Outreach Coordinator

“I was hungry you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a

stranger and you made me welcome.…

Whenever you did this to one of the least of my brothers and sisters,

you did it to me.” Matthew 26:35

A second offering is taken up each Sunday at the Eucharist to fund our

outreach programs and activities. An outreach committee, chaired by

our Deacon, meets several times a year to make decisions with regard to

the distribution of available funds.

Homeless Shelter Volunteers

For the past 16 years, on the first Saturday of every month, Saint

Margaret’s has provided hosts and meals for guests at a shelter for the

homeless in the city of Poughkeepsie. The program is administered by

Hudson River Housing and staffed each night by volunteers from

churches and other community- based organizations. As homelessness is

on the rise, the need is great and our parishioners feel privileged

and blessed to be able to participate in serving the mission of HRH.

Dutchess Outreach “Lunch Box”

For over two decades, on the fifth Wednesday of the month, (i.e., 4-5

times a year) St. Margaret's faith family has provided a lunch meal for

guests of the Poughkeepsie Soup kitchen. Parishioners take

responsibility for planning the menu and purchasing items for the meal.

Then a group of 10-12 gather to prepare the meal on location at the

Dutchess Outreach kitchen facilities in Poughkeepsie. Approximately

275-300 person are served daily at the Lunch Box.

Over twenty years ago, Saint Margaret’s participated in founding the

Hyde Park Food Pantry. Members of our congregation bring

nonperishable food items to help stock the pantry for those needing

assistance. The Food Pantry is housed at St. James Episcopal Chapel

which is located across the street from the Hyde Park Post Office.

Thanksgiving and Christmas. In addition, at Christmas gifts are purchased

for children of these families. Parishioners volunteer to shop for

and deliver the gifts.

attend the summer camp program sponsored by the Rural & Migrant

Ministry.

Bicycle Ministry

Our parish collects, repairs and gives away new and used bicycles and

helmets, for adults and children, to members of the growing Latino

community in Northern Dutchess. New immigrants and undocumented

workers are very often transportation challenged and we believe that

gifts of bicycles will not only be useful and helpful, but will also

convey a message of welcome and appreciation. These good and hard

working people are providing many services that support our life and

life style. We believe they deserve our support in their efforts to

integrate themselves into our community and make it their home.

Global Outreach

Each year, the parish directs some funds to global human needs through

Episcopal Relief and Development. This year, for example, we made a

sizable contribution to the Tsunami relief effort.

Partners in Mission Program

This past January, the parish commissioned and sent one of our members

to participate with a group of twelve, coming from several

parishes in our diocese. This was a one week mission exposer program in

Honduras. The group supplied labor and materials toward the

development of a midday feeding program for the children in the town, assisted the local community to build church pews and paint as well as to provide a Vacation Bible School for the children.

We look forward to doing this each year.

The Don Hilberto Family in Honduras

with 4 of his 13 children at his home

 Bishops Blend Coffee

Our parish participates in the distribution of Bishops Blend Coffee.

The purchase and resale of this fair trade coffee returns a

significantly higher proportion of the profits, derived from the sale

of coffee, to those people who actually grow, harvest and roast the

beans, as opposed to corporate wholesalers and designer retailers.