Outreach Committee - The vision of Trinity Cathedral's Outreach Committee is to celebrate outreach by extending ourselves beyond accustomed norms, increasing our congregational participation and making a difference to those in need. One of the ways to accomplish this vision is to offer to the non-profit community an opportunity to submit proposals for grants to fund early childhood programs based on community needs. Virginia Ravenel is chair of the Outreach Allocations Committee, 255-8599. The Outreach Committee is chaired by Rhett Wolfe, under the direction of the Canon Missioner, Joye Cantrell.
World Mission in Haiti. Diocesan World Mission Project: Cange - For many years, the Diocese of Upper South Carolina has assisted Cange, Haiti. As the Diocesan World Mission Project, Cange has presented many opportunities for medical and dental trips as well as general building and outreach projects. The relationship has brought many friendships and many moments of God's grace. The Diocesan World Mission Committee directs the efforts of Project Cange. Reg Brooker is the facilitator for the program, (864) 272-0520. Trininty's New Village in Haiti: Morne Michel - Trinity has adopted Morne Michel, a village in Haiti that is just outside of Cange (our Diocesan village). We are committed to building a school there, and monetary contributions are still needed for basic expenditures. We will also need many things when our project begins, such as sewing machines, fabric, books and soccer equipment. Contact Canon Joye Cantrell, 771-7300.
Rhett Wolfe and his daughter, Elizabeth Wolfe, recently returned from a trip to Haiti, where they took a three hour hike from below Cange to Morne Michel to view the site for the building of a new school funded by Trinity and to meet the children and teachers connected with the school. You may view pictures of the trip here –or in the Chisolm Trail at the church. Details of the trip will be in January’s Outreach Bulletin.
Trinity Housing Corporation - Founded by the people of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Trinity Housing Corporation operates Saint Lawrence Place, a transitional housing community. Thirty units provide housing to families coming off the streets of Columbia from various shelters and agencies in the city. An active professional staff presents programs for family enrichment, educational instruction, job training, and interpersonal skills. Volunteers from the Cathedral and community are involved on the Board of Directors, in after school programs and tutoring, maintenance, and enrichment programming.
Sunday Morning Breakfast Ministry - For close to 20 years, the Cathedral has served breakfast each week to the homeless of downtown Columbia. Dedicated volunteers from Trinity and other area churches come to prepare a full meal of sausage, eggs, grits, biscuits, coffee, juice and milk, gathering together 52 Sundays per year at 6:00 a.m. A bag lunch is also distributed. Our doors on Senate Street open at 7:00 a.m. for our breakfast guests. Teams of cooks and servers assist each week, and more members are always needed to assist in preparation, serving and cleanup. Opportunities are also available at 8:00 to clean the kitchen. We are actively recruiting more young people and families to participate in this wonderful ministry. We have several children who come with their parents and would like more. We believe that this is a great example for our children of loving your neighbor and doing unto others as we would have them do unto us. If you are interested in training for this ministry, discuss the possibilities with Rusty Miller, 865-2830.
Soup Cellar Ministry - The Soup Cellar Ministry started at Washington Street United Methodist Church over 26 years ago. The church began a lunch program to meet the need of an ever increasing number of hungry people who came to its doors. The church asked other downtown churches to join in a joint weekday venture. No one church could afford to serve lunch every day, so a partnership was born. The venture now includes many churches which are not downtown, as well as civic and other groups. Trinity is one of the original partners and takes Thursday of each week (except Thanksgiving). We make and serve lunch for 150 to 200 people. Our team is divided into those who prepare the lunch, and those who serve the lunch. Each shift is about an hour and a half. Ruth Tibshrany is Trinity's Soup Cellar Coordinator, 787-4309.
