Special Projects and Events

The Outreach Commission uses the term Special Projects to describe opportunities for St. Peter’s parishioners to reach out to people in our backyard and beyond with small, timely missions like donating food, gifts, and toiletries and to be part of Outreach fund raising events. If you have been thinking about ways to share your blessings, consider participating in one or more of these special projects.

Bread Run
The Atlanta Bread Company in Exton (Main Street at Exton) makes its excess bread available to St. Peter’s each week. On Friday morning, a volunteer picks up the bread and delivers it to Hutchinson Memorial Union American Methodist Episcopal Church in Coatesville. The church uses the bread for its soup kitchen and special events and distributes it to the needy.
Need: Several people to pick up the bread in Exton and deliver it to Coatesville.
   Time commitment: 1 to 2 hours once a month.
      Skills required: None!
         Contact: Melinda Deay or at 610-647-6246.

Bridge of Hope Dinner
Bridge of Hope has been helping homeless and “at risk” single mothers and their children since 1989. Their strategy consists of joining a church-based mentoring group with one homeless family and providing the professional support and counseling to foster the necessary skills of budgeting, goal setting, and parenting skills. Mentors and families gather monthly for dinner at a local church, offering the opportunity to socialize and share issues. Once a year, typically in the fall, St. Peter’s prepares and serves this dinner.
Need: Volunteers to prepare casseroles and desserts and 8 to 10 people to serve the food and clean up the kitchen at the host church in Coatesville.
   Time commitment: Cooks—1 to 2 hours for food preparation or shopping, plus delivery time;
   Time commitment: Servers—2 to 3 hours on a Monday night, once a year.
      Skills required: Cooking or purchasing prepared foods.
         Contact: Kelly or Dan Houston at 610-272-5771.

Eastertide Food Drive
For a 3-week period, beginning the Sunday following Easter, the people of St. Peter’s bring boxed and canned food to the Parish Hall. These donations help stock the food pantries of local agencies.
Need: Someone to help sort and bag the food; one or two drivers to deliver the food to the applicable agencies.
   Time commitment: Sorting/packing—1 hour once a year.
   Time commitment: Drivers—1 to 2 hours once a year.
      Skills required: None!
         Contact: Tim Thomas at 610-380-8781.

Fall Toiletries Drive
During October each year, St. Peter’s collects travel and regular size toiletries and donates them to local agencies.
Need: Someone to help sort the donations; one or two drivers to deliver the toiletries to the applicable agencies.
   Time commitment: Sorting/packing—1 hour once a year; Drivers—1 to 2 hours once a year.
      Skills required: None!
         Contact: Tim Thomas at 610-380-8781.

Gifting Tree
In November, we decorate a large tree in the Parish Hall with tags containing the Christmas wishes of children of our less fortunate neighbors (clients served by the Chester County Department of Children and Family Services, Episcopal Community Services, and God’s Blessing in Coatesville). Parishioners select tags, shop for the gifts requested, and bring them to the church during the second week of December so they can be distributed in time for Christmas.
Need: One or two drivers to deliver the gifts to the applicable agencies.
   Time commitment: 1 to 2 hours once a year
      Skills required: None!
         Contact: Paige Infortuna at 610-296-0630.

Mardi Gras Masquerade
Each February, the Outreach Commission hosts a Mardi Gras Masquerade. Attendees don costumes and masks, feast on chili, gumbo, and jambalaya, listen to live jazz music, and dance away the night! Those who bring a pot of food to share can enter a Cook-off Contest (with fabulous prizes)! The $2,500 we raise supports parishioners who are in the ordination process, helping them defray the costs of seminary. For a suggested donation of $30 per person, you can be part of the fun. You can also join fellow parishioners to help make this important event happen.
Need: Volunteers to buy supplies and prizes, decorate, set up, and take down.
   Time commitment: 1 to 2 hours once a year.
      Skills required: None!
         Contact: The Rev. Nancy Webb Stroud or at 610-644-2261.

St. Peter's Silent Auction
During the last several years, St. Peter's Church in the Great Valley has raised over $60,000 for our outreach ministries through our annual Silent Auction fundraiser. This is a wonderful event with great food, live music and dancing, and magnificent items on which to bid! Items at past auctions have included exquisite artworks, offers of labor by our Men's Group, and a week in a country home in England. Be part of this important fund raiser by coming to the Silent Auction, donating items, and helping with its preparation.
Need: Volunteers to help with soliciting auction items, publicity, decorations, food preparation and serving, and set up and take down.
   Time commitment: 1 to 2 hours once a year.
      Skills required: None!
         Contact: Tim Thomas at 610-380-8735.