aspect of our ministry takes the Good News of Jesus to those outside our usual circles as we widen those circles in love.
Manna House
Serving at Manna House, our local soup kitchen, offers a chance to support those facing food insecurity in our community. Christ Church serves at Manna House 18 times each year: the 4th Monday of even months and beginning soon, every 4th Tuesday. Volunteers typically gather around 9 am, prepare the meals to be handed out, and then clean up afterwards, finishing by 1 pm. This is a deeply meaningful ministry. If you'd like to help, click the link below.
Brown Bags for Seniors
Every 2nd Friday of the month we assist Second Harvest with its Brown Bags for Seniors distribution. This food outreach, now in its 41st years, ensures that our elderly neighbors most vulnerable to end-of-the-month financial shortfalls have food to last through the end of the month. Helping with this ministry involves about an hour of your time.
Angel Tree
Each Christmas Christ Church collects names of teens who need a little Christmas help. We have traditionally offered gifts to Street Beat kids, teens without families to support them. We have also worked with local schools to meet the needs of teens who are living in poverty, and even sometimes in hotels. Parishioners choose an angel from the tree and then return it to the church with the gift indicated on the tag.
International Seafarers Center
The International Seafarers' Center offers a welcoming, home-like environment for visiting seafarers, meeting their spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. Some seafarers are away from home for months to years. Christ Church is a founding supporter of the International Seafarer's Center in Brunswick. By volunteering, you help bring Christ’s love to those far from home, providing them with essential support and comfort during their stay in the Port of Brunswick.
Glynn Episcopal Ministries (GEM)
Glynn Episcopal Ministries (GEM) is focused on creating positive change in one of Brunswick’s most challenging neighborhoods, particularly around St. Athanasius and St. Mark’s. GEM has partnered with Burroughs-Molette Elementary, the county’s most challenged school, to support children in need. Most students at Burroughs-Molette qualify for free or reduced lunches, and poverty is a major challenge in providing education. GEM has organized teacher appreciation events, providing lunches, thank you notes, gift cards, and monthly snacks for over 70 staff members.
GEM has also celebrated graduating 5th graders with a party, organized school assemblies, and sponsored a back-to-school curriculum night. In partnership with the St. Athanasius Feed My Sheep Food Pantry, GEM helps provide summer food distributions, including kids' food bags, a simple meal, story time, and free books. GEM is always looking for ways to support children in the neighborhood, and donations can be made through Christ Church with a memo for GEM.
