St. James' Parish

In Our World

Appalachia

St. James' Parish is involved with the Southern Appalachian Labor School, SALS, (www.sals.info) - an organization committed to affecting the lives of the Appalachian people through the development of social, economic, and legal structures. SALS operates a variety of housing, education, and community programs. In past years, volunteers from St. James' Parish have helped with renovation and new construction projects - working with a SALS youth program that teaches young people vocational skills. Additionally, volunteers have helped with Energy Express (www.energyexpress.wvu.edu), a program designed to help K-6 children improve their reading skills by making reading fun. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Susan Whitehead - swhitehead84@comcast.net.

El Hogar Ministries

Founded in 1979, El Hogar gives some 230 Honduran children a loving Christian home and teaches them in three centers. At the Home for Love and Hope, little boys and girls live in a caring environment through the sixth grade. These hopelessly poor and often orphaned children receive love and hope; they learn to pick up their lives and their pride, and come to know the love of the El Hogar family. The mission of El Hogar is to serve abandoned, orphaned and hopelessly poor children by providing a loving home and education in a Christian environment, and enabling them to fulfill their ultimate potential as productive and caring citizens of Honduras. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Ron Zseltvay - zteam4@aol.com.

Ghanaian Mothers' Hope

Ghanaian Mothers' Hope is a Maryland non-profit organization that builds preschools, playgrounds and health posts in villages in Ghana, West Africa. GMH addresses the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, hoping to reduce extreme poverty and its many related issues. As part of St. James' international outreach, we collect donations of funds, medical and school supplies, as well as used athletic shoes. We would love to have you join us on a mission trip or in any other way you could help. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Marjie Mack - mmack3108@comcast.net.

Millenium Development Goals

In the year 2000, all the nations came together and signed onto the Millennium Development Goals (www.un.org/millenniumgoals) by pledging to end extreme poverty by 2015. St. James' designates $2,800 dollars per year and has the OutReach Committee disperse the funds. Each year we try and pick what we feel will help the most. In 2009 we bought 3 water buffaloes, several goats and chickens and sent them to India. Mosquito netting funds were sent to Africa and money was given for the children in Ghana. Finally, we gave money to an organization that loans money for micro management type businesses in various third world countries. For more information please contact Shay Hall - hallshay@aol.com.