Local Mission Partners
St. Andrew’s invests in our local community in a variety of ways. We invite you to join in with one of these ministries and engage in the Holy Spirit’s transformative work.
PRAY - GIVE - SERVE
Where is God calling you?
The Blessing Bag Ministry is a part of St. Andrew’s Deacon’s ministries which assembles and offers bags of toiletries, snacks, drinks, Bible verses and Resource Guides for distribution to people who are homeless or those in Tucson who are in need. Specific ministries supported with these bags include Gospel Echoes and Tucson Homeless Work Program. For this ministry, toiletries and other items for the bags are donated by the congregation. These items are sorted and assembled during our quarterly Service Worship Sundays or as needed. These bags are available for pickup at both the SW and NE campuses, available to anyone who wishes to distribute them. They may satisfy a physical hunger or thirst, may educate or lead someone to an agency that can help them, and may even lead someone to know Christ as their Savior through the love of a stranger.
St. Andrew’s Contact: Carol Fiore
caatucson@msn.com
Young Life Tucson Capernaum serves teens and young adults (ages 14-26) with special needs. Young people with special needs are often marginalized and isolated, resulting in no one encouraging them to walk with Christ or be all God designed them to be. Capernaum uses the model of Christ’s unconditional love to give teens and young adults with special needs the chance to develop a personal relationship with Jesus. They participate in activities that build their self-esteem, challenge their limits, and help them discover their abilities to do new things.
There are a variety of ways to get involved with Tucson Capernaum! We are always looking for passionate people to become leaders, become buddies, join our committee, or join our prayer team. We would love to tell you more about what each of these volunteer opportunities entails. *Qualified for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit Working Poor.
Contact: Holly Roden
hollyroden1515@gmail.com
520-300-0285
tucsoncapernaum.younglife.org
St. Andrew’s Contact: Sandy Ricker
rickeraz@comcast.net
The purpose of this ministry is to mobilize the body of Christ by bringing healing, development, and the Good News to the community of Tucson, especially the poor, marginalized, vulnerable, and broken. Acting as a catalyst, communicator, educator, and connector of faith communities in seeking positive transformation for the city of Tucson, they seek to promote a single, collaborative effort in addressing such issues as high-interest pay-day loans, pornography, crime, and poverty by bringing together community leaders and resources with faith communities who want to demonstrate the gospel in action, and then with words.
transformingtucson.org
Director: Randy Reynolds
communityrenewal@gmail.com
St. Andrew’s Contact: RuthAnn Smithrud
rsmithrud@sapctucson.org
The Cross Street Community has been a ministry of Southside Presbyterian Church for over 20 years, providing nutritious hot meals, hot showers, clean clothing, and haircuts at no cost to hundreds of our vulnerable brothers and sisters of the streets. Most importantly this has been a blessed source of kinship for all. These activities are supported by devoted volunteers who come from all walks of life.
St. Andrew’s Contact: Karin Fiore
karinfiore@gmail.com
We Are Dedicated to Hope, Renewal, and Change. Eagles Wings of Grace is a faith-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the vision to empower women in our community.Since 2007, we have been helping women who have experienced devastation transitioning from poverty to long-term economic independence, restoring dignity and hope.
Thanks to the generosity of the Arizona community, our Clothed in Compassion program:
- Provides resources to assist in a woman’s economic elevation through a path to training, clothing, and supplementary community assistance.
- Provides a cadre of volunteering women who share their life experiences, spiritual guidance, and knowledge, revealing that they are not alone in their situation.
- 30 volunteers——10 sponsors——6500 lives changed
Volunteer Opportunties:
Eagles Wings is a volunteer-driven organization and needs your assistance with a wide range of tasks and projects.Please call or email us to find out how you can help. The need for our Clothing Ministry is greater than our capacity due to our shortage of volunteers and financial support.Anything you can do to further our ministry is greatly appreciated!
Contact: 520-906-9915
support@eagleswingsofgrace.org
St. Andrew’s Contact: April Ritchie
chileteach55@yahoo.com
Faith that Works Tucson’s goal is to spread the love of Jesus by working together with other organizations in Jesus’ name so that people can see and know the love of the Lord.We try to bring churches and organizations together to serve our entire community: schools, healthcare workers, those who are homeless, low-income individuals and families, elderly, and other non-profits and organizations who need encouragement.
