Missions

St. Mark’s is a longtime supporter of the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, a local organization that receives donated food or contributions from individuals and businesses as well as the U.S. government. In addition to distributing food to the hungry, the CFB helps people become self-sufficient by focusing on education, advocacy and food production. More than 97¢ of every dollar raised go directly to food and programs; fewer than 3¢ go to administrative costs. In addition to monetary support through its Missions committee, St. Mark’s also organizes groups of volunteers who travel to the CFB several times a year to physically pack emergency food boxes.

Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse is a domestic violence service in Tucson providing help for people coping with domestic abuse. It offers one-on-one support and education to victims and survivors who have experienced domestic abuse, including domestic abuse education, crisis intervention & safety planning, 911 emergency cell phones and goal planning assistance. It also provides referrals for clothing, financial assistance, housing, employment, Department of Economic Security services, medical assistance, advocacy, parenting services, victim compensation, relocation, and Starting Over supply kits. Its support groups provide a safe place for survivors of domestic abuse – including their children – to receive support and education covering a wide variety of issues. It provides lay legal advocacy services to help participants work with the criminal justice system.

How to get involved with Emerge!: make a monetary donation or volunteer your time, talent and/or skills. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month with special activities occurring during the month.

Interfaith Community Services has been compassionately serving the needs of Pima County seniors, individuals with disabilities and people in financial crisis since 1985. St. Mark’s is proud to be one of the founding faith communities for this admirable organization and continues to support ICS through both monetary donations and volunteers. Additionally, members of the congregation regularly donate non-perishable food items for the ICS Food Bank.

The “Nash Neighbors” program is a partnership between St. Mark’s UMC and E.C. Nash Elementary School that began in late 2002, when St. Mark’s decided to ‘adopt’ Nash Elementary.

St. Mark’s is a longtime supporter of the Primavera Foundation, which provides pathways out of poverty through safe, affordable housing, workforce development and neighborhood revitalization. In a given year, 7,500 individuals and families seek a way out of homelessness, a way to find work, a way to become homeowners. Primavera works with these individuals and families on their way to economic self-sufficiency by providing programs that focus on survival, stability, security, and sustainability.

In addition to monetary support through its Missions Committee, St. Mark’s also provides the evening meal for approximately 110 homeless individuals at the men’s shelter on the 2nd Saturday of each month. (If a month has a fifth Saturday, St. Mark’s provides that dinner, as well.) These dinners are prepared and served by members of the congregation who have volunteered individually, or as part of a group or class.

Interested volunteers may contact the church office (297-2062) and sign up or use the board located in the entryway of the Sanctuary and sign up for any of the available dates. We also encourage you to ask the office for a copy of the booklet “Cooks In The Kitchen” which includes recipes, tips on how to prepare a meal for 100, directions to the facility and other useful information.

St. Mark’s is also a longtime member of Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network, an organization that provides compassionate and non-judgmental service to those affected by HIV/AIDS. Through education and support, its members (as individuals and faith communities) work to build bridges, reduce stigma and sustain hope. TIHAN members show care through education, service and advocacy.

In addition to monetary support through its Missions Committee, St. Mark’s members also regularly donate toiletries, cleaning supplies and paper products for those living with HIV/AIDS, as these are items that cannot be purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Once a year (generally in September), volunteers from St. Mark’s help prepare and serve the meal at POZ Café (TIHAN’s monthly program providing lunch and social opportunities for HIV+ persons).

TMM was previously known as “Tucson Metropolitan Ministry” and began in 1974 as a social services outreach of various local churches, the United Way, and other entities. TMM has assisted in the development and growth of now-independent organizations like the Community Food Bank, Miracle Square Apartments, and Traveler’s Aid. TMM offers a vast variety of programs to Southern Arizona that include fostering children removed from their home by CPS, transitional housing for single mothers and their children, subsidiary housing, and a First Time Homebuyer & Home Repair program. TMM’s ReStore sells slightly-used and outlet home improvement items such as furniture, lighting, flooring, and appliances at huge discounts. Community Closet sells donated clothing at prices well below retail costs in addition to offering a voucher program that helps clothe Tucson’s most needy. All proceeds of both stores directly benefit the programs of TMM.

In addition to monetary support through its Missions Committee, members of the St. Mark’s congregation regularly donate gently-used clothing and household items for the ReStore and Community Closet.