“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others…so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” —1 Peter 4: 10-11
Outreach Co-Chairs
Emily Lyons (elyons@arizona.edu)
Travis Reese (travreese@gmail.com)
Outreach Vestry Liaison
Sherry Sterling (sherrysterling@gmail.com)
Outreach Staff Liaison
Kiki Cheney (kiki.cheney@stphilipstucson.org)
Food pantry
Saint Philip’s food pantry operates out of the church office area 9:00am-12:00pm on Tuesdays. Food items are provided through generous donations of food items and financial gifts.
The list below includes items consistently needed. Donations can be dropped off in the church office or at the church on First Sunday Drives.
- bottled water and juice
- beans
- canned vegetables
- canned fruit
- meats
- pastas
- rice
- toiletry items—especially body wash
Contact Nancy Atheron (ncatherton@gmail.com).
Laundry Love
Saint Philip’s is a registered partner with the national nonprofit Laundry Love. Since it began in 2003, Laundry Love estimates that more than two million loads of laundry and more than 1.5 million people have been served.
We partner with Interfaith Community Services (ICS) and Northgate Laundromat. Loose change is donated and then used to purchase detergent and dryer sheets, and gift cards. These items are packaged and gifted to clients who can use them to access washers and dryers.
Contact Marilyn Lindell (captmarilynusnr@gmail.com).
Manna bags
Volunteers assemble Ziploc bags that contain fruit juice, a granola bar, crackers, Vienna sausages, peanut butter, apple sauce, bottled water, utensils, and a napkin.
You can keep manna bags in your car and hand them to people at intersections or whenever you’re approached by someone who is hungry.
The bags can be purchased at the Little Shop on Sunday mornings. They cost $3.00 each and all sale proceeds benefit Saint Philip’s food pantry.
Pet food
Donations of pet food (especially dog food) are collected on the Third Sunday of every month. The food is then distributed into individual ziplock bags that are shared with clients who visit the parish’s food pantry.
Providing pet food helps keep pets and their owners together. It also serves as a model for younger parishioners about how we care for animals.
Studies have revealed that when owners have to choose between buying food for themselves or their pets, owners will often go hungry to feed their companions. Another sad fact is that owners who experience financial hardship sometimes have to surrender their animals because they cannot afford the cost of care. Offering pet food can help alleviate this burden
Primavera Men’s Shelter
On the third Sunday of each month, volunteers prepare a meal in Saint Philip’s kitchen for approximately 50 men at the Primavera Men’s Shelter. There are opportunities to shop for the meal, prepare the meal, and/or deliver the food to the shelter. If you’re interested in helping, sign up here or contact Deacon Susan Erickson (susanerickson27@gmail.com).
Prince Elementary Food Pantry
When school is in session, Saint Philip’s helps with Prince Elementary School’s once-a-month food pantry.
The hours are 6:30am-9:30am on the first Friday of each month, but if you can help for only an hour then that will work, too. And you needn’t commit for the entire school year; volunteer as your schedule permits.
There may be some physical labor required as deliveries from the Community Food Bank must be unloaded and then sorted into bags.
Contact Deacon Susan Erickson (susanerickson27@gmail.com).
Prison Ministry
Saint Philip’s Prison Ministry bears witness to the fundamental humanity of people rejected by society because of the stigma of incarceration.
Volunteers strive to provide material and spiritual support for incarcerated people and their families, to educate the community about the injustices of the prison system, and to advocate for humanitarian reform.
We are affiliated with the Diocese of Arizona Prison Ministry and support Diocese-sponsored programs. These include Camp Genesis, which serves children of incarcerated parents, and the Sunshine Club, an inmate correspondence program.
Saint Philip’s also participates in Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree Project, partnering with incarcerated parents to provide Christmas gifts for their children. And some parishioners volunteer directly with inmates through Kairos Prison Ministry.
We also organize awareness-raising events and other activities throughout the year.
Saint Philip’s Prison Ministry meets monthly at 7:00pm on the second Tuesday of every month via Zoom. Meetings are open and all are invited.
You do not have to attend the meetings or make a large time commitment to get involved; there are many ways for helpers of all ages to participate and volunteer throughout the year.
For more information, contact Emily Lyons (elyons@arizona.edu).