Outreach Ministry

The outreach team serves our local community through various initiatives and partnerships.

Food Drives

The Outreach Ministry often has special food drives throughout the year to meet community needs. In the sanctuary you will find “the Purple Wagon” for weekly collection of non-perishable food items and  personal hygiene and household products. Such items can also be placed in a basket in the Upper Hall or delivered to the church office during business hours. The Outreach Ministry thanks the congregation for their generous support.

Food to Go

St Mark’s serves approximately 100 lunches weekly on a takeout and delivery basis.  The freshly prepared bag lunch includes homemade soup, a choice of sandwich, a cookie, fruit and/or candy.

Every Wednesday, lunches are available for pick-up at the west side door between 11:30am and 12:30pm. Patrons are also welcome to come inside to grab a coffee, eat their soup & sandwich, and visit with each other and the program volunteers.

This is a St. Mark’s free offering; a donation to support future lunches is appreciated, but in no way required.

Christmas Hamper Program
St. Mark’s participates each year in the Whitby Christmas Hamper program, providing “Christmas Hampers” in the form of gift cards and smaller seasonal items to over 55 local families.  This program would not be possible without the support of the congregation, our community, the Whitby Rotary Club, the St. Mark’s Players, as well as numerous other St. Mark’s Church Groups. Applicants must apply through the appropriate agencies to get on a list to receive a Christmas package. Please do not apply directly to the church.

Soles for Souls
St. Mark’s accepts new and slightly used shoes for donation to Soles4Souls, a not-for-profit organization that “turns unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunity by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good use.
The Soles4Soluls collection box is located in the Upper (Assembly) Hall. Please tie laces together or bind with an elastic.

St. Andrew’s Outreach Program

St. Mark’s has been running a reverse offering collection in support of the St. Andrew Presbyterian Outreach Program.  This collection of non-perishable food items, diapers, formula and personal care items is delivered monthly to St. Andrew’s to assist them in their support of 150 local families.

St. Mark’s also collects back-to-school items for the Back Pack Program at St. Andrews.  In previous years, over 100 children received the necessary items (back packs, school supplies, lunch bags, new shoes etc.) to take them back to school and ready for a new and exciting year.