Trinity Episcopal Church


Justice and Outreach Council
Monthly Digest

October 2020
Welcome to the first edition of the Justice and Outreach Council's monthly newsletter: a place to find all the happenings of this active ministry at Trinity.
Opportunities for Involvement

Ways to get involved in our community, at Trinity, and in the world.

  • An update on the activism of JOC members on behalf of farmworkers faced with COVID-19: Click here to read the letter we submitted to the Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors (BOS) on September 15. It had 34 signatories, including some interfaith organizations. We continue to collaborate with the head of the Public Health Department (Dr. Van Do-Reynoso) and Latinx organizations to advocate for adequate COVID testing for farmworkers. We spoke at the BOS meeting on September 15 and again on September 22.  It would be wonderful if more members of our Trinity community felt called to this cause. We could update them on the current state of the issues, and discuss talking points for speaking at BOS meetings. Contact Laurinda Marshall laurindax@yahoo.com for more information. Farmworkers bring food to our tables, are vulnerable to COVID-19, and deserve our support!

  • Santa Barbara Foodbank: Since COVID-19 safety measures took effect, the Foodbank has tripled the amount of food it provides to community members facing hunger and food insecurity. Since April, the National Guard has been helping them deliver food to the elderly who are unable to come pick up their food. They are in dire need of donations at this time! Please donate at: https://foodbanksbc.org/

  • PFLAG Santa Barbara and Santa Maria: Join their virtual support meeting on Monday, October 12 at 7pm. Their guests will be an interracial gay couple from Santa Barbara. Hear their story and chat with them. For more information: http://www.pflagsantabarbara.org/

  • New Beginnings Counseling Center in Santa Barbara: New Beginnings provides supportive services to people experiencing homelessness. Trinity is part of their Safe Parking Program. Their annual fundraiser will be on Thursday, October 22 at the West Winds Drive-in in Goleta. They will be showing the 1991 comedy drama, The Fisher King, starring Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams. Click here for tickets and information.
Stories of Volunteerism

Harding School, on Santa Barbara’s Westside, has been Trinity’s neighbor and friend for over 15 years. Approximately 94% of the student population is Hispanic and 76% are English learners. Ways in which Trinity has been involved over the years include classroom volunteers, Homework Helpers, Cinco de Mayo Carnival helpers, silent auction donations and generous funding from our Justice and Outreach Fund.
 
It has been my distinct pleasure to volunteer, for at least 9 years now, in Andrea Lawson’s kindergarten/transitional kindergarten class.  It really has been one of the highlights of my week, and I miss it so much right now. I can’t wait to get back with those students. I get the pleasure of working with the students individually on their reading and we often play a fun word game. Building a relationship with the students over the school year has been so fulfilling and Andrea is truly an amazing and dedicated teacher.
 
Things are in flux at Harding right now. They are looking into forming pods of 14 students who might be able to return to school and be supervised as they do Zoom class. There would be limited amounts of students that could participate, and the opportunity to volunteer is unclear at this point.
 
Below is a brief summary of the current needs of the Harding School Foundation and how they are allocating their limited resources. Until there is an opportunity to volunteer in person, donations to their Foundation are always appreciated.
 
Harding School Foundations major expenditures are:
  • $6350 for a garden teacher
  • $2000 for garden repairs and 3 washing stations
  • $4000 for teacher reimbursements for supplies needed for the school year
 
Two major needs right now:
1) Monetary donations can be mailed to Harding School Foundation, 1625 Robbins Street, Santa Barbara CA 93101
2) Help with their Community Outreach/Fundraising Committee to build a donation database. A volunteer is needed for data entry, envelope stuffing and outreach phone calls. Feel free to let me know if you are interested in helping.
 
Once things return to a new normal, I look forward to returning to the classroom, and invite you to consider spending some time with these amazing children.
 
Thank you for your continuing support of Harding School and its students,

Susan Krutzsch, Trinity Parishioner, krutzsch.s@gmail.com
Celebrate and Support Justice

The Justice and Outreach Council (JOC) has continued its important work while Trinity has been in diaspora. Funding for the JOC comes from your pledges and Celebration offerings. The JOC’s funding is part of our annual Operating Budget where five percent (5%) of all pledges received during the year is put in the JOC account. As pledge income has remained steady this year, these funds continue to be set aside for justice work.

However, with in-person church services suspended, we no longer have “Celebration Sundays”, and we are informed that when we resume gathering at Trinity we will not be allowed to have envelopes (as well as other materials) in the pews.

But be not dismayed! There are two ways you can continue to celebrate and support our justice work in addition to your pledges both now and in the future. You can send in a check made out to Trinity and simply note “Justice” in the memo line and provide the names of the persons or occasion you want to celebrate. You can also donate via Trinity’s PayPal account by visiting our website or by clicking here, and under “special instructions” designate your donation for JOC and provide the names of the persons or occasion you want to celebrate.

Thank you for supporting our justice work through your pledges, donations, prayers, and most of all, the work you do in your lives to make this a more loving, peaceful, and just world.

Kathryn Dean, JOC
Michael Dean, Treasurer
1500 State St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101 | 805-965-7419 | office@trinitysb.org