Faith that Works Tucson has three main ingredients for serving the Lord:
- SERVICE WORSHIP/SERVE OUR CITY
- THE MOBILE SHOWER UNIT
- KINGDOM PARTNERSHIPS
Thank you for continuing to provide for our non-profit in the way of prayer, volunteers, tax credit funds and donations.The Lord has blessed us with some amazing new partners, and we appreciate your support!
faiththatworkstucson.org
Outreach Director: RuthAnn Smithrud, rsmithrud@sapctucson.org
St. Andrew’s Contact: RuthAnn Smithrud rsmithrud@sapctucson.org
FostAdopt Connections is a new grassroots nonprofit based in Tucson that supports and empowers kinship, foster, and adopted children and the people who care for them by providing mentors and connection to resources and their community.The organization consists of individuals with many years of personal experience as foster and adoptive parents and child welfare workers who want to support families to be successful.They have three programs: Kinship & Foster Family Support, Post Adoption Support, and Group Home Support.
The Kinship and Foster Family Support Program and the Post Adoption Support Program provide guidance and mentorship to families who struggle through the system due to lack of training, resources, support, and guidance.Both programs offer monthly support groups, mentors, and ongoing useful trainings.
FostAdopt Connections’ flagship program is the Group Home Support Program.They work directly with youths living in group homes by providing mentors, job opportunities and organizing special events that provide fun experiences where they can connect with resources and their community.
Volunteer Opportunities: FostAdopt Connections is in need of volunteers who want to work directly with youths living in group homes, volunteers for special events and financial support to cover program costs.
*This organization is eligible for the Foster care tax credit.
Contact: Mea Fajardo
fostadopt.org
St. Andrew’s Contact: Danielle Oxnam
dmoxnam@gmail.com
Fresh Start International‘s vision is Where everybody gets a new beginning through implementing sustainable services, support, resources and restorative justice. Their mission is Coordinating services that assist formerly incarcerated individuals with successful re-entry events, programs, skills, and opportunities which promotes equity, autonomy, and empowerment. The purpose of Fresh Start International is to reduce recidivism, restore lives, and reimagine a robust model of restorative justice to formerly incarcerated ex-offenders returning from prison to their family and community. To volunteer, visit freshstartint.com/get-involved.
Tax-deductible donations may be mailed to:
Fresh Start International
1830 E.Broadway 124-266
Tucson, AZ 85719
freshstartint.com
Founder: Dr.Da’Mond T.Holt
damond@freshstartint.com
St. Andrew‘s Contact: RuthAnn Smithrud
rsmithrud@sapctucson.org
GOOD NEWS COMMUNITY CHURCH
Good News Community Church (GNCC) has been the Partner Church of St.Andrew’s since 2013, when it was designated as one of the New Ministries of Faith that Works.GNCC serves the inner city, impoverished and spiritually starved Miracle Manor neighborhood of Tucson, including the homeless, addicted, and hurting people who roam the area, an area that has been overrun by sin and darkness for decades.Many regular attending members are new believers from the community.
St.Andrew’s has assisted GNCC with volunteers in renovating and updating the church building and also volunteers and funding for community outreach projects.We are helping, along with two other large Tucson churches, to provide financial assistance for the Pastor’s salary.Pastor Jeff Markland has stated: “We are called to go into the Harvest Field that is the Miracle Manor neighborhood, to represent Jesus’ love and grace, to bring people in need into a right relationship with Jesus, and to make disciples in the image of Christ.”
Contact: Pastor Jeff Markland
520-358-5818
Good News Community Church
701 W.Glenn St., Tucson, AZ 85705
gncctucson.com
St. Andrew’s Contact: Del Rieschick
del.rieschick@att.net
Gospel Rescue Mission serves the homeless and needy by providing for their spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental wholeness. All services are provided at no cost to shelter guests due to contributions from members of the community, churches, and foundations. GRM receives no government funding. Specifically, in addition to shelter services (bed, meals, hygiene, and clothing), GRM offers support services such as addiction recovery, mental health assessment and support, counseling, Christian discipleship, life skill classes, academic education, computer literacy, employment support, community church integration, permanent and transitional housing referral, and legal advocacy.
In late Spring 2019, the new H.S. Lopez Family Foundation Center of Opportunity is expected to open as the new Men’s Shelter. It is the former Holidome consisting of 148,506 sq. ft. purchased by the Lopez Foundation and leased to GRM for 99 years at $1 per year and given to GRM to manage. It is envisioned to be a one-stop-shop for those in need and at this time over 30 organizations are planning to be on-site to provide services to the residents under the management of GRM.
*Qualified for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit Working Poor.
Contact: Suzanne Williams
suzanne@grmtucson.com
St. Andrew’s Contact: Norm Enger
norm.enger@outlook.com
Helps low-income families reach their dreams of homeownership, through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials. St. Andrew’s has a group of men who help build Habitat homes almost every Tuesday morning.
