St. Martin's has a very active Outreach program. We are a committed to sharing our talents and resources with the community around us in as many ways as we possibly can.

Outreach Commission

Just a reminder! Over the summer the Outreach Commission is asking that as you come across the following items that you don't want anymore, to set them aside for our various collections in the Fall and Winter:

S.O.S - Shelter Our Sisters - used cell phones, linens new or gently used, school supplies, gently used back packs, etc.

North Porch - used baby strollers, carriages, toys, etc.

Blessing of the Animals - used pet carriers, bowls, leashes, used sheets and towels, etc.

A more complete list of items will be distributed prior to each of these collections. PLEASE DO NOT bring these items to the Church over the summer. We do not have the room to safeguard these items.

Food Barrel - Donations can be useful all through the year. Donations to the barrel slow down in the summer due to vacations but the need is ever present. Please try to make a special effort to bring in food.

St.Paul's Shelter for the Homeless - We will be serving dinner on Wednesday, July 12'h.
Thanks go to all of you for your generosity when we have our collections. Have a great summer!

Some of our ongoing activities include:

• Six times a year a substantial and nutritious dinner, prepared by our parishioners, to the residents of the Homeless Shelter for Men at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Paterson, NJ.
• We keep filling our Food Barrel, the contents of which go to the division of the North Porch which is located at St. Paul's Baby food and products as well as hand-made baby afghans go to the division of the North Porch which is located at St. Paul's.
• At Christmas, we send beautifully wrapped toys and /or clothing to about 20 children whose names are supplied by DYFS - Division of Youth and Family Services.
• Our members contribute to the Community Holiday Card which collects money normally spent on Holiday Greeting Cards and postage. This money goes to a designated charity. This project was initiated many years ago by St. Martin's and the local "Our Town" newspaper.
• We have made and sent to Warm-Up America about 12 afghans and continue in this worth while project.
• Our Parish Hall facilities are used every week by two Boy Scout organizations, three AA organizations and a Co-Op Nursery School

Some other projects we have been involved with:

• Our Sunday School has supported the Heifer Project and goes caroling every Christmas time to shut-ins in our area.
• We have collected eyeglasses for Eyes for the Needy
• We have also collected greeting card fronts and sent them to St. Jude's Ranch for Children.
• The Outreach Commission sponsored a Baby Shower for the North Porch and sent them a large amount of baby formula and brand new infant clothes.
• We plan to have several of our members participate as friendly visitors to the residents of a Spectrum for Living facility in our town.
• We will be helping at an overflow Shelter at the Catholic Church in Maywood, by staying overnight with the guests and providing breakfast. This shelter is sponsored by Bergen County Intereligious Fellowship for the Homeless of which we are a member.
• Some of our members have started knitting caps and scarves for Christmas-at-Sea, a program of the Seaman's Church Institute of New York and New Jersey.

Our Outreach program is our way giving testimony to God that it is better to give than to receive and we welcome any ideas for new projects for us to undertake. We can and do make a difference!