Emerging opportunities in outreach

Volunteering in person is very limited, but there are ways to help

By Liz Bartenstein and Ron Brown

The past year of pandemic and economic hardship has stretched families from all over Richmond in every way possible. We have welcomed many new clients to our food pantry, for example, and several of them shared that they never thought they would need assistance with food. In times like these, outreach ministries like the ones offered through St. Stephen’s are vital to ensuring that all of our neighbors may thrive. Our commitment to our community manifests in many ways—investing leadership, volunteer time, and financial resources in a variety of organizations around the Richmond area.

LOCAL PARTNERS

The strength of our commitments in the East End continues. We are heavily invested in Fairfield Court Elementary School, Peter Paul Development Center, and the Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School. We also have other local partnerships.

Fairfield Elementary School: During the pandemic, we participated in several drives to provide school supplies, household cleaning supplies, toiletries, Christmas gifts for students, and holiday meals. The need for support continues, and we look forward to a return to in-person instruction and volunteering.

Peter Paul Development Center: Unfortunately, we are unable to hold the annual math camp this summer, in which students review and strengthen math skills in a fun environment, but we will keep you informed about other ways to help via the eSpirit.

Anna Julia Cooper School: We have hosted several school supply drives. There continues to be a need for teacher support, and volunteers are needed as classroom assistants. The school has been offering in person learning throughout the covid period.

Richmond City Jail: The jail’s covid restrictions have meant that we could not continue this in-person ministry of Bible study and the sharing of Holy Communion during the past year, but we look forward to resuming in the future. In the meantime, we accept personal care items (unopened, full size items, please) for our incarcerated brothers and sisters. “handyman” skills—with those in need of these services, on an as-needed basis. Please be in touch with Ron Brown if you’d like to be part of this group.

ReWork Richmond: This ministry is an initiative of St. Stephen’s Church, St. Peter’s Church, the City of Richmond, and other community partners. See page 18.

FOOD MINISTRY

St. Stephen’s food ministry is a large and ever-growing ministry that helps feed the hungry in many ways. Each facet needs volunteers.

The fruit ministry is our longest-standing outreach ministry. Volunteers meet every week to gather, sort, and distribute fresh fruit—apples, bananas, and oranges—to more than 200 people in the Gilpin Court and Highland Park neighborhoods of Richmond.

Our food pantry is an approved agency of the Central Virginia Food Bank, and serves over 300 children and adults each month through our weekly food distribution. Our pantry has returned to the “grocery store” set-up, providing our visitors the ability to select the items they want from our pantry inventory. We need volunteers to assist each shopper, and to sort and stock our shelves in preparation for the shopping visits. (See page 16.)

Not only does the farmers market need volunteers to help with the set-up, tear-down, and operation of the market, but “gleaners” are needed to gather the produce and other items from our generous farmers and vendors who donate unsold products for our pantry visitors.

Rebuilding Together Richmond: As this edition went to the printer, we were working on scheduling a building event. We will communicate more details in the eSpirit. The same is true of

Habitat for Humanity.

BEYOND RICHMOND

Parishioners have visited various parts of the United States affected by natural disasters, as well as to countries such as the Dominican Republic, South Africa, and Argentina to spend time with our missionaries Heidi Schmidt and Monica Vega and the people they serve, to provide medical and dental care, to conduct Vacation Bible School, and to construct homes and other buildings. With travel curtailed worldwide during the past year, we have not been able to schedule mission trips. We will, of course, let you know through the eSpirit and future editions of Seasons of the Spirit when these ministries resume.

For more information about any of these efforts, please contact Ron Brown, director of outreach (rbrown@ststephensRVA.org) or Anna Jones, farmers market manager and food pantry coordinator (ajones@st.stephensRVA.org), or call 804.288.2867.

Diana Vasquez (left) chats with a ReWork member outside the organization’s office at St. Peter’s Church.

Rethinking the path to meaningful employment

An update from ReWork Richmond

During the capital campaign that St. Stephen’s Church conducted as part of our centennial observance, parish leaders committed to tithing the funds raised for capital needs to support an outreach initiative in our community— specifically in the East End, where we invest significant resources of time and money. Throughout our discernment about where to use this portion of the campaign funds, the need for a new approach to employment arose continually. The result was a partnership with St. Peter’s Church in Church Hill, the City of Richmond’s Office of Community Wealth Building, and other organizations, which eventually came to be known as ReWork Richmond.

Research showed that most workforce development programs focused on helping people find entry-level jobs that could not sustain their families financially. Further, these programs didn’t address the actual barriers to securing and retaining living-wage employment.

From the beginning, ReWork has been different. Instead of placing individuals in minimum wage positions offering limited upward opportunity, ReWork is structured to accompany its “members” (not “clients”) on the long walk to living-wage employment by providing a comprehensive range of personal support and employment sourcing services.

With continuing financial support from St. Stephen’s and other partners, ReWork Richmond is changing the trajectory of people’s lives. Member Iyanna W. is a recent example. Iyanna, age 24, was recommended to ReWork by partners at Anna Julia Cooper School after completing her bachelor’s degree at North Carolina Wesleyan University, with the goal of becoming a mental health counselor. With guidance and support from ReWork, Iyanna has been accepted into Liberty University’s master’s program in clinical mental health. She will begin the online program this month while working at the Department of Motor Vehicles, where she recently acquired a part-time position. Through ReWork’s community connections, she will participate in an internship this summer to gain direct work experience in her field. Iyanna attended Fairfield Court Elementary School, Peter Paul Development Center and Anna Julia Cooper School, three of our East End partners. She wants to serve families in these communities.

As DMV offices re-open, several ReWork members will be getting their driving licenses for the first time, an important step since having transportation is critical for getting to and from their jobs.

Of course, it doesn’t just take a license—you also need a car. If you have a roadworthy vehicle you can donate to ReWork, please let them know. Each car is thoroughly checked out and detailed prior to delivery. Mark Murphy (markmurphydmm@gmail. com, 203.249.2164) can provide additional details. All donations to ReWork Richmond are tax-deductible.

Would you like to volunteer with ReWork, providing career or financial coaching, or assisting with resume writing and interview skills? Diana Vasquez is the contact, diana.vasquez@ reworkrichmond.org, 978.771.6304.

Sharon Overton has joined the ReWork team as the member services coordinator. Sharon, who has extensive experience in employment coaching, will increase our capacity to serve members.

Deb Lawrence, who was outreach director at St. Stephen’s for many years, including during the time that ReWork was founded, is now the executive director of ReWork Richmond.