The Third Mark of Mission:
To Respond to Human Need with Loving Service

What if you had no place to sleep tonight,
needed soap for a shower or had no diapers for your baby?

—Lucy Perry, St Veronica’s Guild Member
Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, GA
NECW Board Member (1997-2000)

The ministry of St. Veronica’s Guild, a group of about 50 women in a very large parish, has evolved since the early ’70s. It started simply with members filling plastic bags with personal necessities for a mission housing homeless women and those escaping domestic abuse.

In later years the guild enlisted the help of the parish, the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, Georgia, with the collection of hotel-sized shampoo, lotion, and soap. To these items the guild added a washcloth, deodorant, toothbrush, and toothpaste for each woman seeking shelter.

With the parish’s support the project grew immeasurably beyond the early days of filling 20 bags during guild meetings. Then in 2013 the guild decided to make a change and enlarge the focus of its work. To orchestrate this move, a small committee made site visits to four proposed ministries to learn about each mission; evaluate its effectiveness in meeting its goals; and determine if it had needs that could be met by 50 women. The reports were presented to the guild which voted to take on all four:

  1. Crossroads Community Ministries, a nonprofit organization which offers a wide-range of assistance for homeless men, women, and children.
  2. Church of the Common Ground, a project of the Diocese of Atlanta which is an open-air church and ministry at a city park.
  3. Emmaus House, a Jubilee Center of the Episcopal Church that provides advocacy and help for persons fighting poverty.
  4. The Friendship Center of Holy Comforter, a Jubilee Center of the Episcopal Church which offers programs for folk living in group homes with mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. Parish members accustomed to dropping their toiletry samples in the blue plastic tub on Sunday morning adapted well to the guild’s four new beneficiaries in Atlanta. This mission change necessitated the guild members bringing white socks, diapers, and feminine hygiene products to meetings, and voting to provide up to $2,000 from guild funds annually to purchase other items considered vital. Requests of the parish are frequently published in the cathedral newsletter for new, unopened, unexpired toiletries. Lists of needs are printed in bright flyers and left in tract racks, the parish information office, and other gathering spaces.

All bags of donations from the tubs are picked up at least once a week and stored.

On alternate months, eight to twelve women meet to fill requests. The collected items are sorted into labeled boxes atop three large tables. A list of the needs of each beneficiary is posted. For example, the Crossroads Community Ministry at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, has a standing request for 100 each of soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, comb, and feminine hygiene products; also 50 each of lotion, washcloths, mouthwash, razors, and emery boards. Shaving cream and sample cosmetics as available are sent.

The guild cannot meet all these needs every time, but the motion to fund the purchase of those things in short supply, and the ability to order large quantities at reasonable prices from Amazon helps the guild minister more effectively. The other three ministries have smaller requests—30-40 soaps, etc. Large shopping bags with color-coded labels for each ministry are filled. These are stored at the Cathedral until picked up by each ministry within the week; repeated contact is made to appraise St.Veronica of any changing agency needs. St. Veronica’s Guild is one of six Episcopal Church Women guilds at the Cathedral of St. Philip. During the last 15 years it has shepherded several large projects which have strengthened and built community, but personal care provision has been an on-going focus for literally decades.

Membership in the guild has grown. New members have joined to take part in a vibrant active group of very mature women who have responsibilities in many aspects of the cathedral’s life. Fellowship is emphasized, so each packaging session is followed by lunch in a local deli. While the guild does not meet during the summer, members who are able will sort and pack on alternate months; e-mail allows members to remain in contact for news of prayer requests. Groups starting small and then developing the awareness of need and possibilities of solutions can replicate this mission project. People of all ages and abilities can take a part. We have had fun doing it and work at making it fun.