SOCIAL JUSTICE - CHARITY
Good Shepherd parishioners give their time and talent to others through a large variety of charitable efforts.
Annual Drives
Annual drives support needy members of our local community through donations to non-profits. Good Shepherd hosts three annual drives: the Mother’s Day Baby Shower Collection (May), the School Supply Drive (August), and the Cradle Project (December). Donations go directly to the Mariah Center, UCM, and Good Shepherd Housing & Family Services. Volunteers promote the drives and to deliver donations to the respective local non-profits.
Contact: Katie Esser, Director of Social Justice – (703) 780-4055, katie@gs-cc.org.
Bikes for the World
Once a year Good Shepherd collects reparable used bicycles for Bikes for the World, an organization that repairs and ships bikes to less-developed countries so that workers can refurbish and sell them in order to earn a living wage.
Volunteers prepare the donated bikes for shipment by removing pedals and turning handle bars, among other tasks.
Contact: Katie Esser, Director of Social Justice – (703) 780-4055, katie@gs-cc.org.
Blood Donor Assurance
In cooperation with Mount Vernon Hospital, parishioners donate blood to support a program that allows parish members to receive transfusions through INOVA Blood Donor Services without paying a replacement fee. Blood drives take place in Creedon Hall three to four times a year.
Volunteers assist with signups in the church commons after Masses for two to three weeks preceding a drive. On the day of a drive, volunteers assist with set-up, take-down, sign ins, or other operational functions.
Contact: Elizabeth Schwenk – (703) 360-1181, ewschwenk@msn.com.
Christ House
Teams of parishioners regularly serve a meal to homeless individuals and families. Duties are divided among four teams per evening, sharing the purchasing, cooking, delivery, and/or serving of an entrée and desert for 50-75 adults and children. Good Shepherd has teams for the first Thursday (for teens through the Youth Ministry program) and Saturday of each month, as well as the first Friday of all even-numbered months. Volunteers participate on a rotating basis, usually once every two months. The meal is brought to Christ House (S. West St., Old Town) by 4:30 pm, when reheating can occur. Meal service is 5:00–6:00 pm. About two hours are required per meal service.
Contact: Celia Boertlein – (703) 360-3735, Cboertlein@aol.com.
Eleanor Kennedy Shelter Lunch Program
Volunteers support the Kennedy Shelter for homeless adults by providing working residents with bag lunches.
Each volunteer contributes about $25 to cover expenses. One or two members shop for and deliver items. Shopping and delivery trips occur six times a year. Total time involved is about two to three hours for shoppers and deliverers.
Contact: Eileen Reosti – (703) 780-1950.
Mondloch House Milk Program
Volunteers purchase and deliver milk to Mondloch House, a shelter for homeless families. Average cost to the volunteer for 20 gallons of milk is $60-70. This is a good volunteer experience for families. Good Shepherd volunteers provide milk twice a month. Each volunteer family helps once a year, requiring about 1 ½ hours.
Contact: Carol Kennedy – (703) 780-7779.
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels helps elderly and homebound community members remain independent through nutritious meals, daily safety checks, and friendly interaction. Volunteers use their personal vehicles to pick up meals from Mount Vernon Hospital and deliver them along an assigned route. Drivers can volunteer to deliver prepared meals weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Meals are picked up between 10:30 and 11:00 am. An average delivery route takes two hours. Substitute drivers are also needed.
Contact: Jane Smith – (703) 780-6186, genjeffrey@aol.com.
Nurturing Parent Program
Volunteers prepare and serve a supper of their choice for client families participating in a Department of Family Services program. The meal is prepared and served at a Mt. Vernon-area church. At least three volunteers are needed to commit to a date once a month for the duration of a class. Class duration varies from three to six months.
Route One Community Kitchen (ROCK)
The ROCK program, supported by several area churches, provides a hot lunch for needy individuals and families. Teams of Good Shepherd volunteers prepare and serve meals three Wednesdays a month. Meals are prepared in the church's kitchen and served at the Elks Lodge on Richmond Highway. Duties include being a shopper, cook, delivery person, or server on a regular or substitute basis.
Contact: Barbara Cotter, babs11@earthlink.net (ROCK)
or Frank Carey, frankcarey@cox.net, (703) 619-0066 (ELKS).
Sharing Sunday
Sharing Sunday is a collection of non-perishable food and paper products that occurs the first Sunday of each month. Parishioners can bring in donations at any weekend Mass. Volunteers help with food delivery using personal vehicles to transport donations from the church commons after a particular Mass to United Community Ministries (UCM), about three miles away. The UCM Food Closet is only open from 11:30 am to 1:15 pm to receive donations on those Sundays. Volunteers help four to six times each year.
Contact: Barbara Micale – (703) 780-5826, blmicale@aol.com.