The Outreach Ministries...

The Tree of Life Prison Ministry – Activities include: serving as Pen Pals to inmates at Graterford Prison, hosting an Angel Tree Christmas Party for children of incarcerated parents, providing clothing for inmates upon re-entry to society, participating in the Kingdom Care Re-entry program, and providing assistance to school age children of incarcerated parents.

Food Pantry – On the first Sunday of each month the congregation and the Boy Scouts collect canned goods and non-perishables for distribution to Philabundance and The St. Barnabas Mission for the Homeless. At Thanksgiving a special collection coordinated by Daughters of the King provides dinners for families in the community.

The Rewarding Education Enrichment Program (REEP)
Tutoring and monitoring for assessment are provided to Overbrook Elementary School. Other activities have included presentations for career day and distribution of hats and gloves for children (the Sisterhood Guild).

MWAMBA – High school tuition was provided for 15 students in the Kitale Diocese, Kenya, in addition to school supplies, and congregants who visited and worked in the Kitale diocese.

Boy Scout Troop # 133 – The Boy Scouts collected pajamas and books for the children at the St. Barnabas Mission, collected cell phones for the Phone4Charity Project, collected eyeglasses for the needy, helped serve 500 pancake breakfasts to raise funds for the Overbrook School for the Blind, and served dinner to residents of St. John's Hospice.

Jesse F. Anderson Sr. Scholarship Fund – Scholarships totaling $ 6,000 were awarded to six students matriculating in a four-year college. A variety of events raised funds in addition to congregational contributions.

AIDS Walk – Members of the congregation, Young Adults, and SOULdiers for Christ walked in this event to raise funds for Aids Treatment and Research.

Urban Revitalization Project Week – SOULdiers for Christ and the Gospel Choir continue to support this yearly event with Trinity Solebury Church where a community service activity is completed in West Philadelphia.

Annual Blood Drive and Health Fair – The Health Ministry organizes this event. The community is invited to join the St. Thomas family in donating blood and learning about health issues and special health programs.

Community Thrift Shop – The Thrift Shop donates clothing to the St. Barnabas Mission and the Who-So-Ever Mission, and responds to calls from the community for assistance with clothing. Contributions are also made to institutions identified by the rector.

Other Outreach Efforts:

• Annual Parish Campaign for the United Negro College Fund
• Annual Parish Campaign for the African American Museum of
• Philadelphia
• The Kassiah Francis Fund (Sr. Partners)
• People's Emergency Fund (Sr. Partners)
• St. Barnabas Mission - Newborn diapers and clothing (ECS –
• Good Friends)
• Monthly Ministry to Kearsley Home and pastoral care for
• residents
• Breast Cancer Research : Congregational donations supported
• Betty Myers' three-day walk for Breast Cancer