Helping Others

We are active in LeRoy and our region, as well as engaged in projects globally.

 

LeRoy Food Pantry & Backpack Club

Each week, we collect non-perishable food items to support LeRoy's Food Pantry (located at the Town Hall on Main St.) and the Backpack Club. 

The Backpack Club is hosted by four LeRoy churches--St. Mark's, First Baptist, Presbyterian, and Calvary Baptist.  Backpacks are packed at the First Baptist Church with easy-to-serve food items for children. Backpacks go home weekends during the school year and serve about 30 local families for a total of about 75 to 80 children. 

 

"Stitch-In" for the children of Ukraine - a success!

We held a "Stitch-In" on March 12 and had 15 people participate in person to raise money ($1435 in total) for UNICEF's Protect Children in Ukraine fund. An additional 15 people stitched at home, and 11 people just donated.

Are you interested in stitching?  We're planning to restart our Needlework Group, which is open to all and to all kinds of stitching!

This primitive cross-stitch folk design of “Forest Foxes” is by Ukrainian stitcher Kateryna (stitchyprincess on Etsy; stitchy_princess_black on Instagram) who lives in Kyiv.

Details: Why stitching? Embroidery and needlework are a large part of Ukrainian cultural heritage.  Supporting a Ukrainian cross-stitcher through the purchase of her pattern also supports a local inhabitant, who has posted through her Instagram account that she has used her additional sales to buy food and medical supplies for her family and her neighbors. 

 

Christmas Projects

Each December, we work on at least two special projects.  Each year, we collect hats, gloves, mittens, scarves and socks for the ECW Mitten Tree which are then distributed to those in need, including any migrant workers who have remained in the area. 

In December 2018, we collected money to purchase a cow through Episcopal Relief & Development.  We exceeded our goal of $600, raising over $1400 to purchase one cow, one pig, one goat, a flock of chickens, a family well, and 5 shares of seeds, tools, and agricultural training.  These items go to families in need in 3rd world countries. 

Summer Lunch Program

The Summer Lunch Program is a community effort organized by St. Mark's Church.   This is a "Kid Friendly" program that serves a FREE tasty and nutritious lunch to all children and teens, ages 18 years old and younger.  Grab-and-go lunches are served Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:45-12:45 at St. Mark's side door on Church St.  "Next-day" lunches are given out on Mondays and Wednesdays.

The program ran June 27 to August 19, 2022. This is our 13th year of serving summer meals (we were off in 2021). 

We are fortunate to have wonderful volunteers from St. Mark's and from the community. 

If you are interested in volunteering for this program, we would love to hear from you.  You can contact us by calling the church office:  (585) 768-7200.  Or you can e-mail us Enable JavaScript to view protected content..