Warm Hands! Warm Hearts!

The Bodybuilding Committee will begin a “Warm Hands – Warm Hearts” drive now through Epiphany, Jan. 6th. We are collecting gifts of hats, gloves, mittens, scarves and blankets. Bodybuilding will focus on items for children and teens, but we will collect for all ages. There are many families including children and teens who are homeless today, many in our South Irving community. While we can’t eradicate homelessness, we can demonstrate the same unconditional love given to us from the One whose birth we celebrate at this time of year. Proceeds of this drive will be going to the various organizations serving homeless families, including Captain Hope’s Kids, Brighter Tomorrows and Austin Street. Please provide only new unused hats and gloves (for health reasons), but blankets that are gently used and clean are welcome. Please pray for and remember those whose only shelter may be a cardboard box. If you have any questions, please see Kathy W. or any member of the Bodybuilding Committee!

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St. Mark’s Paints, Scrapes, and Panels at the 2011 Great Days of Service

On Saturday, March 26, 2011, and intrepid group of St. Markians joined volunteers from other Irving Churches and charitable organizations in the 2011 Great Days of Service event.

The St. Mark’s crews scraped, painted, and helped affix new siding at homes in the local neighborhood.

Great Days of Service is a faith-based, interdenominational association of Irving churches which are united in serving God and community by renewing neighborhoods and aiding homeowners in the restoration of their properties.

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Easter Basket Drive for Captain Hope’s Kids

Bodybuilding will be collecting Easter baskets, plastic eggs, candy and stuffed animals for homeless children through the end of March.

All items collected will be provided to Captain Hope’s Kids who will assemble and deliver the baskets. Non-secular items are appreciated!

Also, there will be a donation basket in the Silver Lion gift shop for anyone who would prefer to donate funds. Items can be left in the Parish Hall.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

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Warm Hands – Warm Hearts THANK YOU!!!

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who participated in Bodybuilding’s Warm Hands-Warm Hearts hat/glove/blanket drive.

St. Mark’s collected a WHOPPING 115 pairs of gloves/mittens, as well as 37 blankets, 9 coats, 65 hats and 25 hat/scarf/glove combos.

We divided the proceeds between the Austin Street Shelter and Captain Hope’s Kids, which will provide gloves and hats to other homeless agencies as needed.

As always, the generosity of this church is overwhelming, and is such a blessing to those in our community who have so little. The Bodybuilding Committee is so grateful to all your support to this, as well as all the other efforts of this past year.

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The Second Annual Fall Festival for Captain Hope’s Kids

The Second Annual Fall Festival for Captain Hope’s Kids will be held on Saturday, October 9th from 10:30am to 1:00pm.

Donations of children’s books and individually wrapped candies can be left in the parish hall. Cookies and brownies are needed the day of the event.

If you would like to participate, please sign-up in the Parish Hall and/or contact Wende B. or Patricia S. for more information.

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St. Mark’s Volunteers Help Students Return To Class Equipped To Learn

A whopping twenty-three volunteers represented Saint Mark’s this past Saturday at the Captain Hope’s Kids Tools for School Drive.

The Saint Mark’s crew helped stuff over 250 backpacks with school supplies – notebooks, rulers, folders, pens and pencils, crayons, markers, and more!

The backpacks will be distributed to children receiving aid from the different agencies that Captain Hope’s supports. These agencies service homeless families in the Dallas area including domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, and others.

In addition to Saint Mark’s volunteers, youth groups from several other area churches also participated – all working together to benefit this worthy cause.

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Bodybuilding Committee Meets August 22nd

The Bodybuilding Committee will be meeting in the Meeting Room (Education Wing) on Sunday, August 22nd, right after the 9:30 am service.

Anyone is welcome to attend. We will be planning for and working on the details for the Fall Festival (October). If you are interested in participating, please let Wende B., Patricia S., or Rachel H. know.

All adult volunteers must have completed “Safe Church” training in order to participate.

Please grab your coffee after the service Sunday and head straight for the Meeting Room so we can get started! There is much to do and October will be here before we know it!

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Attention Captain Hope Volunteers – Tools for School Drive

If you signed up to volunteer for Captain Hope’s Kids, there has been a slight change.

We will meet this Saturday, August 14, at 10:00 AM, at the Captain Hope’s Admin Office, at 10555 Newkirk, Ste. 580, Dallas, TX 75220. This is close to the Sam’s Club on Northwest Highway. We will be helping them put together backpacks of school supplies from 10-12AM. There will be A/C and they will even have snacks for us! There is lots to do, so all are welcome! Anytime you can give is greatly appreciated.

From St. Mark’s, take O’Connor all the way to Northwest Highway, turn right. Turn Left on Newkirk. There is a group of office buildings on the left. Turn left (2nd turn), at building 10555. Go all the way to the end. Captain Hope is on the left side at the very end of the building. Park anywhere in the front and ring the bell to be let in.

If coming from I-35, exit Northwest Highway, go west. Turn Right on Newkirk.

If you would like to share rides or follow, we will meet at the church at 9:15AM. Note that we will leave no later for Captain Hope’s by 9:40AM, so we will be there on time. You are welcome to meet us there, or come whenever you can. Click here to view a map. We will also have extra copies on Saturday morning.

Please have a look at their wish list of supplies, if you want to contribute anything to the cause! Thank you in advance, and if you have any questions, please contact Wende B.

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Mother’s Day Diaper Drive: It Was A Dusey!

A big thank you to everyone who contributed diapers and wipes, as well as money to buy diapers and wipes, to the Mother’s Day Diaper Drive.

We collected an AMAZING 2,435 diapers and over 8,000 wipes, weighing well over 300 pounds! To put this in perspective, the average baby will use about 4,700 diapers in the first two years, so your generosity provided almost the equivalent amount. WOW!

The donation was divided equally between Irving Cares and Brighter Tomorrows, who kept asking if their allotment was really all for them! Your gifts will make a huge impact on an untold number of families who use the services of these two organization. Thank you again for your continued support of the Body Building Committee. We could not do this ministry without the active, ongoing support of this parish!

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