From the list "Mission Projects in need of volunteers", select a mission project that you might be interested in doing and click on that link. You will be shown detail about that project, the skill set required and the anticipated timeframe to complete. If you are interested in volunteering for that particular mission click on the "Submit Volunteer Request" button on the bottom of that page.

In the box "Got an idea for a mission project. Submit a Project to the Review Council" above, click on the link where you will be taken to a page where you will fill out information about your mission project idea. Once you finish entering your information, click on the "Submit Project Idea" button on the bottom of the page.

Your mission project idea will be sent to the Project Review Council who will review the project to see if it something that we are capable of doing, have the necessary funds and can complete it in a timely manner. You will hear back from the Project Review Council regarding the outcome of your request. If it is accepted it will be put on the queue of projects to be done.

We realize that there will be times when we cannot go ahead with a mission because of a lack of volunteers. If this is the case, the mission will be put back in the queue of projects to do at a later time. if the project is listed a second time and still cannot get enough volunteers, the project will then be denied further consideration.

The Project Review Council looks at a number of things when considering a project for Helping Hands. They want to make sure that the project is doable by evaluating the resources needed, skill sets required, timeframes, liability, cost and if there any additional equipment and/or facilities needed to complete the project.

The main source for finding out about potential mission projects will be by congregation members of St. Mark. Members who read or hear about people in need should send the idea to the Project Review Council by submitting the request (see "Got an idea for a mission project?" above). Also, other institutions such as F.E.A.S.T., Habitat for Humanity, CASA, RCS plus many others, are a good source for potential mission projects. The Project Review Council will rely on congregation members for submitting ideas as well as volunteering for a mission.

No, mission projects can be of any nature as long as there is a need as defined in the mission statement: "Helping Hands is an outreach mission initiative, supported by the congregation of St. Mark, whose goal is to provide help to people in our community who are in need of hearing, feeling and seeing God’s love."

Approved projects in need of volunteers will be "communicated to the congregation in a number of ways; the service bulletin, service announcements by Pastor Alan, the monthly newsletter as well as email (This Week at St. Mark). Of course one of our best communication method is by word-of-mouth from congregation members.

Outreach Mission Projects that require financial assistance will be funded through the "Helping Hands Outreach Mission Fund" which is a designated benevolence fund.. Monies for this fund will be raised by fundraising events (i.e. Noisy Offering, monthly breakfast as well as other fundraising events).

Absolutely! We anticipate that some of the outreach mission projects will not require any physical work. It might be visiting somebody, or driving somebody, or talking to somebody, etc. You could also help by finding potential mission projects that Helping Hands can do and submitting them to the Project Review Council. You could also assist in some of the fundraising events. There are many things that you can do for the Helping Hands Outreach Mission initiative that does not require physical activity.

When you make your donation simply indicate on the envelope or check that this money is to be applied to the "Helping Hands Outreach Mission Fund". Donations can be mailed, dropped off at the office or placed in the weekly collection basket.