ST. MATTHEW

Service Ministries

As Christians, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus on earth. The St. Matthew Service Ministries reach out to people, both within the parish and in the larger community, who may be challenged by injustices or are feeling powerless to change the circumstances in their lives. Learn more about our ministries or get involved by contacting Volunteer Coordinator Pat White at 704-543-7677 x 1039 Monday through Thursday. Find a complete list of ministries in the 2012-2013 Ministry Handbook.
 

A Child's Place
Angel Tree
Blood Give-In
CROP Walk
Disaster Shelter Team
Donated Goods
Family Assist
Food Pantry
Friendship Trays
Habitat for Humanity
HOM - Homemakers of Mercy
Lunch to Go
Mel's Diner
Men's Shelter
Muffin Ministry
Peace and Justice
REACH Service Connection Ministry
Refugee Resettlement
Respect Life
Sandwich Programs
World Food Drives


 A CHILD’S PLACE
Contact:  Valerie Zerbe, 704-910-0737; Marcie DeMore                             
A Child’s Place provides nutritious snacks to homeless and disadvantaged children. It assists with special projects when requested by the program director. Snack providers and drivers are needed during the school year and serve on a rotating schedule.

ANGEL TREE
Contact: Martha Bookout, 704-542-6761
Angel Tree provides Christmas gifts for the needy. The annual present drive runs from the middle of November through the delivery of the gifts before Christmas. Helpers are needed to set up trees, collect and distribute gifts.

BLOOD GIVE-IN  
Contact: Ed Nenninger, 704-366-6637
This ministry hosts quarterly blood drives at St. Matthew for the American Red Cross. Volunteers are needed to schedule donors and help on the day of the drive.

CROP WALK
Contacts: Dana and Elizabeth Nolen, 704-844-8007
This national event is held each fall to raise money to fight world hunger. Walkers raise money through pledges and walk 6K(approximately 4 miles) to show their support for those in need. Step out against hunger or volunteer to help organize the St. Matthew team. The 33rd Annual Charlotte CROP Walk was held Oct. 16, 2011, and raised more than $4,000 for the hungry.

DISASTER SHELTER TEAM  
Contact: Debbie Kane, 704-578-8253
St. Matthew volunteers, in cooperation with the American Red Cross, stand ready to minister to the needs of our neighbors who would reside in our shelter in a time of disaster.

DONATED GOODS
Contact: Randy and Ann Mazur, 704-544-4667
Did you know that your donated goods help St. Matthew make a positive impact on the needy in North and South Carolina? The collection of donated goods takes place the second Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon under the Daily Mass Chapel. Items accepted include gently used clothing, furniture, working appliances, household items and moving boxes, and may be dropped off at St. Matthew during scheduled donation times. We are happy to pick up large furniture or appliances on this day from homes within a 10 mile radius of St. Matthew, IF ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE IN ADVANCE AND NO LATER THAN NOON the Thursday (two days) before collection day. For the safety of our volunteers, heavy items will be picked up from first floor locations only (restrictions apply). Volunteers are needed to assist in picking up large items, with a special need for volunteers willing to use their own pick-up or box trucks and/or trailers. Please note that we do not accept pianos, large TVs, drop side baby cribs, used mattresses or box springs.

FAMILY ASSIST
Contact: Rachael Schuler, 704-543-7677 x 1013 (Please leave a message)
Provides assistance to parishioners in need. Parish volunteers provide meals and transportation on a temporary basis. Call the number above for assistance or to volunteer.

FOOD PANTRY
Contact: Brenda Lehtinen, 704-541-1551                                
The Food Pantry maintained at St. Matthew provides food to needy families and food baskets to Catholic Social Services at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Collections of non-perishable items are taken the first Sunday of each month. Volunteers help on the Monday after the collection. The Food Pantry is located in the storage room beneath the Daily Mass Chapel. Suggested donations include:



FRIENDSHIP TRAYS
Contacts: Robbie Burris, 704-847-8058; Patti Olejniczak, 704-443-5150
Friendship Trays is a community program that utilizes volunteers to deliver hot meals to shut-ins. Volunteers drive a route about once every four weeks.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY  
Contact: Jeff Wilson, 704-608-6829
Volunteers help build low-cost housing for a needy family and provide meals for workers each weekend during construction phase. St. Matthew builds a house every other year and has completed seven houses to date.

HOM - HOMEMAKERS OF MERCY
Contact: 704-362-5047 x 601
HOM is a ministry that helps the underserved in our community move beyond or avoid homelessness. The ministry helps furnish and set up apartments for those in need. Furniture pickups are the third Saturday of the month. To arrange a furniture pickup, email Homfurniture.donate@gmail.com at least 48 hours prior to pickup. For housewares donations, email Homhousewares@gmail.com. For a list of items needed, click here.

LUNCH TO GO
Contacts: Bill and Elisa Webb, 704-544-9771; Maria Lander, 704-849-8211
Volunteers prepare and deliver sandwiches and cookies twice weekly to the Union County Shelter for residents to take with them to work. Sandwich makers and drivers serve on a rotating schedule.

MEL’S DINER
Contact: Duke Oxford, 704-904-8968
Mel’s direct focus is on providing for the most needy. Meals are provided most days of the week. They include homemade meals, sweets, fruit and juices. Please visit http://www.Mels-Diner.com for more information. Join us! We make you feel good doing God’s work.

MENS’ SHELTER/Tryon Campus
Contact: Tom Ellis, 704-542-9419
A group of parishioners prepares and serves dinner at this shelter on the second Saturday evening of odd-numbered months and serves lunch on the fifth Saturday of any month. Volunteers also serve at the shelter front desk and sort and distribute clothing in the warehouse.

MEN’S SHELTER/Statesville Campus
Contact: Mark Brodowicz, 704-443-7609; Mike Brodowicz, 704-846-1674
Volunteers serve dinner and distribute bedding and toiletries to guests on the third Tuesday of each month.

MUFFIN MINISTRY
Contact: Peggy Schwartz, 704-778-0356
This ministry provides muffins for homeless shelters on a weekly basis. Volunteers agree to bake two dozen muffins on a scheduled basis, usually two to three times a year.

PEACE AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE  
Contact: Terri Jarina, 704-243-4431
Addresses the injustices in our communities that often cause people to be in need.  Volunteers research problems and educate parish and community members on issues in the justice and educational systems and environmental quality.

REACH
Contact: Paul Burley, pburley1@carolina.rr.com or Heather King, hking@stmatthewcatholic.org
This new ministry encourages youth and famlies to participate in service together by making it easier, more organized and fun. Click here for a google calendar showing the many ways you can get involved in our parish.

REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT    
Contact: Bill LaMay, 704-995-0002
Adopts refugee families during their first six months in this country. Services provided include welcoming, donations (home furnishings and money), furniture pick-up and delivery, food and friendship.

RESPECT LIFE    
Contact: John and Jo Ann Van Camp, 980-307-9835
Focuses on increasing the awareness of the dignity and sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Activities include the annual Life Chain and Rosaries for Life, projects to help parents facing a crisis pregnancy, and educational programs which address the protection of the unborn, the disabled, the elderly, and the terminally ill.

SANDWICH PROGRAMS
Contacts: Lisa Gentile, 704-814-6960; Robin Bennett, 704-243-4319
Volunteers agree to make 40 sandwiches on a rotating schedule, every other month, which are delivered weekly to Charlotte women’s and men’s homeless shelters.

WORLD FOOD DRIVES
Contact: Steve Favory, 704-544-2164
Assist in the collection, sorting and sending of food to the poorest people around the world and in our own country; every year during the month of July. For more information, visit the World Food Drive website.