4Saints Episcopal Food Pantry

4Saints Episcopal Food Pantry

Get corny!

St. Martin’s is specifically collecting cans of corn each week for 4Saints. Other area churches are collecting other specific items. So lets get corny! Bring in cans of corn each week and place them in the wagon at the back of the church.

Other needs:

Right now, 4Saints would also appreciate:

  • Size 3 & Size 6 diapers
  • 25 ct. baby wipes

In addtion to corn, you can bring these items in regularly to church – we are always collecting!

4Saints is in need of food items that will greatly help the food pantry!

  • 1-2 lb bags of rice
  • 1-2 lb bags of pinto beans
  • canned vegetables – especially spinach & carrots
  • canned peas & beans
  • canned fruit – especially peaches
  • canned soup – except cream of mushroom (they have an abundance!)
  • canned meats
  • canned tuna
  • 16 oz peanut butter – smooth
  • pancake mix & syrup
  • jelly, jam & fruit preserves
  • granola bars, cookies, lunch box treats
  • mayonnaise, Miracle Whip, salad dressing
  • applesauce pouches
  • soap & deaodorant

4Saints Episcopal Food Pantry is a food distribution ministry conducted in East Fort Worth by five parishes. Our purpose is to serve with dignity and humility the nutritional needs of those seeking assistance. We are a 100% volunteer organization and members of St. Martin’s regularly volunteer.

Please visit 4saintsfood.org/news-events.html to sign up for 4Saints Food Pantry’s monthly email newsletter. 

Weekday Help and Friday Distribution

Every Friday, 4Saints distributes food to about 200 families from its location at the Community Life Center,  2529 Mt. View Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76103 on the campus of Meadowbrook-Poly United Methodist Church on Meadowbrook Drive.

You can help on Fridays by assisting our clients shop for food or helping load the food into their cars. Just click the sign up button below. We start at 10 am and finish around 1:30 pm. Some volunteers stay the entire time, and some volunteers stay for an hour. You can visit the 4Saints website to find out more information, especially how to volunteer.

During the week, we need volunteers to help unload the food truck and restock the shelves for the Friday food distribution. There are generally several deliveries during the week, usually starting at 9:30 am and vary from week to week. You can contact Jim McManic through the church office at 817-431-2396 or jim.mcmanic@stmartininthefields.org for more information.

4th Saturday Distribution

In addition to Fridays, the Mobile Pantry distributes food to about 200 families every fourth Saturday of the month in the parking area located across from the Community Life Center. Volunteers arrive around 10 am to set up. We distribute food from 11 – 1. Please bring a refillable water bottle and a utility knife. There are volunteers from other churches, schools, organizations, and families – come and meet new friends! No registration required.

Donations

Please continue to support 4Saints with your Red Envelope donations which we collect for quarterly, donating non-perishable food items and certain toiletries and diapers to fill up the 4Saints bin in the back of the church, and participating in the Reverse Advent food drive each December.

Vestry Minutes – December 18, 2022

St. Martin-in-the-Fields Vestry Meeting,  December 18, 2022

Present: Alan Bentrup, Jim McManic, Jen Duncan, Keen Haynes, Bob Garrity, Linda Seeber, Melissa Kurkel, DJ Mitchell, Amanda Alvarez, Rick Schulz

Absent: Mary Anderson

  • The meeting was called to order at 12:00 by Rev. Alan Bentrup
  • Opening Prayer offered by Alan
  • Minutes discussed.

Keen Haynes moved to accept the minutes and Bob Bess seconded.

  • Treasurer’s Report/Budget Committee Report – DJ Mitchell

Discussed the 2023 budget.

Bob Bess made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report and Melissa Kurkel seconded

  • Senior Warden Report – Keen Haynes

2023 nominations for Vestry and convention.

3 names have applied for the Vestry.

Need additional delegates for convention

We are church pairing with St. Julian of Norwich, Austin/Round Rock. Mission 2009

  • Junior Warden Report
  • Rector’s Report

Request that the staff receive a Christmas bonus this year.

DJ moved to accept the bonus for staff and Bob Bess seconded.

Memorial gift of blue vestments was announced and Fr. Alan has picked out the style.

Linda Seeber will check pricing on Blue Advent wreath candles.

  • Closing prayer- keen Haynes
  • Adjourned ay 12:55.
Eagle Scout Project – Little Free Library

Eagle Scout Project – Little Free Library

Carson Crays from Troop 937 is working on a Lending Library for St. Martin’s!

 

Carson’s Plan:

The name of my Eagle Project is St. Martin’s Little Free Library. My Eagle Project will be the building of a Little Free Library to place near the edge on the church property, and then stocking this library with donated children’s books from the community and scouts from my troop. The project will include a stand alone library box on a post that will be staked into the ground. The library box will feature two shelves and a plexiglass door to allow visitors to see the current contents of the library. The box will also feature a sloped roof and weather seals to ensure rain and moisture does not enter and ruin the books inside. The box will be mounted to a wooden post and anchored into the ground. The project will also include a scout led book drive to help fill the library. Along with St. Martins, I will lead my scout troop in hosting a book drive and allow scouts and community members to donate their unneeded children’s books. These donated children’s books will initially stock the library and allow the community to immediately appreciate the library. Finally, I will help St. Martin’s register the box with Little Free Library, making it easy for the community to find the library and officially placing it on the Little Free Library map.

Benefits:

St. Martin’s has many outreach programs within the community, including our Boy Scout Troop. They also have a strong children’s outreach program, and with this project I plan to strengthen their children’s outreach initiatives. St. Martin’s already holds Vacation Bible School, summer camps, and year-long Sunday programs for community youth. The box will expand on their children’s initiatives and bring families from around the community to St. Martin by expanding book access to those who otherwise could have trouble obtaining books for their children. Keeping the library outside and open 24/7/365 allows anyone to access the these books anytime, and help further a community of young literate learners.

The St. Martin’s Little Free Library project will build upon existing and growing list of outdoor ammenities, including the Labrynth, and provide a not only welcoming, but safe space for everyone to gather and meet others in the community. Additionally, the project will allow the community to discover St. Martin’s and the amazing programs. St. Martin could host events around the library including book clubs, group reading sessions, and more.

“My project ultimately aims to provide another way for St. Martin-in-the-Fields to enhance the Keller, Southlake, and surrounding community through outreach initiatives, creating a community filled with connection and knowledge”.

Next Steps:

St. Martin’s will hold a book drive at our Annual Meeting on Jan. 29 at 9:30 and on Sunday, February 5 – Scout Sunday. All kinds of books are welcome for any age, Children, Teens, Adults, Religious. Carson will speak at the 9:30 service on Jan. 29, and attendees will have the opportunity to meet him and hear more about his project!

You can contribute!

Use the form below to donate money online. Choose “Eagle Project” from the drop down menu.