Supporting Lee Britain Elementary Students

St. Mark’s will be collecting new underwear and socks for distribution at Lee Britain Elementary School, where our own Deb Swartz is better known as “Nurse Debbie.” All sizes are needed – from toddler up to adult, and all will be much appreciated. Lee Britain serves a large number of low income families, and these items are always in need. In addition to socks and underwear, school supplies would be appreciated as well. School begins on 8/27/2012, and we would like to get Debbie well-stocked for the new year! Please leave donations in the BodyBuilding bin from August 19 through Sunday, September 9th. If you have any questions, please contact Deb Swartz.

Captain Hope Kids Carnival

St. Mark’s will be hosting our 4th annual event for Captain Hope’s Kids on Saturday, May 12th. This will be the Captain Hope Summer Carnival from 10am – 2pm. We need candy, books, toothbrushes & toothpaste, as well as lots of volunteers! Please let Sara Clements know if you will be able to help

Easter Baskets for Captain Hope’s Kids

Volunteers are needed to help fill 4,000 plastic Easter eggs that will be provided to homeless children in the DFW area. The Egg Fill will be at the Captain Hope’s Dallas facility (10555 Newkirk, Ste. 580). Dates and times are are on Saturdays: March 10 from 10am – 2pm and March 17 from 10am -2 pm. If interested, please see Wende or sign up in the Parish Hall. If you would like to donate any Easter items (eggs, candy, toy animals, etc.), please leave them in the BodyBuilding bin by Friday, March 16.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!