During the holiday season,The Welcome Table is the center of community life at St. James. The Thanksgiving Food Sharing, Coat Drive and Santa’s Workshop welcome our students, graduates, their families and our neighbors to their “Third Place.” This term, coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, refers to a communal space distinct from home (first place) and work (second place).
Collaboration has been the theme across all holiday events. Thanks to the combined efforts of St. James School staff, the Graduate Support team and The Welcome Table leaders, we were able to deliver bags of holiday groceries and $25 gift cards to 261 families. Five local churches partnered with us by donating specific food items: African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas; Church of St. Martin-in-the-Field; St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Newtown Square; St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Yardley; and St. Christopher’s Church, Gladwyne.
The Coat Drive was our largest to date, thanks to donations of new coats from school staff, neighbors, and other St. James supporters. The Welcome Table provided 151 coats to men, women and children. Servant Year Member Sam Ajewole led the collection for the second year. Sam said once again he was amazed by the number of people who eagerly supported the drive, whether it was buying coats or volunteering to organize, pack, and deliver them. He observed, “The Welcome Table holiday outreach provides community members with all their needs in one place. It's seamless support that people know they can count on.”
Our Servant Year team leads Santa’s Workshop, an annual favorite during which students and their guardians select gift items. This event is made possible by donations from community members, school staff, and numerous online donors to our Amazon Wish List. The Advent-themed shop takes place in the festively decorated Church of St. James the Less. Shelby Rowe, Servant Year Member and Welcome Table Associate, shares, “The warm and welcoming atmosphere at Santa’s Workshop is a perfect environment to meet families and ask them about their holiday traditions. My favorite part is learning more about what our students’ interests are based on what gifts their families pick out for them."
Paul Barrett, Welcome Table Director, notes, “No matter what time of year it is, The Welcome Table team’s focus is on its four core values of total care, quality service, community ownership, and reflection and response.”
