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 26, we seek to feed the hungry, quench the thirsty, clothe the naked, tend the sick, and visit the imprisoned.  In the year 2009, the GS Outreach Committee awarded $82,500 in grants to community providers and individuals. The parish financially supports the following local non-profit agencies:  AIDS Services of Austin Emergency Fund; Caritas; El Buen Samaritano; Faith in Action (formerly West Austin Caregivers); Foundation for the Homeless; Housing Authority of the City of Austin; Legal Aid Emergency; MHMR; Red Cross; SafePlace; Trinity Streets; and Saint James School. 

We 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

Volunteers provide 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.

Christmas Giving Tree 

This group furnishesan>  names and “wish lists” of needy families on a Christmas tree.  Parishioners choose families and fulfill their wish lists in the Advent-Christmas seasons.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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; Christmas bags stuffed with hygiene essentials, blankets and fresh fruit; and a hamburger cookout. We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with the residents there through more parties and special projects. 

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 

This fall of 2009, members of a large family were adopted in concert with 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. Refugee Services secured two apartments close to their cousin, already living in Austin. They speak French and other African languages, but very little English. 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. The father, a tailor by trade, invites work opportunities. 

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.

Trinity Streets 

Four times a year, Good Shepherd clergy, musicians, and parishioners lead Sunday afternoon worship and serve a meal for approximately eighty people at Trinity Center.

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. For information about these or other Good Shepherd outreach opportunities, contact the Rev. Denise Vaughn, Priest for Outreach and Pastoral Care.