Outreach

The Beacon
An outdoor pantry is located on the east side of the church. Neighbors may serve themselves as needed from the donations of food and hygiene supplies. These donations are supplied by parishioners and friends in the community. The pantry is named the Beacon, after the seal of the Diocese of Northern Indiana. May this pantry be a light upon the path of our neighbors suffering from food insecurity. 
 
Lunch Money
St. Anne’s has adopted Edgewood Middle School and each semester will pay off lunch debt for students whose family income is just above the line to qualify for free or reduced lunch. 
 
Harvest Hope Garden
Raised garden beds are located on the lot east of the church. Vegetables are grown and shared via farmers market type baskets next to the Beacon food pantry. The garden is planted, watered, weeded and harvested by volunteers from the church. 
 
Tide Me Over
Food staples, cleaning supplies and hygiene items are being delivered twice monthly to low income senior citizens residing at Retired Tigers housing complex, just two blocks north of St. Anne’s. These neighbors are on Medicaid and some receive only $25 per month in SNAP benefits. We are working to make their lives a little easier. 

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS Sunday, October 5 is our annual Blessing of the Animals service. We will celebrate our pets at one service beginning at 10 a.m. As a reminder we will collect pet supplies for the Animal Welfare League; collars, leashes, laundry soap, paper towel, dog and cat treats. Monetary donations can be made out to St. Anne’s with AWL on the memo line.

St. Anne’s Free Library: New addition to St. Anne’s is a  “Free Library” located in front of the playground on the west side of St. Anne’s.  Please help yourself to a book that you would like to read.  You may return it when you are finished.

Monthly Outreach Projects
  • January–Beaman Home-We provide pajamas and slippers for Beaman Home residents.
  • February–Fellowship Missions-We contribute needed personal care items such as toiletries, paper products, etc. for this community mission program.
  • March– Our Father’s Pantry – We will fill up Our Father’s House Food and toiletries pantry.
  • April – BABE – Beds and Britches Etc. We will have a baby shower to buy supplies that young mothers can use vouchers to purchase.
  • May–Salvation Army Food Pantry-We will collect food items to help stock our local Salvation Army Food Pantry.
  • June–Ice Cream and Camp Scholarships We will collect funds for Summer Camp Scholarships and Ice Cream for Youth Camp
  • July–Habitat for Humanity – We will have a housewarming shower and collect funds for current and future builds.
  • August–WCHS Pantry– We collect food and toiletries for Warsaw Community High School students. Students have access to this pantry after school.
  • September-Soup Kitchen-We prepare a hot meal and serve hungry individuals and families as part of community-wide soup kitchen.
  • October–Animal Welfare League-We collect monetary donations and supplies for animals at this local animal shelter as part of our church-wide blessing of animals in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.
  • November-Thanksgiving Baskets-We provide a basket of food filled with everything needed for a Thanksgiving meal. For over 225 families in Warsaw and surrounding towns.
  • December–Hat & Mitten Tree-We collect hats and mittens for children in the Title One Schools

Every November since 2006, we provide a full Thanksgiving dinner for families who are struggling financially. This year we are asking  members of the parish to donate funds to purchase the items  that go into the baskets. Those items are:  stuffing,  green beans, cream of mushroom soup, french fried onions,  instant mashed potatoes, gravy, and applesauce. We will also give each family a $40 voucher for food items only to be used at Kroger to purchase the meat of their choice and any other food that is needed.  With donations, we are able to purchase these items at a discount to fill the baskets. In 2023 we served 200 families with a Thanksgiving dinner.  It is our plan to serve 200 families in 2025 too. St. Anne’s also received donations to assist with this ministry from The Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association, and The Salvation Army.  What an amazing gift to our community.

A group of parishioners in our parish cut out and sew fleece prayer blankets, with appliqued crosses. These small soft blankets are then stored in the Gift Counter in Rose Hall. When anyone in the Parish hears of someone in our community who is in need of prayers, due to an accident, surgery, illness, or some other tragedy, they can choose a blanket and fill out the card to explain who it is for and why they need prayers. The blanket is then blessed by the Rector at the Sunday church service and every member lays their hand on the blanket as they go up for communion and says a prayer for that individual. The blankets are then delivered to the person standing in need of our prayers. There is no charge for a blanket. Marla Norris is the chair for this ministry.  If you are interested in helping, please call: 574-267-6266 or email: office@stanneswarsaw.