“I used to pray that God would feed the hungry, or do this or that, but now I pray that he will guide me to do whatever I’m supposed to do, what I can do. I used to pray for answers, but now I’m praying for strength. I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us and we change things.”
Mother Teresa

We, the members of Manakin Episcopal Church, feel called to help those in need in a variety of ways. Outreach is a priority for our generous and caring congregation, who give freely of their time, talent and treasure. We support a number of organizations, and there are many opportunities to serve. 

Feeding Program
The Feeding Program is an outreach project that we share with St. Matthias Episcopal Church. Each church covers six months out of the year. One Saturday a month, we gather in Denny Hall at 9:00 a.m. to pack lunches for approximately 140 homeless people who are housed in shelters in Richmond. Lunches consist of a meat and cheese sandwich, condiment packets, a piece of fruit, a single serving bag of chips, and cookies. These lunches are prepared by volunteers and are then delivered to the designated shelters by two or three volunteers. This is a rewarding and meaningful experience for all ages and only takes an hour (or two, if you help deliver the lunches).

Habitat for Humanity
Manakin has been involved with Habitat in the Greater Richmond area since 2001. We have helped build 12 homes and have contributed over $30,000 to provide homes for qualified families in need. Since 2007, Manakin has been helping to build homes for our Powhatan affiliate, and we continue to support this effort with contributions and labor.

We schedule work days by posting them in the Sunday bulletins, the monthly newsletter and sign-up sheets in Denny Hall. It doesn’t matter whether you are a skilled carpenter or a helper because we are all in this together. Children 16 or older are encouraged to participate, and lunches are provided.

Please consider joining us in this effort to bring a better life to those in need.  There isn’t a happier or more emotional time than when you get to see a new family during the dedication of their new home!

Free Clinic of Powhatan
The mission of the Free Clinic of Powhatan is to provide high quality medical, dental, and mental health care services at no cost to Powhatan County’s adult (19-64 years old), uninsured, low-income residents. Approximately 70% of all the Free Clinic’s patients work full time and 12% work part time. In Powhatan County, an estimated 1,600 people are uninsured (5.8% of the county’s total population).

The Free Clinic of Powhatan is a 501(c)(3) organization funded by individual, church, and civic contributions; foundations; and corporate donations. In addition, in-kind support is provided by Richmond area health organizations, Powhatan County, and the Powhatan Health Department. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. Please contact the Free Clinic of Powhatan to learn how you can help support the Clinic and its mission, or simply mail a contribution to the Free Clinic of Powhatan P.O. Box 544, Powhatan VA 23139.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Free Clinic of Powhatan. The Clinic could not operate without its volunteer physicians, dentists, nurses, lab techs, mental health counselors, and administrative personnel.

Richmond Friends of the Homeless
Richmond Friends of the Homeless was founded in 1986 to strengthen and enrich the community life of the homeless and underprivileged in the Richmond area. This organization provides meals, various children’s and family services, and health and wellness programs. 250 hot meals are served at Greater Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Jackson Ward (next to Gilpin Court) every weekday, and 125 hot meals are served at Broomfield CME Church on Jefferson Davis Highway every weekday. Bag lunches are served on Saturdays and Sundays. Manakin Episcopal Church has begun a relationship with Richmond Friends of the Homeless and has committed to purchasing, preparing, and serving a hot lunch at the Jackson Ward location on every 5th Wednesday of the calendar year (250 meals). We hope to support this ministry on a continuing basis. 

Boys’ Home of Virginia
Boys’ Home of Virginia is located in Covington, Virginia. This “mission” was founded in 1906 by an Episcopal rector and bishop who were moved by the harsh conditions of homeless boys in the mountains of Virginia. Today, the Boys’ Home of Virginia is an important outreach of the Episcopal Church. This remarkable facility provides residential campus living for boys who come from dysfunctional homes throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and region. Referrals are made to Boys’ Home for young men who either have no suitable home or who have difficulties that might best be resolved away from their immediate setting. The population of Boys’ Home is usually 40 to 60 young men ages 8-18; there is a campus school to provide education for boys who are not on grade for their chronological age. The mission of Boys’ Home is “to help each boy strive to develop his spiritual, mental, physical, and social potentials and thereby ultimately become a healthy, productive, contributing member of society.”

Manakin Episcopal Church has helped support the ministry of Boys’ Home for many years through various means. This year the Outreach Program at Manakin will support one of the eight cottages as part of a Special Christmas Giving Program and will make a donation to the general fund.

We share in the exciting challenges and incredible rewards of helping shape the lives of the wonderful young men of Boys’ Home. Perhaps, the greatest reward we can receive is the knowledge that we are fulfilling God’s charge to care for and love these children as ourselves.

Rendering support for the Boys’ Home of Virginia can be accomplished by one of two pathways: contact the Outreach Committee Manakin Episcopal Church by calling the church office at 804-794-6401 or by visiting the Boys’ Home of Virginia website at  www.boyshomeofva.org.

Every Sunday Collection
The Outreach Committee collects a variety of goods for several area organizations, including: The Powhatan Food Pantry, Backpacks for Love, and Powhatan Animal Shelter.

The Powhatan Food Pantry is in need of canned meats, soups, condensed milk and pasta meals, as well as cereal, peanut butter and pancake mix. Salad dressings and jelly/jam are also helpful.

Backpacks for Love provides school-age children with a backpack containing non-perishable foods to tide them over the weekend. Granola bars, pudding, cheese/crackers, individual cereal boxes and breakfast bars are appreciated. No microwaveable meals, please!

Powhatan Animal Shelter welcomes old towels and sheets as bedding.

Manakin also supports:
Comfort Zone Camp
Fine Creek Volunteer Fire Department
Good Samaritan Ministries
Grace Inside
Lonesome Dove Equestrian Center
Powhatan Habitat for Humanity
Powhatan Social Services – Domestic Violence
Shalom Farms
Southside Center for Violence Protection<

Episcopal Relief Development

One of Episcopal Relief and Development’s most successful programs in their “Gifts for Life,” that allows supporters to purchase farm animals and tools, clean wells, mosquito netting, etc. for people in the third world to fight disease and to establish family businesses to support themselves.  Manakin has in recent years sent tens of thousands of dollars to ERD for “Gifts for Life” and in response to appeals for assistance after tsunamis, floods, hurricanes and in places of severe drought.

Episcopal Relief & Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church and an independent 501(c)(3) organization. The agency takes its mandate from Jesus’ words in Matthew 25: 37-40:

“Lord, when was it that
We saw you hungry and gave you food?
We saw you thirsty and gave you something to drink?
We saw you a stranger and welcomed you?
We saw you sick and took care of you?
We saw you in prison and visited you?
‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ ”

Episcopal Relief & Development works with more than 3 million people annually in 40 countries, through programs in four core areas.  The organization partners with local churches and organizations throughout the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion, as well as ecumenically. Episcopal Relief & Development empowers local communities to find lasting solutions that fight poverty, hunger, disaster, and preventable diseases, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.

Episcopal Relief & Development’s four core areas are:

  • Alleviating Hunger and Improving the Food Supply
  • Creating Economic Opportunities and Strengthening Communities
  • Promoting Health and Fighting Disease
  • Responding to Disasters and Rebuilding Communities

For more information, see ERD’s page on the Episcopal Church’s website.