In Holy Baptism, we promise to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves”.  The Good Shepherd family recognizes the suffering of the world—local and global—and following the commendation of Matthew 25, we seek to feed the hungry, quench the thirsty, clothe the naked, tend the sick, and visit the imprisoned

Did you know that Good Shepherd more than tithes our budget toward local, national, and international mission and outreach efforts. We also partner our financial resources with our human resource, in support of the following programs:

Basic Needs Coalition 

The Coalition provides for people’s basic needs:  food, clothing and housing.  The coalition brings together government, non-profit and faith-based organizations to raise awareness of the needs of the poor in Central Texas and to serve as their advocates. Good Shepherd has participated in Basic Needs since its inception.

 

Bridges to Home

Members of this ministry help find furniture and other household goods to be made available to families who, following a period of homelessness, have been through the Transitions Program at The Salvation Army. If you are interested in joining this ministry or taking on a leadership role then please contact the Rev. Chris Duncan.

 

Christmas Giving Tree 

This group works with many local non-profit organizations and agencies to obtain names and “wish lists” of needy individuals and families.  On the Sunday following Thanksgiving these lists are made available for parishioners to choose families and help fulfill their Christmas wish list. Several individuals and families will be needed to help adopt these needy families. Also several volunteers are needed to join this ministry group in logistical planning and delivery of presents. If you are interested then please contact Jan Bashur.

 

Dress For Success

Dress For Success is a nonprofit worldwide organization that provides low-income women job interview suits, skills, and support to find and maintain employment. The people of Good Shepherd recently donated items that included shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, sample perfumes, and make-up to fill 55 gift bags. These bags along with over 100 articles of clothing were delivered to help clients with their first steps towards self-sufficiency. If you are interested in joining this ministry then please contact Diane Bottoms or Mary Ellington.

 

Faith in Action Caregivers West Austin

Faith in Action is a coalition of congregations with the purpose of providing support services to adults 60 years of age and older who live in the West Austin area. The volunteer services include personalized transportation, errands, friendly visiting in the home or by phone, and minor home repairs. These services are at no charge to the recipients. In 2009, 187 volunteers served 334 clients and contributed 10,208 volunteer hours. If you would like to play a part in Good Shepherd’s role in this ministry, please contact Monique Wright to find out way you can be involved. You can also go to the website for more information: http://www.main.org/wacaregivers/.

 

Family Eldercare

Good Shepherd collects fans (new or used) and donates them to the Family Eldercare Summer Fan Drive. The fans are then distributed to the elderly who have no air conditioning.  If you are interested in helping plan this event then please contact Jennifer Brandt.

 

Family Outreach Team

The Good Shepherd Family Outreach Team organizes regular hands-on volunteer events where Good Shepherd families with young children (ages 4-11) participate together in age appropriate community service events.  The Family Outreach team will work together to find and organize these opportunities to serve others as a family.  We’ll work throughout the community, with groups such as North Loop Apartments, Caritas, and El Buen Samaritano, to teach our children the importance of service, and have a great time in the process.  If your family is interested in joining the Family Outreach Team, please contact Becky and Phil Svahn. 

 

Habitat for Humanity

This well-known group works to provide homes for families who, likely, would not otherwise have the opportunity to own their own home. The families first work on others’ homes, providing ‘sweat equity’ before they can purchase a Habitat Home for themselves. Good Shepherd, collaborating with other Episcopal churches in the city, has helped raise four homes in the past four years. In addition to our human resource, we provide significant financial support of Habitat’s work. If you are interested in help organize this year’s build then please contact the Rev. Chris Duncan. If you want to help with the build in the spring of 2011 then look for more details to come.

 

Meals on Wheels  

A group of volunteers deliver hot meals to homebound persons. Good Shepherd provides four teams of drivers for two different routes each week.  More than twenty-five Good Shepherd parishioners participate in this effort. If you are interested in helping deliver meals in partnership with this national program then please contact Alice Scarbrough.

 

Mission Outreach 

This mission group assists persons and communities suffering damage from natural disasters. In the spring of 2009, we sponsored a mission trip to Galveston to work through Episcopal Relief and Development in the rebuilding of hurricane damaged homes and churches. Mission opportunities will be provided at least annually.

 

North Loop Apartments 

North Loop provides low-income housing for elderly and handicapped adults. Good Shepherd has a long established relationship with this community having provided canned food, Thanksgiving baskets, bingo, Christmas party, and cookouts. We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with the residents there as this program and ministry grows. If you are interested in joining this ministry team then please contact Bettie High.

 

Olivia’s Closet

Created by a dedicated gift and sustained by continued giving, Good Shepherd provides diapers and hygiene items to low-income families.  We receive these families by referral from local service agencies. 

 

Refugee Ministry 

In the fall of 2009, members of a large family were adopted in concert with the Episcopal Refugee Services. The family includes a father, mother, four sons’ ages sixteen, fourteen, seven, five, and three-years-old; an eleven-year-old daughter; a twenty-two-year-old daughter and her five-year-old son, as well as a twenty-one-year-old male cousin. Good Shepherd parishioners helped register the family’s children in school, and are assisting in their English education, as well as providing transportation and orientation to their new community.

 

Shepherd Bags

Parishioners prepare gallon-size Ziploc bags with a pair of socks, a bottle of water, and various food items, for handing out to those standing at local street corners. The parish partners with Good Shepherd Episcopal School for both assembly and distribution of Shepherd Bags. All parishioners are invited to come prepare Shepherd Bags on scheduled Sundays. Also, planning goes into each assembly Sunday. Volunteers are needed to join this team to help with planning and preparations. Contact Kathryn Ross if you are interested.

 

Trinity Streets 

Several times a year, members of Good Shepherd Trinity Streets lead Sunday afternoon worship and serve a meal for approximately eighty people experiencing homelessness at the Trinity Center in downtown Austin. Each volunteer contributes with cooking, helping with worship, or greeting. If you are interested in joining this meaningful ministry then please contact Jeff Whitehurst.

 

Mainsprings Schools

This non-profit childcare center serves sixty-five children and their families in a federal housing project just south of downtown Austin. The Episcopal Church Women and Good Shepherd Episcopal School have teamed up for the 2009-2010 school year for a host of support activities, including Mainspring children coming to Good Shepherd to receive books from a book drive, participate in a sing-a-long and enjoy hot chocolate.  During late summer, parishioners donate school supplies for Mainspring students.

If you are looking for other ways to be involved in Outreach, have questions, or want to start a new outreach ministry then please contact the Rev. Chris Duncan.