of CANTERBURY
Outreach Ministry
Service is at the heart of the St. Augustine's parish community. Our Outreach ministry financially supports both local and global non profit organizations answering the call to help end hunger, homelessness and poverty. On a local level, we engage with a dozen different organizations striving to improve the quality of life for those in need in Indian River County.
Rise Against Hunger
Partnering globally! In 2022, St. Augustine of Canterbury embarked on a new Outreach project to help end world hunger by 2030. We are partnered with Rise Against Hunger, an international hunger relief organization that distributes food and life-changing aid to the world's most vulnerable, mobilizing the necessary resources to yes, end hunger by 2030.
Each time we have put out a call for 40 volunteers to come pack 10,000 meals in two hours, more than 70 people enthusiastically responded. And we are prepared to do it again. Read our story>
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St. Augustine Serves
Hands On! St. Augustine Serves is a hands-on community Outreach team, building a culture of service within our parish and around our county. As a group, we strive to raise our own personal awareness of the role of Christian service in our faith journey through group discussion and reflection, while actively pursuing small-group service opportunities. This ministry places a high value on the fellowship inherent in the work we do, as we shine a bright light on St. Augustine's as a result of our community volunteer efforts.
Thank You Card Outreach
Sharing the Love! St. Augustine's reaches out in love to local teachers, healthcare and hospice workers by delivering "thank you" cards to those dedicated professionals committed to caring for our community. To date, this ministry has delivered close to 1000 cards! Join in on this outpouring of gratitude by writing your own personal message; find blank thank you cards in the Narthex and Parish Hall.
Organizations Supported by our Outreach Ministry
A transitional residential program for homeless and at-risk men of Indian River County (IRC). Our parish cooks provide shepard's pie dinners each month.
Providing a quality education and a safe and nurturing home to children living in vulnerable conditions in Honduras. One of our most popular fundraising events is the El Hogar Christmas Cookie Walk supported by our parish bakers.
After school program offering recreation, education and mentorship services for underprivileged children at no cost who would otherwise be unable to obtain these services in IRC. We support this group in several ways, including providing support for their summer camp and hosting two fundraisers each year.
Gifford Youth Achievement Center (GYAC)
Offering a safe, nurturing after-school program designed for children, grades K-12, to enrich their academic performance and ensure their graduation from high school. Program includes tutoring and homework assistance, academic enrichment activities, leadership development, recreational, social and cultural activities. Summer programs are also offered.
Providing free access to dental and healthcare, relevant public health information and education to Cite Soleil, Haiti. St. Augustine's contributes funds for much-needed medical supplies.
Hope for Families Center
Offering long-term transitional housing to the homeless families in IRC. While there, each family goes through a comprehensive, highly structured program that seeks to end their homelessness and reunite them with independent living in the community. Our parish cooks bake casseroles to help feed these families.
Working to end homelessness with a multi-prong intervention program of mentoring, advocating and navigating, putting our organization in the center of their life, as an anchor in the storm.
On average, St. Augustine's donates 200 lbs. of food each week to our local Salvation Army food pantry. Food contributions may be placed in the collection box in the Parish Hall. We accept only three items: pasta, spaghetti sauce and peanut butter (at their request). Thank you for your generosity in helping to serve local Vero residents in need!
We offer transitional housing and guidance to homeless families in Indian River County and prepare them to live independently. Each year we host a Samaritan Center Soup Bowl fundraiser, and we appreciate St. Augustine's participation in our community-wide event.
Shining Light Garden grows produce that is distributed to our neighbors in need via local food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and other assistance programs throughout Indian River County. In addition to helping out at the farm, St. Augustine's has donated money towards the purchase of a new tractor.
Providing meals, clothing, showers and laundering facilities as the only drop-in outreach center in IRC. Also operates the Dignity Mobile Food Truck.
Serving those in poverty by providing crisis care, case management, transformative education, food and household subsidy, employment training and active referrals to other collaborative social service providers. St. Augustine is a supporter of their "Build Up" trade training program.
Distributing food for the needy, quality Christian education for youth, pre-school for 2-4 year-olds, and outreach for shut-ins.
Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy
Teaching Vero Beach children life skills, interpersonal, communication and job skills, so they may rise above their current economic status and become thriving and contributing members to our rapidly changing economy, in a fun and safe environment. Each year, St. Augustine's organizes a school backpack drive and Christmas gift distribution for the children through our Angel Tree project.