Table of Contents Use these links to jump to information. Everyday Basics Essentials Pantry St. Mark's Home for Women The Augusta Area Food Bank The Clothing Bank, "Addie's Attic" Monthly Public Suppers The Bread of Life Kitchen and Shelter Opportunities for Service

Ministries of St. Mark's Church

Among the ministries of St.Mark's Church are: Everyday Basics essentials pantry, St. Mark's Home for Women, The Augusta Area Food Bank, "Addie's Attic" Clothing Bank, and The Bread of Life Ministries in Augusta.

Everyday Basics, an Essentials Pantry

St. Mark's newest ministry is an essentials pantry named "Everyday Basics - bridging the gap to human wellness". We have seen a gap to be filled between our clothing bank and the food bank which both operate out of St. Mark's church. That gap is essential.

Our mission is to provide for the basic needs that are vital to the creation and preservation of human dignity, self-esteem, and well-being of people. We will accomplish this through raising peoples’ awareness of the plight of others, becoming a resource for freely distributing necessities essential to daily life and by building a broad community of inclusiveness.

Everyday Basics' grand opening was on September 13th, 2009. The pantry is open to serve the general public from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the first and third Saturday of each month. We provide basic essentials including (but not limited to) toothpaste, toothbrushes, bar soap, shampoo, dry laundry detergent, toilet paper, feminine products, diapers, and baby wipes.

Financial donations (or donations of any of these products) may be brought to the church office during office hours, the Augusta Area Food Bank from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on Mondays, or to Everyday Basics during the operating hours noted above.

St. Mark's Home for Women

St. Mark's Home for Women has had a tradition of caring for over 125 years. In 1870, Allen Lambard, Esq., purchased a two story, Colonial-style house on Winthrop Street in Augusta and deeded it to St. Mark's Church for the purpose of establishing a home for women. Today, St. Mark's Home still fulfills Allen Lambard's practical and far-seeing ideal by providing independent, convenient, and secure living for women.

St. Mark's home is located in the heart of Augusta in a friendly neighborhood setting next to the Lithgow Library and the YMCA, and just a few steps from the bank. Local public transportation schedules regular bus stops at shopping centers and medical facilities. The Home is licensed for food and lodging, non-profit and interdenominational. Women of all faiths are welcome. Occupancy is limited to seventeen residents.

Each resident has her own comfortable room and is encouraged to bring some of her own furniture to personalize it. In order to live in this gracious retirement community, an applicant must be in reasonably good health and be able to manage the activities of daily living. Each applicant must also have a relative, close friend or attorney to act as her sponsor, a person who will respond promptly to her personal, medical or financial needs.

Other amenities include 24 hour security, three meals a day and afternoon tea prepared in our own kitchen, weekly housekeeping and linen, a laundry room available to the residents, and cable TV available at a special rate. Private phones may be installed at the resident's expense. There is room to room mail delivery, including letter and package pickup six days a week. All this and more is available for a reasonable, competitive monthly fee that varies by room size and personal income.

Visit the home's official website.

The Augusta Area Food Bank

St. Mark's is the home of the Augusta Area Food Bank. It was started by the parish in 1980. Most area churches and service organizations, together with schools and individuals, support the Food Bank with donations of food and money. Food for up to one week is given to needy families or individuals. Staffed by volunteers from the parish and from other area churches, the Food Bank is open Mondays through Thursdays from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Donations are needed and appreciated.

The Clothing Bank, "Addie's Attic"

Named in memory of Adelaide Tschamler. Addie's Attic accepts good, clean new and used clothing. It does not accept household items, electronics, books, videos, etc., This ministry of the church provides clothing at no cost to individuals. Addie's Attic is open on Mondays 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thursdays 9 a.m. - Noon and Saturdays from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Cash donations are welcome. If you would like to volunteer, please call the church office at 622-2424.

Free Public Suppers

Our free monthly public supper is held in the parish hall (or, weather permitting, on the lawn during the summer) on the first Saturday of every month from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Volunteers from St. Mark's and St. Barnabas have been coming together to hold these free suppers since January of 2006. The dinner menu varies each month. Previous dinners have included chicken tetrazini, shepherd's pie, stuffed pork roast, and even ribeye roast.

Please join us for one of our suppers. It's an evening of fun, community, and good food. Public suppers are free and donations are graciously accepted.

St. Mark's is part of the Augusta Angel Food Network, a non-denominational group of area churches that provide free meals to the community.

The Bread of Life Kitchen and Shelter

In 1984, in response to an initiative from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, St. Mark's joined in the founding of the Bread of Life Kitchen which provides free lunches, six days a week, in a store front of downtown Augusta. Many other churches and organizations have joined in this project since then, but St. Mark's remains one of the strong supporters of this ministry. A representative from the parish serves on the Board of the Bread of Life Kitchen, and volunteers from the parish help in the preparation and serving of the food.

Besides our commitment to the above, our parishioners are actively involved in many other important ministries (such as Hospice, for instance) in the Augusta area.

Opportunities for Service

There are many opportunities for service at St. Mark's in the ministries described above. In addition, there are many other ways to serve: as readers, chalicers, acolytes, members of the choir and other musicians.

New or curious volunteers are welcome to inquire in the church office or at any of the ministries held at the church.