7 Food Pantry Partners By Christie Tugend, Christ Church, Coronado A


stellar example of congregational collaboration is the partnership between Christ Church, Coronado


and St. Mark’s, City Heights in San Diego. St. Mark’s operates the “Caught Up Short Cupboard,” a food pantry program that includes collecting, organizing, storing and distributing food to people in need.


While serving together on the diocesan Servanthood Commission in 2007, Tami Sandke from Christ Church and Paulette Glauser from St. Mark’s met and connected their congregations in this endeavor. Initially Glauser asked only for 50 cans of food from her Coronado counterpart. Christ Church met that expectation easily, exceeded it and has continued to do so every year since.


“St. Mark’s could not serve this need without the generous support of Christ Church and their service ministry group,” said the Rev. Mac Collins, rector of St. Mark’s. The pantry serves about 50 people on a monthly basis.


“Many are elderly; all are poor, and they always empty our pantry.”


Christ Church collects a specific food item for the pantry each week; one week they will collect rice, for example, and another week,


they’ll collect pasta. Keeping the donation drives specific and targeted has helped them support the cupboard faithfully for four years with no signs of slowing. An annual spaghetti dinner to benefit the cupboard at Christ Church draws over 250 people. Church members prepare the food and day school students wait tables. The entry fee is a donation to the Cupboard. It’s a collaborative effort involving the whole Christ Church community.


The fifth and sixth grade classes at the Coronado parish day school travel to City Heights and stock the cupboard themselves, all the while talking with Father Collins about the people who benefit from their efforts.


generously. It feels good to help others. Even more, though, this project benefits the congregation that hears about its connection to another Episcopal church and feels that connection in a pragmatic way.


That sacrificial act of giving is as important to our human spirituality as food in our bellies, if not more so.


During their week-long Vacation Bible School, Coronado children bring a different kid food each day as their donations to the Caught Up Short Cupboard. This involves community members in the food pantry, even if they do not attend church.


Not only do the people who receive food benefit, but so do the people who give


A Word from Development Connecting Through Giving


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s we think about the connections across the diocese, one tangible way


we come together is through the annual Bishop’s Appeal. This collective fundraising effort unites us because the work it enables responds to the very call Christ made to all disciples: to love and care for one another. A few months ago, you were asked to support the Bishop’s Appeal; if you haven’t yet done so, please consider making a gift now. Many people are assisted by the ministries that receive funding from this annual appeal.


As a member of this diocese, you are aware of the reach of the ministries supported by the Bishop’s Appeal. Six congregations are being re-developed into independent parishes. Campus ministry at UCSD and SDSU is connecting young adults with the church. Mission programs receive our support in Kenya, Western Mexico, and El Salvador. Leadership training helps to build strong congregations within diocesan bounds.


To join your fellow Episcopalians in support of these tranformational ministries, visit our secure website edsd.org to make a gift today. It would be wonderful if we could hear from you by the end of this July.


As you make this gift, we hope you will experience the intrinsic satisfaction that comes with reaching out to God’s people, in gratitude, for God’s abundant grace. “Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine,” (Ephesians 3:20). X


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“The collaboration provides us with much-needed food donations,” said Glauser. “But it also creates a strong bond between Christ Church and St. Mark’s. Together we’re helping those Christ has brought to our door. By partnering we’re able to provide not only a valuable resource in the economically challenged neighborhood of St. Mark’s, but we’re also providing a way for Coronado people to give of their


abundance. That sacrificial act of giving is as important to our human spirituality as food in our bellies, if not more so. We’re grateful to have this successful ongoing ministry partnership with Christ Church.”


If you would like to learn more about the Cupboard or the collaboration, contact Father Collins: stmarksoffice@prodigy.net. X


Planned Giving Resources


id you know that 85% of all gifts left to congregations are simple


bequests executed by a will? Instituting a planned giving program or a legacy society in your congregation is one of the easiest ways to build resources for these beloved communities that mean so much to us during our lifetimes. Our diocesan Planned Giving Task Force has been working for the past six months to provide materials to help congregations start their own planned giving programs. These diocesan resources have been developed collaboratively with the assistance of six congregations and two social service agencies. The task force plans to publish the first set of materials on the diocesan website, edsd.org, by the end of July. Resources will include letters of invitation, powerpoint presentations with presenter’s notes, the basics of planned giving, and bulletin inserts.


Each congregation should provide opportunities for legacy giving. It will not only benefit future generations through a tax-free wealth transfer, but it will also provide an opportunity to deepen your relationships with current members. If you are interested in learning more about planned giving for your church, please contact Director of Development Canon Howard Smith: 619-481-5451 or canonsmith@edsd.org. X


A Holy Habitat: The Rev. Cathey Dowdle, Bob Rhoads and Terry Melton in the newly dedicated gardens of Christ the King, Alpine. Rhoads and Melton spearheaded the garden project; their efforts resulted in an official wildlife habitat certification for the property. Drought-resistant, California native plants comprise about 80% of the garden. Melton said church members are already enjoying a campus with more butterflies and hummingbirds than before the restoration project. Horticultural enthusiasts, both Rhoads and Melton are willing to assist any congregation that wishes to attempt something similar. Visit the diocesan blog to learn more: edsd.org.


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