Welcome to our new Parish Financial Secretary!

We extend a warm welcome to our new Financial Secretary, Wendy (Moses) Bearden. Wendy recently married Bill Bearden, pastor of Mt. Horeb and Collierstown United Methodist Churches and moved to our area. If Wendy's name sounds familiar she last worked as the Controller and Benefits Coordinator for the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. She will be in the office Mondays and Thursdays from 9:00 am to noon. You may reach Wendy at bookkeeper@graceepiscopallexington.org 

Yard sale cancelled; funds still needed
for South Sudanese Students!

Sadly, it does not seem safe to hold our Sudan Mission Yard Sale scheduled for July 11, so we will not be collecting any more sale items in the Parish Hall.   Many thanks to those who have already donated goods! Proceeds of selling them on Facebook, starting July 1, will go to the South Sudan Student Fund.

 

The fundraising will go on, however, so that John, Mary and William from Tonj, South Sudan can pursue secondary education in the 2021 academic year (January-December). The goal is $3,500. The Christian Outreach Committee has already given $1,500 to this effort. If you would like to make a cash donation to help complete the goal, you can send a check to Grace Episcopal Church with "South Sudan Students" in the memo line, or make an online donation by selecting "Community Outreach" from the drop down menu on the church website at www.graceepiscopallexington.org/give 

 

In spite of the global pandemic brought on by Covid-19, the students are making excellent progress under the care of their bishop, the Rt. Rev. Peter Yuol Gur. Your donation will give them the opportunity to continue their education for another year. Thank you very much!

 

Questions? Contact MJ Mayerchak by phone (540-460-3138) or email (mjpmmchak@gmail.com).

Bridge to Hope Food Pantry

 

RARA Needs Boxes

 

Things are staying busy at RARA this summer, and they would love for you to join them in helping our community! Their volunteer opportunities are posted on GivePulse or call 540.463.6943 or email volunteer@raralex.org if you have any questions!

   

 

Drive-Thru Food Pantries

  RARA distributes close to 300 tons of food each year, and that hasn't changed as we operate as a drive-thru! Volunteers are needed to check in shoppers, gather food, and take it to their cars. Spots are available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2-4:30pm and Saturdays from 9:30am-12pm.

 

Partner Pick-Up

Through our local partnerships, we reclaim over 40 tons of healthy food destined for the landfill each year. Volunteers pick up bakery, produce, meat, and deli items 6 days a week from Kroger, Food Lion, and Walmart. We are looking for regular volunteers or substitutes on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings. 

 

Color Me Healthy

Help us show kids how fun and colorful healthy eating can be! Volunteers will bag produce for our summer produce market, which distributes fresh fruit and veggies to families participating in school meal programs. Shifts are open on Mondays from 9-11am. (Tuesday shifts are currently full.)

 

I Can Help

The COVID-19 virus will leave some of us in Rockbridge isolated and vulnerable and others better positioned to help out. We are working together as an unofficial group of neighbors in the region who want to help match people who are experiencing hardships from COVID-19-related issues with volunteers who have offered to provide help. If you are healthy with no underlying conditions, you may want to volunteer for in-person assistance to others, such as delivering food or supplies or running errands. If you are more comfortable offering assistance from your home, there are options for that as well. We will be doing our best to direct you to up-to-date organizations that need volunteers or to match you with people who have indicated need. After you fill out the form, we will let you know where you can be most useful based on what we are hearing. THANK YOU, KIND PEOPLE.  I Can Help