Outreach Projects

Interfaith Council

A volunteer agency that provides a food pantry and meals; emergency shelter for homeless men; emergency and transitional housing for women and children; and assistance with utilities, housing, employment, and transportation for those at risk of becoming homeless
[Alice Cotten, acotten@email.unc.edu] IFC Web site

Shelter Cook Teams

A shelter that provides meals and overnight accommodations for the homeless. Jean French, IFC Web site

Crop Walk

A nationwide event, that emphasizes the Christian role in feeding the world’s hungry; the 2008 walk is scheduled for April 13, 2008
[Bill Joyner, marybrenda@earthlink.net]

Project 5000

Project 5000, named for Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand, helps alleviate hunger in our community. Parishioners are encouraged to pick up empty boxes and fill them with non-perishable foods listed on an attached sheet. Filled boxes are returned to the church for delivery to the IFC Food Pantry. The Project 5000 movement is spreading in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community, with congregations participating at varying times during the year. Our parish Project 5000 drive is usually in the fall.

Holiday Meals for Those in Need

As part of our Christmas alternative gift options, parishioners can provide an entire holiday meal for a needy local family for $20. The Social Ministry Committee makes Inter-Faith Council for Social Service holiday meal coupons available in November and December; parishioners can send the coupon and a check to the IFC for as many family holiday meals as they would like to provide. For more information see the IFC web site: http://www.ifcweb.org/holidaymeals.html

Habitat

Habitat for Humanity – An international program in which our parish partners with UNC student groups and our sister parish to build safe, affordable housing for God’s people in need. Harry Watson, hwatson@email.unc.edu

ABC Sale

The Attic-Basement-Closet Sale held annually to provide goods at low cost and raise money for various outreach ministries. The co-chairs for the 2008 sale are Mindy Morton and Heather Benjamin.

Micah Group - Working towrd advocacy and social justice

The Micah Group is a group for parishioners concerned about the underlying public policy issues of those in need in our midst and around the world, wondered how we might engage our congregation in advocacy efforts.Micah seeks opportunities to educate the congregation about Episcopal views and official stances on social justice and to provide opportunities for parishioners to act on their convictions.

Since the prophet Micah (6:8) implores us to, "act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God," our mission statement reads: Striving for justice and peace among all peoples, the Micah Group seeks to educate and engage our congregation in meaningful advocacy. We are guided by the Episcopal Church's stances on issues of social justice, including but not limited to the Millennium Development Goals.

For more information, contact Kirsten Sherk, ksherk@mindspring.com.

Refugee Resettlement Program

The Chapel of the Cross teams up with Lutheran Family Services to co-sponsor refugees that are settled in the Carrboro-Chapel Hill area. The first phase of resettlement consists of providing shelter, food and clothing for at least the initial three months or until the refugees are able to be self-sufficient. Our work begins with setting up a furnished apartment and stocking it with food. We greet the newcomers at the airport and introduce them to their new home. Transporting them to various social service departments, setting up and taking them to medical appointments, assisting with job applications along with enrolling eligible children in schools and the adults in ESL classes is part of the second phase of resettlement. The process of acculturation is on-going as they are introduced to parks, museums, grocery stores, churches and other community resources.

Parishioners have been most generous with their time, talent, and monetary donations so that we can provide our new friends with a safe and secure setting whereby they can pursue their dreams of a new life here in America. We always welcome new team members or those who just wish to be involved in a single phase of resettlement.

For more information contact Barbara Tremblay, btrem@verizon.net

Heifer Project

In an effort to offer not only relief but also development to those in need, Chapel of the Cross “fills an ark” for Heifer International.

Heifer International provides livestock and training to hungry families around the world, who in turn pass on the gift by giving their first animal offspring to a neighbor. A flock of baby chicks ($20) will soon provide not only food for the family but eggs to sell for extra income. When we “fill an ark,” we donate enough money to purchase two of every animal Heifer gives, including goats, rabbits, bees and heifers.

Thompson Child and Family Focus

A group of parishioners who organize the parish's contributions of clothing nd gifts for the children of the Thompson facility in Charlotte. [Lorraine McBride, lbmcbride@aol.com; Susan Thomason, susan.thomason@quintiles.com]

Alternative Holiday Gifts

The Social Ministry Committee offers options for alternative gift giving during Advent. Parishioners have the opportunity to make a contribution to a local or global charity in the name of another. It is a wonderful way to remember a friend, a teacher or a relative over the holidays.

Orange Alamance Prison Ministry

Parishioners who visit and support prisoners at the Orange County unit in Hillsborough in order to minister to their needs while in prison and after release. Terry Johnston

Orange House Cook Team - AIDS Alliance

At least twice a month volunteers from the parish provide a nourishing meal for the residents of Orange House. Orange House is a home in Carrboro operated by AIDS Alliance for people living with HIV/AIDS. If interested in this ministry, the parish office can put you in touch with a social ministry liaison person.