Serving Others Updates
GRACE PLACE - NEW YEAR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
At Grace Place for Children and Families, our volunteers are key to our success!
Opportunities of all kinds are available! The new semester for all Grace Place classes will begin January 7, 2025.
Grace Place needs classroom assistants for students of all ages. Teachers in all Grace Place pre-school and
school age programs are certified teachers. Our teachers need volunteers to assist with daily activities, enrichment
activities and more! Additionally, if you've ever considered teaching English as a second language, we need you!
It is not necessary to speak Spanish to lead these classes. For more information on volunteering, please reach out to
Melisa Mast, Volunteer Coordinator, at 239-255-7275 or melisa.mast@graceplacenaples.org.
Grace Place for Children and Families continues to make significant strides in breaking the cycle of poverty through education. One of our most notable achievements is maintaining a 100% high school graduation rate for students involved in our programs. This is particularly significant considering the challenges these students face in the community we serve.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY DONATION CHALLENGE: Thanks to the incredible support of The Lawless Family Foundation, your donation will make twice the impact! They have once again renewed their annual holiday match so that every gift made through December 31st will be matched dollar-for-dollar. That means every donation helps twice as many hardworking families achieve the stability and security of affordable homeownership.
If you are willing to donate, please make a check payable to Emmanuel and indicate that it is for Habitat. Or donate directly by mailing a check to Habitat for Humanity at 11145 Tamiami Trail East, Naples FL 34113. You can also donate by credit card at their Web site https://www.habitatcollier.org/, or by calling them at 239-775-0036. Be sure to mention that you're with Emmanuel!
JOIN ST MATTHEW’S AS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE NAPLESS AUTOMOTIVE EXPERIENCE! We’re excited to invite you to sign up for volunteer opportunities during the Naples Automotive Experience (NAE), including the spectacular Cars on 5th event. Log into your VolunteerHub account to secure your spot, or contact a member of our Volunteer Engagement Team for assistance!
Where is help most needed?
We need over 500 volunteers for this incredible one-day event!
📅 Date: Saturday, February 8
📍 Location: Various spots on and around 5th Avenue South, Naples
Volunteer Shifts
7:30 AM – 1:00 PM: 1st Shift Zone Leaders
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM: 1st Shift Admissions and Entry Attendants
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM: 2nd Shift (All Positions)
Volunteer Positions
Zone Leader: Oversees their assigned area, takes attendance, manages their zone, and assists in other roles as needed. Must be able to process credit card payments.
Admissions Attendant: Handles cash and credit card payments and provides wristbands to guests.
Entry Attendant: Guards entrances, ensures only wristbanded guests enter, and directs others to wristband purchase locations.
For questions or assistance, please contact Michelle Mendoza at mmendoza@stmatthewshouse.org. We look forward to serving alongside you!
CASSEROLES FOR ST MATTHEW’S HOUSE:
Our Serving Others Ministry Team provides casseroles prepared by Church members to the St. Matthew’s House Shelter for the benefit of those sheltered. Please consider helping this outreach program as the need is huge!
You may pick up casserole pans, lids (and recipes if needed) and bring back a prepared casseroles to store in the stand - alone freezer in the kitchen. This outreach is still much needed and greatly appreciated by all of those housed in the shelter.
Please consider picking up a casserole container, or two, preparing one of the easy casserole dishes, and delivering the cooked casserole back to the Church. Our goal is to prepare 50 casseroles per month. Thank you!
VILLAGE OF HOPE HAITI: Village of hope is a Christian, non-profit committed to supporting programs and ministries that promote excellence in education, spiritual growth, and primary health care of Haitians.
The VOH school that started with just a few students under a tree now serves more that 600 students. In June of 2023, the gang violence that has plagued the greater Port-au-Prince area forced the closure of the VOH school and health center. At the same time, the VOH board and donors began to help those fleeing the area and began supporting two schools in the Cap Haitien area. During the 2023/24 School Year, VOH made a great impact at these schools providing 45,000 meals, all school books, school supplies, and more to 225 students.
VOH will continue to serve the “least of these” in Haiti.