Community Outreach
St. Andrew's Parish has been involved in helping those in the local community of Sunnyslope, which is in North Central Phoenix, since our beginning in 1981.The Desert Mission
The parish holds three annual collection drives for the Desert Mission. The Desert Mission is a local charitable organization operating in and for the North Central area of Phoenix under the auspices of John C. Lincoln Hospital. It is primarily a food bank distribution center for families and individuals of lower income and for the homeless.Our three major collection drives are during Advent for toys to be distributed at Christmas in their food deliveries, during Lent for non-perishable food for distribution at Easter and a collection of children's school supplies in August. This past summer we answered a need for bottled water for those who are homeless in the very hot summer months by collecting large quantities of bottled water to be handed out on the streets in Sunnyslope.
We have, over the years, contributed hundreds of pounds of needed food and other items from our generous parishioners and remain committed to this worthy effort.
The Life Choices Women's Clinic
The Life Choices Women's Clinic is a non-profit women's clinic in Phoenix dedicated to providing high quality free or low cost health care related to pregnancy and other areas of women's health, counseling and education to women and their families. Their services are delivered in an atmosphere of care and respect while upholding Christian values, especially in regards to the sanctity of human life.This clinic was formed because one dedicated nurse knew the dire need of women who are at least considering abortions to have a place where they could get help and guidance and be able to come to the decision to save their baby's life and consider adoption. Before this clinic was established, women who were willing to leave the abortion clinic had no place to go to be counseled and cared for.
A variety of services are provided by the Women's Clinic such as administering ultra sounds and other medical care as well as providing assistance in getting housing, things needed for babies and other financial help.
A longtime, devout member of our parish, Fleeta Baldwin, who has stood up against abortion very publicly in our city for decades, brought this clinic to our attention in 2006 and set up a fundraising effort in our parish to help the clinic. We challenged our members to “use your spare change to change lives” by depositing their spare change in plastic baby bottles. As the bottles get filled and returned to church, they are delivered to the clinic. This has been a small way to stand up for the Christian faith's belief in life while helping those in need in our community.
We have collected close to $2000 in change since the start of this effort.
Women of St. Andrew's Parish
The women of our parish have always dedicated their time and talent to help individuals, charitable organizations and their parish through fundraising projects. Their most successful event is the annual Rummage and Bake Sale in early February. The members of the parish are asked to gather and contribute used items throughout the year for this sale. The women put in hours of work to organize and clean and display them in our parish hall and in the parking lot before the big day. They have taken the money each year from the sale and give to a cause that they have selected. The Women of St. Andrew's Parish have donated funds to groups such as the Crisis Care Nursery and theArizona State Mental Hospital. But they have also sent support to the Traditional Anglican Church's foreign mission fund, the International Anglican Fellowship, and to support the operation of our Diocesan Church Camps for children in the Diocese of the West. And, of course, they never forget to take care of needs in their own parish as they arise, including contributing to our ongoing Building Fund.During the Advent season, the Women of St. Andrew's Parish select a project for their Christmas giving. This has ranged from sending needed items for our military troops in harms' way overseas through Samaritan's Purse, an international organization headed by Franklin Graham, to giving Christmas presents and other needed items to a local family.