FOSP MEMBER NEWS | OCTOBER 2020 |
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Dear Friends of St. Philip’s,
We hope this newsletter finds you safe and well. The last seven months have shined an extraordinary light on the value of community, as we continue to care for one another. We want to share the ongoing and crucial role of Friends of St. Philip’s in supporting the community center and school. Below, you also will find planning updates and opportunities to help this vital community not only thrive but excel. Additionally, if you missed our May newsletter, you can catch up here.
As a quick recap, in our inaugural year Friends supported St. Philip’s in many ways:
- Hosted two Birthday Luncheons for faculty and staff.
- Volunteered in Aunt Bette’s Community Pantry.
- Hosted a faculty and staff Christmas Fiesta Luncheon.
- Presented Target gift cards to all faculty and staff at the Christmas Luncheon.
- Transported surplus Snap Kitchen meals.
- Served at both the annual Thanksgiving Feast and Christmas Store.
- Purchased and delivered yard signs to all faculty and staff during Appreciation Week.
- Provided dinner for all faculty and staff and their families with help from Ruthie’s Food Truck and the Philanthropy Department.
- Planned our first annual event – “Bingo, BBQ, & the Blues” (rescheduled for September 2021).
- Purchased and mailed Walmart gift cards and fabric face masks to all faculty and staff at year-end.
- Contributed $10,000 to SPSCC for its operating budget
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Friends of St. Philip’s (Friends) officially kicked off in July 2019. It was an exciting start, and we were thrilled to welcome 190 members in our first year. Due to the pandemic-related uncertainties, we extended our initial membership period through the end of 2020. All memberships will be recognized on a calendar-year basis going forward.
- We are incredibly grateful for the support and leadership of our Founding and Lifetime members who received perpetual memberships.
- We sincerely appreciate our inaugural members who joined Friends of St. Philip’s in our first year. Your membership is active through December 2020.
- Those joining or renewing on or after the Destiny Luncheon in February are active through December 2021. We are excited to have you!
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EXPANDING OUR GENERAL BOARD |
Are you looking for a way to get more involved with Friends and SPSCC? We would love to have more Friends join our General Board. The General Board meets casually four times a year in homes (or via Zoom currently) for coffee and Friends updates. Along with being an advocate of the Friends’ mission, General Board members assist with planning and implementing faculty and staff appreciation events, and support membership recruitment and retention initiatives. We also welcome the leadership of at-large members who want to learn more about Friends and/or be involved in the development of the organization.
In addition to General Board members, we are seeking a special someone to join our Executive Board as Volunteer Coordinator. The Volunteer Coordinator will serve as a liaison between Friends and the SPSCC volunteer coordinator and share volunteer information at monthly Executive Board meetings.
For more information or to join the fun, email Paula Mitchell. |
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St. Philip’s School & Community Center is moving into its 75th Anniversary year of ministry! With the theme Declaring 75 Years Of Wondrous Works, several special events will take place over the next year, along with the release of three books and merchandise to commemorate this milestone moment in the life of this dynamic South Dallas institution. The timeline of events includes: Cooking with Aunt Bette (November 2020), Destiny Award Luncheon (February/March 2021), Sneaker Ball and Drive, Chip, & Putt benefiting the Community Center (June 2021), Alumni Event (Summer 2021), Bingo, BBQ, & the Blues (September 2021), 75th Anniversary Soirée (December 2021), and Christmas Chapel (December 2021). Please stay tuned for more details and how you can support our anniversary year.
Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare. – Psalms 75:1
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BINGO, BBQ, and the BLUES |
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RESCHEDULED!!!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW FOR
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
Edison’s – 1724 Cockrell Ave., Dallas
For more information email Martha Johnston |
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The Staff Appreciation Committee needs you! Do you have fun ideas, connections to places, venues, or items? We want to share our love and gratitude for our St. Philip’s faculty and staff, especially during these precarious times. Last year Friends hosted several luncheons and provided special treats throughout the year. This school year we are seeking even more uniquely creative ideas and energetic hands to celebrate safely.
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Friends of St. Philip’s is pleased to partner with Interabang Books to provide new books to all clients and families of Aunt Bette’s Community Pantry at St. Philip’s School & Community Center. Interabang Books cultivated a list of books specifically for our St. Philip’s community. Easy access to literature is difficult during these unprecedented times due to limited availability of libraries, recreational centers, and in-classroom learning. By purchasing a book from the Interabang website, you can share the gift of reading with our community clients.
Friends of St. Philip’s hand-deliver your purchased books to Aunt Bette’s Community Pantry where clients select books of their choice to take home and share with their families.
We are honored to collaborate with Interabang Books to bring literacy opportunities to the St. Philip’s Community.
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AUNT BETTE'S COMMUNITY PANTRY |
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The Pantry quickly adjusted to our community’s changing needs and concerns about COVID-19 with modified operations. Over these past months, pantry and school staff, along with a few dedicated and committed volunteers, stepped up to serve weekly. As school staff and other volunteers return to their regular jobs, there is now the opportunity for a more flexible volunteer schedule.
Volunteer opportunities are available Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:45-11:30 a.m. Neighbors drive (or walk) through the parking lot to receive boxes and bags of nonperishables, frozen meats, dairy, produce, and more. Volunteers distribute food outside or work inside to assemble bags and boxes. All volunteers must wear masks and gloves and maintain safe social distancing. Neighbors are required to wear masks as they arrive.
If you are interested in serving, please sign up for a shift here.
SNAP KITCHEN DRIVERS
Volunteers continue to pick up surplus meals seven days a week from four Snap Kitchen stores. These meals are transported to the Pantry and are much appreciated by our neighbors. On days the Pantry is closed, meals are delivered to “The Kitchen” at nearby Cornerstone Church, where they are served to our neighbors. If you are interested in volunteering for a regular weekly route or being added to the “sub” list, please email: deevelvin@gmail.com
BAGS, WRAPPED PLASTIC CUTLERY, and ROLLING BAGS WANTED
Recycle Your Paper or Plastic Bags! The Pantry always utilizes paper and plastic shopping bags. In addition to regular sized grocery bags, they also can use slightly larger bags - similar to those from Bed Bath & Beyond and Target.
Wrapped plastic cutlery, such as those given with take-out orders, also are needed. These are distributed to our neighbors receiving Snap Kitchen meals.
Gently used rolling duffle bags and suitcases enable clients without transportation to more easily transport their groceries home.
Donate bags, cutlery packets, and rolling bags directly to the Pantry during regular hours (Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to noon), or email Dee Velvin to arrange a drop-off or pick-up. |
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Due to the coronavirus, athletic programming has shifted from leagues to skills clinics. Baseball and soccer clinics are being planned for the fall. To provide additional safeguards, SPSCC needs more athletic gear so that each student has their own personal equipment. Requested items: baseballs, gloves, bats, and soccer balls. For more information or to donate, contact Coach Fletcher. |
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Feel free to reach out to any board member if you are looking for more ways to get involved with FOSP:
Helen Bond Riney, Communications (email)
Martha Johnston, Bingo, BBQ, & Blues (email)
Annelise Pedersen, Treasurer (email)
Christy Singhania, Secretary (email)
Tina Stansbury, Faculty/Staff Appreciation (email)
Breanna Turnley, SPSCC Liaison (email)
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