CALVARY
Episcopal Church
Indian Rocks Beach, Florida
"To know Christ,...
and to make Him known."
Join us this Sunday
8AM & 10AM
(In-Season Services)
If you would like to learn more about the Missions Commission, contact:
Missions
There are many areas of mission at Calvary where we share the love of Christ in many acts of benevolence. Missions are what we do for people we do not know; people who are less fortunate and need a helping hand.
15% of the entire budget for Calvary is allocated exclusively towards Missions. Below are some of our missions that we support and are joined by our Community Partners. All amounts are approximations and adjust to seasonal variances of giving. We welcome all donations that are designated for those listed below.
The Beach Community Food Pantry - This is our "Flagship" mission as it is located on our southwest corner of the Church property serving hundreds of "patrons" each month who seek food assistance. In conjunction with our many Calvary volunteers who run the program we find tremendous support from the neighboring community, especially with our Community Partners (Rotary Club of IRB, Homeowners Association of IRB, Action 2000, Guppys Restaurant, City of IRB, Slyce Pizza, Crabby Bills, Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue, COTI, St. Jerome RC and other neighboring churches, etc.).
The Food Pantry is open every week to serve those who are in need and facing food insecurity or hunger. Donations received each year from Church parishioners, Civic partners, Local business Restaurants and Municipal leaders, the USDA, Feeding Tampa Bay, Feeding America, etc., help us to collectively feed nearly 1000 people per month in our local Pinellas and Tampa Communities.
Youth Summer Mission Trip - Our middle and high school youth are set each summer to go to a location of one of the Group Inc. mission camps in the U.S. See the video here of the 2016 summer trip to Nashville, TN produced by one of our youth. In 2017 we went to Kenosha, WI and in 2018 we went to Loveland, CO. Group Week of Hope camps and in 2019 we joined EPIC Missions in Vero Beach. Experiences to serve others outside of your familiar comfort zones, are important for young lives. Types of experiences include work in retirement/nursing homes, Boys & Girls Clubs of USA, Easter Seals and March of Dimes program efforts, renovation and construction projects for senior citizens, Food Pantry and Thrift Shop service projects. Through these efforts we reach thousands of lives. The families contribute: 60% of the total cost out of their own pocket. 20% is fundraising; 10% is scholarship, and 10% is from Calvary's operation.
Christmas Gift Bag Ministry - This mission began in 2004 with a purpose to provide Christmas gifts for underprivileged children in our diocese. Last year over four hundred boxes were filled with practical gifts and given to children belonging to some of our hispanic congregations. We start collecting items for the shoeboxes to be filled in September and deliver to those communities early December.
The Holiday Meals - This mission is an offshoot of The Beach Community Food Pantry, that began in 2004 for the purpose of taking meals to those who would not or could not come to us. They are the single mothers, the shut-in, the ashamed or the victimized who have been identified through the assistance of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department as worthy recipients. In combination with the PCSD, Calvary joins up with the Suncoast Fire & Rescue IRB, The Rotary of IRB and Publix of Indian Rocks Rd. to package and deliver nearly 60 meals each Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, truly making this a Holiday for counting our blessings all around.
Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) - Episcopal Relief & Development works with Church partners and other local organizations to save lives and transform communities worldwide. We rebuild after disasters and empower people to create lasting solutions that fight poverty, hunger and disease. Working in close to 40 countries, our programs impact the lives of approximately 3 million people around the world. Our Diocesan assessment contributes each year to the ERD. To learn more, go to ERD.