ChurchNet is a coalition of 15 area churches that pool financial resources and volunteers to assist people in the local community with utility bills, rent, and/or prescription medications.  All money is paid directly to billers rather than the applicants and there is an annual limit on support for any one individual or family.  In 2008 ChurchNet helped approximately 270 clients in crisis, relieving total debt of about $47,000.

Volunteers are trained to conduct interviews of prospective relief recipients and to assess and process applications for assistance.  At present the ChurchNet office in Wake Forest is open and in need of additional help on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons.

ChurchNet is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization and is incorporated. Tax-deductible donations can be placed in the designated box in the narthex of St. John’s or delivered directly to ChurchNet at 121 Front Street, Wake Forest, NC  27587. 

Tri-Area Ministry (TAM)

TAM is a local non-profit agency that provides food to those in need in the local community (residents of Wake Forest, Youngsville, & Rolesville areas). The items are given to recipients at no cost.

Food are donated to TAM from local parishes and community members. Financial support, to pay the mortgage, is also provided by local parishes and community members. Financial donations to TAM are used to pay the mortgage, building maintenance costs, as well as to re-stock the pantry shelves when necessary. Volunteers staff the center and serve regular weekly hours.

St. John's provides assistance to TAM by collecting food each Sunday for their pantry shelves. All canned and dry good donations are accepted; however, to ensure that the shelves are not overstocked with any particular item, TAM has suggested a monthly "food wheel" as follows:

Food donations can be placed in the labeled basket located in St. John's narthex. People are also welcome to go by TAM and donate items directly during operating hours.

All food donations, not just suggested donations, are gratefully accepted at TAM. They do have some limited freezer space available. If you are interested in donating items which require refrigeration we ask that you contact TAM prior to delivery and confirm their ability to store such items and the hours in which a staff member can assist you.

Contact Information:
Tri-Area Ministry (TAM)
Phone:      (919) 556-7144
Location:  153 East Holding Avenue, Wake Forest, North Carolina
Hours:       Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
St. John's TAM Ministry Leader:  JoAnn Wootten, 600-2832, jomidwoo2@gmail.com

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Thanksgiving Meals On Wheels (MOW)

St. John's parishioners spend the day after Thanksgiving preparing meals and bags of groceries for Wake Forest area Meals On Wheels recipients (MOW). A quiet outreach ministry that began in 1989 has evolved into a much anticipated and well supported event for the people of St. John's and community. The program is designed to deliver healthy meals to individuals in the local community who, because of health or physical limitations, would otherwise be without a daily nutritious meal.

The regular MOW volunteers and program, take a needed break from their daily volunteer work on weekends and holidays. Unfortunately this leaves the dependents of MOW without food for four days over the Thanksgiving holiday (Thursday-Sunday). With St. John's help, MOW volunteers are able to take the break they need without worry. They know that those who depend on them are still receiving a nutritious, home cooked meal.

Turkey, hams sweet potato casserole, muffins, rolls and veggies are always part of the menu. In addition to the ready-to-eat dinner that is delivered, parishioners donate fresh fruit, individual snack items, desserts, and more.

How can I help?

•   Volunteers deliver the meals to the homes of the meal recipients.
•   Volunteers prepare the food and divide it into take-home containers. (St. John's usually provides enough for several meals over the long holiday weekend.)
•   Donations of food are gratefully accepted several days prior to the event: fresh fruit, individual size snack items, desserts, breads and pint size cartons of milk are also delivered to each person. For a complete list of items needed, contact the office in October.

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Joy Of Christmas

This outreach program is designed to bring "Christmas Joy" and provide assistance to the families in the Wake Forest/Rolesville area who are in need.

Each year, with the help of the local elementary school counselors, St. John's receives the names of approximately 25 families and 15 senior citizens in need. Through the Joy of Christmas program, members and guests of St. John's provide Christmas gifts for each child of the families. A holiday meal and food for their holiday season is also provided. St. John's ECW, Food Lion and Boy Scout Troop 5 from Wake Forest, have helped to provide food, extra gifts, and assistance with organizing the many packages for delivery.

How can I help?

• Shoppers: First names and ages of children and seniors names are put on a Christmas tree each year at St. John's by mid-October. The tree is located in St. John's parish hall. Members and visitors of St. John's are encouraged to select and name to shop for that child for Christmas.
• Team leaders, coordinators for each family/senior that will receive food and gifts, are also needed. The Team leaders talk to the family/senior and find out what each child's specific needs, wishes, and sizes are and relays that information to the appropriate "shopper." The team leader also delivers gifts and food to the family/senior.
• Donate Money that can be used to shop for a child or help defray food costs.
• Watch for ways you can help in the Epistle and bulletin beginning in October of each year, or contact the JOC Coordinator with ideas and ways you can help.

Coordinator:  Carolyn Stoklas

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Thompson Children's Home

Thompson Children's Home provides a continuum of care for more than 300 children and families annually. Their top priorities are to give young people and their parents tools to ensure success and when possible, to keep families together.

For more information, go to their website at www.thompsonchildrenshome.org.

Offering envelopes are provided at Thanksgiving for the Thompson Children's Home.

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United Thank Offering (UTO)

The United Thank Offering is a way of giving daily thanks to God. The discipline starts in the home by saying a prayer of thanksgiving as you drop coins into a special container, known as the Blue Box. This is one way an individual can express thanks to God for all of the blessings in his/her life. "We all have many things to be thankful for," says Susan Baird, diocesan UTO chair. "This tangible expression of our thanks helps people in need across the world, as the monetary gifts are used for grants for ministry. Be aware that every coin that is given is used to support mission and ministry."



St. John's has blue UTO boxes available for each person to begin their collection of coins in appreciation of God's daily blessings in their lives. The coins from the boxes are collected two times a year at a Sunday Worship Service. UTO participants are asked to place their offering in the collection plate. (Offerings can be delivered to the office at any time as well.) The time of collection is called "The Ingathering." The following is St. John's schedule for collection of UTO boxes.

Fall Ingathering:	Sunday Closest to All Saints Day
Spring Ingathering:	Sunday following Ascension

For more information visit the UTO website at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/uto.htm.

UTO Coordinators for St. John's:  Carolyn Filo, (919) 556-3656.

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Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Living Sober Group

St. John's is supportive of the ministry of 12 Step Groups.  Although no groups presently meet at St. John's, if you need help finding a group, call the office or 919-783-6144 for assistance.

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Jr. Girl Scout Troop #890

Leader:  Tracy Kelly
Meeting Times:  1st, 3rd, & 4th Tuesday of every month from 5-7:30 p.m.

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