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What We've Done
We remain active in trying to reach as many in need as we can. These
organizations have benefited from our efforts.
Angel Tree Christmas
December 2021: 81 children gifted.
Angel Tree Christmas mobilizes local churches and community organizations to give hundreds of thousands of children a gift, the Gospel message, and a personal message of love on behalf of their incarcerated parent.
For additional information about the Angel Tree Christmas, click here to visit their website.
Blessing Tree for Zuni Elementary
December 2021: 15 children gifted
We had a special opportunity to bless kids at Zuni and our community this past Christmas with gifts. Congregants were able to choose gifts from Blessing Trees for specific children at Zuni Elementary and others in our community at St. John's.
Blue Star Mothers
January 2022: Collected approximately 40 pounds of foot warmers, hand warmers, hot chocolate, chapstick, dental floss, and wet wipes.
Blue Star Mothers are mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers and female legal guardians who have children serving in the military, guard or reserves, or children who are veterans. We support each other and our children while promoting patriotism. Click here to visit their website.
The staff and volunteers have a mission for Family Promise of Albuquerque: To empower families in the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho communities who are at risk of homelessness or experiencing homelessness and to achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response.
St. John's next hosting rotation for Family Promise will be determined soon. The families are still at Church of the Good Shepherd (on Tennyson, near Tramway & Paseo). We will be providing dinners each of the evenings, Sunday - Saturday and washing bed linens.
Family Promise
2022: Prepared and delivered dinner meals quarterly to families in the Family Promise program.
Food Boxes for John Marshall Community Center
December 2021: 60 food boxes
December 2020: 60 food boxes
December 2019: 64 food boxes
December 2018: 52 food boxes
The adult Sunday School Classes of St. John's, as well as other interested church members, are invited to participate in our program of providing Christmas food boxes to needy families served by the John Marshall Community Center in the south Broadway area of Albuquerque. The Center reaches out to families in the area who use their services. The need is tremendous and our participation is much appreciated.
Click here for the list of suggested food items for the boxes.
Good Medicine Way
June 2022: Provided 22 copies of "First Nations Version, an Indigenous Translation of the New Testament".
Casey Church shared information with St. John's about the new church start, Good Medicine Way, the only United Methodist Native American Church in the Albuquerque area. This church is an attempt to bring a Christian Gospel message through broad Native American cultural understandings.
During the month of June we will be collecting donations to purchase for Good Medicine Way Church, the "First Nations Version, an Indigenous Translation of the New Testament", in English, by Native Americans, for Native Americans, and all English speaking people.
There are several ways you can give: 1) drop cash or checks into the blue box on the Hospitality Center (only there on Sunday mornings), 2) place your cash or check in the offering plate on Sunday mornings, 3) mail in your check to the church office (2626 Arizona NE, 87110) or 4) give on-line. In all cases, please make your check out to St. John's UMC and indicate "New Testaments" on your check memo field, envelope or on-line giving.
Locker #505
October 2021: participated in Trunk or Treat event to benefit Locker #505 plus contributed three bags of new socks and underwear.
September 2021: UMW Celebration Circle sorted clothing at Locker #505.
This is a student clothing bank collecting new or gently used clothing for children in Bernalillo County. For additional information about the phenomenal work done by Locker #505, check out their website.
Missions to Refugees
June 2022: Provided a large amount of supplies requested.
We've been in touch with a local organization that is helping to settle Afghanistan and Ukraine refugees in Albuquerque. They were in need of the following supplies which we will collected in June:
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Cleaning supplies: dish soap, paper towels, laundry detergent, bathroom cleaner (Ajax, Comet, 409, Clorox spray, etc.)
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Kitchen: trash cans (13 gal), trash bags (13 gal)
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Furniture: tables, side tables, couches, chairs
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Other items: mops, shower curtains, toilet paper, alarm clocks
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Some of these items are duplicates with what we are collecting for Silver Horizons this month. If you have a preference where your item(s) go, please tag the items with "SH" (for Silver Horizons) or "Refugees". Otherwise, we will divide duplicate items equally between the two organizations.
Silver Horizons
September 2022: Donated 10 boxes of non-perishable food and non-food items for distribution through their Food Markets.
July 2022: Donated a car-load full of cat food, deodorant, laundry detergent, dish detergent, paper towels, shampoo and disposable razors.
March 2022: Donated 30 rolls paper towels, 69 rolls of toilet paper, 29 packages of facial tissue, 57 packages of plastic wrap / foil and 14 packages of trash bags.
February 2022: Donated 5 crates of non-perishable food items for distribution.
January 2022: Collected assortment of socks, gloves, shawls, hats, and lap blankets for the low-income seniors served by Silver Horizons.
November/December 2021: Collected 200 pounds of non-perishable food and non-food items.
December 2021: Collected $5797 towards purchase of storage container for Silver Horizons.
Silver Horizons assists low-income seniors (50 years and older), many of whom are raising grandchildren and existing on as low as $700 per month, meet their basic needs and maintain a quality standard of living. Silver Horizons does not receive funding from the State of New Mexico, the County of Bernalillo, or from the City of Albuquerque. Silver Horizons exists because of donations from individuals, local businesses, and private foundations. They do receive some FEMA funds from the Federal Government.
For more information about Silver Horizons or for someone who might be in need of their services, click here to visit their website.
Special collection for
Middle and/or High School Students
July, August, September 2022: Delivered multiple boxes of snacks and supplies to three schools.
This is traditionally the month when our Missions' Team focuses on back-to-school needs, particularly through this month's Special Offering designated for our neighbor to the north, Zuni Elementary. But there are many older students throughout our area with basically the same needs. We are expanding our focus to collect snack items and non-food school items for middle school and/or high school students in our broader community.
During the months of July and August, we are collecting the following snack items (all single-serve sizes; no nut-related items): granola bars, cheese-and-crackers, protein bars, cereal bars, fruit snacks, goldfish crackers, cheez-its, dried fruit, popcorn, and cup-of-noodles. In addition, we are collecting non-food items (please be mindful of the sizes and types that would be preferred by middle and high school students): general school supplies, art supplies, backpacks, and reusable water bottles.
Summer Reading Blessing for Zuni Elementary
May 2022: Delivered 60 bags of 5-7 books per bag as gifts for summer reading.
We collected children's books for kids from Zuni Elementary for summer reading blessing bags. Congregants brought new or gently-used children/young adult books and places them in the bins in the Hospitality Center.
Teacher/Staff Appreciation Gifts for Zuni Elementary and St. John's Preschool Plus
September 2022: Delivered to Zuni and the Preschool teachers and staff large magnets with words of encouragement for starting the school year.
May 2022: Delivered End-of-the Year Appreciation gifts to 53 teachers and staff.
February 2022: Delivered kitchen mitts, spatulas and cookie mixes to 52 teachers and staff.
December 2021: Delivered scented candles to 51 teachers and staff.
A group of retired elementary school teachers from St. John's gets together 4-5 times during the school year to assemble small appreciation gifts for the teachers and staff at Zuni Elementary and St. John's Preschool Plus. In addition, homemade birthday cards are given to each member of the schools' staff monthly including 6-month birthday cards for those with summer birthdays!
Weekend Meal Bags for Zuni Elementary
2022: Continually collecting single-serve food items for use in the Weekend Meal Bags.
This is our opportunity to help our neighborhood. Zuni Elementary has reached out to St. John's for weekend meal bags for 40 children each week. For a complete list of the pop-top, single-serve items we put in the weekend meal bags, click here.