Volunteer Opportunities: We’re always looking for more workers. Volunteers must be a minimum of 18 years old (16 with a parental consent form), and be able to work a six-hour shift on Tuesday mornings.
*Qualified for the Arizona Charitable
Tax Credit Working Poor.
habitattucson.org
Director: T. Van Hook
St. Andrew’s Contact: Fred Barney
fgbarney@comcast.net
520-887-5540
Hope for Christmas, Adopt-A-Family, is a Christmas tradition at St. Andrew’s. We partner with schools and contacts in the community to reach the families that they recommend. St. Andrew’s members have the opportunity to bless families with household goods, stockings, a food gift card, and gifts for the children. We also offer a Bible if the child would like to have one. Gift tags are placed on our Giving Christmas tree, and members can choose an entire family or one item from the tree. Families are offered the choice of having their gifts wrapped or being supplied with wrapping paper, tape, and bows. We then invite all the families to our “Cookies with Santa” event where the children can visit Santa and make Christmas cookies as well have the option to pick up their gifts or have them delivered. Our hope is to create lasting partnerships and offer the love of Jesus to everyone involved. For more information, please contact RuthAnn Smithrud, Local Outreach Director, at 520-297-7201, ext. 204. Thank you!
The mission of ICS is to help Pima County seniors, disabled individuals and people in financial crisis achieve stable, healthy and independent lives through programs and services supported by staff, volunteers, faith communities and the community-at-large. Many of St. Andrew’s members volunteer for ICS. They help deliver mobile meals, staff the food bank and job resource centers, and provide transportation, health advocacy, and emergency financial assistance for people in need. St. Andrew’s also provides financial support and food collections for ICS.
Volunteer opportunities: please check our website.
*Qualified for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit Working Poor.
icstucson.org
St. Andrew’s Contact: Cindy Lange
lucinlange@comcast.net, 520-742-2494
INTERVARSITY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP (IVCF) Graduate Christian Fellowship (GCF)
Jason Caywood, Campus Minister at the University of Arizona
The Graduate Christian Fellowship is a specialized ministry of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) in the US. As an IVCF Campus Minister, Jason focuses specifically on graduate students and faculty. In keeping with the vision of IVCF/GFM, he seeks to work to see graduate students and faculty transformed, the whole UA campus renewed step by step for the good of all, and to help graduate students learn how to become spiritually mature and be leaders in their respective fields- -so they can make a deep impact in their spheres of influence in the name of Christ while in school and in the work force.Through the Graduate Christian Fellowship (GCF), Jason fosters development of Christian community among students and does the pastoral work of mentoring and encouraging believers. He also seeks to strategically develop relationships with graduate students from all around the world, to establish individual contacts with people of all backgrounds at the UA, and work in cooperation with other Christian campus ministry groups to reach out to the thousands of people at the UA with the Gospel.
gfm.intervarsity.org
Contact: Jason Caywood
jason.caywood@intervarsity.org
St. Andrew’s Contact: Del Rieschick del.rieschick@att.net
J17 Ministries is a big idea with very practical local implications. The big idea? Our unity (better word – harmony) in the body of Christ is Jesus’ strategy for fulfilling the Great Commission. Jesus could have prayed anything He wanted to at the most important juncture of human history, right as He headed to the cross. He prayed in John 17 that His followers in every generation and city would be so united in their love for one another and unconditional service to the world that the whole world would come to know Who Jesus is and how much God loves them. J17 Ministries leads or supports practical opportunities to align with Jesus’ heartbeat: for pastors (such as Pastor Prayer Summits, Pastors’ Edge best practices for lead pastors, and cross cultural training and relationships) and for everyone (Tucson Ministry Alliance, John 17 Weekends, central communication tool for citywide events and trainings). One of our current emphases is Networking Networks, encouraging greater collaboration and partnership, with less unintentional competition, for various citywide networks throughout Tucson. Sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter filled with insights, testimonies, and event opportunities on our website.
Contact: Dave Drum
J17ministries.org
Facebook: J17 Ministries
St. Andrew’s Contact: Larry Norrid
lenorrid@gmail.com
More Than a Bed (MTaB) is a foster, adoptive, and kinship resource center. We support the families and the children in their homes by providing for practical needs: twin beds, cribs, toddler beds, clothes, toys, shoes, diapers, linens etc. We believe that every child deserves to feel valued, to be safe, and have the opportunity to thrive. MTaB was founded September 2014 by serving five families with toys and clothes. In 2018, we served 720 families (2100 children) and continue to grow at a rate of 30 new families per month.