W.A. Perry School Partnership - Begun in 2003, our partnership with W. A. Perry Middle School allows Trinity to give to the future generations of the community where St. Lawrence Place is located. Building upon St. Lawrence Place's presence in the community, the partnership seeks to provide enrichment activities and opportunities to students enrolled in the after school program. The program seeks to develop relationships that encourage success on PACT examinations administered each spring. Relationships are fostered through art, golf, tennis, cooking, drama, sewing and other activities as well as assistance in tutoring. Questions? Betty Gregory is overall coordinator, 254-0581; Beth Yon is coordinator for Fun and Food, 787-2681; Susan Umbach, 787-4164, and Nan Sammataro, 787-8340, for clubs; and Tom Terrill, 799-2122 for homework and study assistance (Study Buddies).
Outreach Pilgrimages - There are many Youth/Mission opportunities throughout the year. Please visit the youth section of our website. There are also opportunities for youth and adults to participate in HomeWorks, a cooperative outreach ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina and the Catholic Diocese of South Carolina. HomeWorks presents opportunities to work on repair and construction of homes for the elderly and disadvantaged.
Outreach Grants - The Trinity Outreach Committee is accepting grant proposals for 2008 Outreach Grants. The 2008 Grant Application Deadline is 11/23/07. This year, the committee will be awarding grants to one or more Columbia-area non-profit agencies that serve young children. Grants must be used for early childhood programs. Total available funding is $25,000. Link here for a copy of the grant application. For more information, contact Virginia Ravenel (vcravenel@yahoo.com, or 730-3066). The deadline for submitting proposals is Friday November 23, 2007.
The Cooperative Ministry - In 1982, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral joined four other downtown churches to establish The Cooperative Ministry, in order to verify need and coordinate assistance for those who came to their doors needing help. Serving the working poor, TCM has evolved into an exceptional program to those on the brink of homelessness. Volunteers and staff provide rent, utility, prescription assistance, and budget counseling, as well as providing links to other agencies which support those in need. The Cooperative Ministry also serves as the Clothing Bank for Richland County. Telephone: 799-3853.
The Winter Shelter - The Cooperative Ministry and the Midlands Commission on Homelessness administer the services to operate the Winter Shelter (renamed the Beth and Lou Holtz Shelter). The City of Columbia, responding to public demand for a shelter after a homeless man froze to death, subsidizes the facility. It provides shelter every night from mid-November to the last week in March for the city's adult homeless population. It also offers a warm bed, showers, bathrooms, and a helping hand to an average of 220 homeless adults each night that it is open. Through its grant to The Cooperative Ministry, Trinity contributes to the Winter Shelter. In January 2006, our parishioners also volunteered their services for a week to help check in clients and serve meals. We are doing this again in 2007. Rhett Wolfe is coordinating the Trinity week, 782-0133. Watch The Tidings for notices. In the meantime, volunteers are needed to help staff when the shelter is open. Call The Cooperative Ministry for more information, 799-3853.
World Mission Sunday - World Mission Sunday is celebrated on the last Sunday after the Epiphany. Each year, programs highlight the Anglican Communion's presence throughout the world and how our church's liturgy and programs reflect the diversity of our membership.
Seeds of Hope Farmers Market - Small farmers face many impediments to economic success, and Seeds of Hope offers them the opportunity to sell directly to consumers by bringing their produce to area residents. The Cathedral and many other area churches, and synagogues, support this program, which was started in 1986 by a group of churches and is still sponsored by the S. C. Christian Action Council. For the past 16 years, Louis Reid from Greeleyville, has been our farmer. He is in the Cathedral's parking lot (corner Marion and Senate) each Sunday from early June to early August, from 8:30 until 12 noon. Two Trinity volunteers help each Sunday in weighing and bagging the produce, and collecting money.
Harvest Hope Food Bank - The mission of Harvest Hope Food Bank is to provide for the needs of hungry people by gathering and sharing quality food with dignity, compassion and education.
The Midlands Interfaith Homeless Council - A group of religious organizations and individuals who work together to relieve the plight of the homeless.