- Volunteers are always needed and appreciated.
- Clothing and toy donations need to be sorted and vetted for cleanliness
- We need muscle to help load beds into the family vehicle, assemble donated cribs, and various other lifting
- We host various events throughout the year and need volunteers to help with the running of those events:
- Parents Night Out – passing out snacks/dinner to the children; hosting games and activities for a particular age group; set-up and tear-down; making decorations
- Teen Prom Event – Teen girls pick out prom/party dresses, get make-up tips, pick out the perfect pair of shoes and other accessories
- Christmas Event – This is where the entire family plays games, wins prizes, takes a special photo with Mr. & Mrs. Santa and each child picks out a new toy of their choice
MTaB is a Qualified Foster Care Charitable Organization (QFCO Code 10032) and cannot exist without the kindness and generosity of our wonderful donors and volunteers.
morethanabed.org
St. Andrew’s Contact: Cindy Lange
lucinlange@comcast.net, 520-742-2494
SAPC PIECEMAKERS
The Piecemakers have continued their mission of comfort and support even during the pandemic.Our primary goal is to support the local chapter of Project Linus which gives quilts and blankets to children who are sick, traumatized, or otherwise in need.Some of our other projects include pillowcases for the graduating seniors and mission trips, quilts for the Moonlight Dinner auction, Quilts of Valor for service members of the congregation, and quilts for Peppi’s House. For Service Worship we have made shopping bags for the Amphi Clothing Bank, fabric bookmarks, and tag blankets for newborns being baptized in our church.We work hard on our projects while having much fun sharing our knowledge and support for one another.A Christmas party and summer potluck are always enjoyed.The church provides a wonderful workplace and storage facility for us which is gratefully acknowledged.
St. Andrew’s Contact: Cherie Swanson
tangerinequilts@comcast.net.
Innovative programs and services provide a full range of opportunities to help people transition from poverty to greater well being and security. For almost 40 years St. Andrew’s members have prepared dinner once per month for the men’s shelter.
primavera.org
Contact: Jana Meirint
St. Andrew’s Contact: Anita Degnan
adegnan@sapctucson.org
The Sandwich Squad is a St. Andrew’s ministry that provides lunches to the homeless. Approximately 175 individuals or families are organized into groups. Each group makes lunches every eight weeks. Each member makes ten lunches. Some groups make their lunches at home while other groups meet and make the lunches together. This allows us to provide an average of 200 lunches each week. The lunches are delivered to the Gospel Rescue Mission Woman and Children’s Center and their Men’s Center.
New volunteers are always welcome.
St. Andrew’s Contact: Craig Littlefield
craig.littlefield@comcast.net
The Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) is a coalition of faith communities, businesses, nonprofit groups, and individuals working to create a more inclusive community where everyone knows their HIV status, and where every person— regardless of status—is supported and affirmed to live as well as possible and stay healthy and engaged in the community. TIHAN provides community resources and caring support so that people with HIV can live well. Through education, we encourage everyone to get tested, get involved, and reduce the stigma of HIV. New volunteers are always welcome.
TIHAN qualifies as an AZ Tax Credit Charitable Organization.
tihan.org
Director: Scott Blades
friends@tihan.org
St. Andrew’s Contact: Marianne Hadden
mariannehadden@gmail.com
Tucson Refugee Ministry (TRM) inspires the Church to be an agent of hope and compassion for refugees, equips volunteers through training and resources, and mobilizes Christians to welcome and serve the nations here in Tucson.
TRM connects the Church with refugees, collaborates with refugee agencies and other refugee ministries, and cultivates a cross-cultural relationship with refugees as Jesus loved the foreigner and called us to do the same. New volunteers are always welcome.
tucsonrefugeeministry.com
facebook.com/tucrefmin
Executive Director: Pete Seiferth
pete@
St. Andrew’s Contact: Marianne Hadden
mariannehadden@gmail.com
YOUNG LIFE – NW TUCSON
Young Life is an organization that brings Scripture to kids.We communicate Who Jesus is and create an environment where they can find community, discipleship, and intentional growth in their walk with Jesus through clubs, Bible studies, and camps.
Today, Young Life is a global organization with local focus.You’ll find Young Life leaders from diverse cultures, nationalities, and backgrounds in over 100 countries around the world.There are currently groups at the following Tucson high schools: Amphi, Canyon del Oro, Ironwood, Mountain View. There is also a Wyldlife group serving middle school youth.
Contact: Nubia Velazco, Director
Nubiavelazcoo@gmail.com
520-249-9443
nwtucson.younglife.org
St. Andrew’s Contact: Jim Seymour
jsey@comcast.net