Serving Others Updates
FOOD DRIVE
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY:
Join us for the 5th Annual Pelican Bay Unites Against Hunger Food Drive!
St. Matthew’s House Food Assistance Program is looking for passionate and enthusiastic volunteers to help us impact our community!
We need friendly faces to support the 5th Annual Pelican Bay Unites Against Hunger Food Drive — an incredible initiative that fed over 10,165 individuals last year and brought in $40,898 worth of food to fight hunger in Collier County.
Volunteer shifts on March 20 - 27:
9 AM – 12 PM
12 PM – 3 PM
Location:
Pelican Bay Foundation’s Commons area, near the beach trams and tennis courts.
Role:
To engage with patrons by the COOL-BINZ, share the mission of St. Matthew’s House, and ensure the COOL-BINZ refrigerated unit remains secure, all while enjoying a shaded seat, snacks, and drinks.
The COOL-BINZ unit is part of SMH’s fresh food drive, where patrons will donate perishable items such as yogurt, meat, and fresh produce to nourish our community.
More details:
With the support of over 6,500 doors, including HOAs, businesses, churches, and clubs. this week-long event (March 20–27) is a powerful way to serve others and inspire your community.
Step into a leadership role, make a difference, and partner with SMH to feed thousands of families in need.
Sign up today and be part of something genuinely impactful!
If you have questions or need assistance signing up, please contact Michelle Mendoza at 239.241.5043 or MMendoza@stmatthewshouse.org.
MEALS OF HOPE AT EMMANUEL PARK:
Our numbers have skyrocketed! We have been serving record numbers of families each week. We need volunteers to help!
Meals of Hope food pantry distribution site at Emmanuel Park is from 12:30 - 4:00 pm each Wednesday. Volunteer shifts: First shift will be from 12:00pm - 2:00pm, and second shift will be from 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Meals of Hope and Emmanuel Park are looking for 10 - 12 volunteers to assist with registration, parking, and distributing food. If you are interested in volunteering, please click the link below. Volunteers are requested to arrive at 12:00 pm. Students are eligible for service hours through Meals of Hope.
JOIN ROB AND GIVE BACK: VOLUNTEER AT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:
Habitat for Humanity Collier is one of our Serving Others Ministry Team Partners actively supported by our Church for many years. Rob Headley, a member of our congregation, volunteers for Habitat for Humanity Collier and would like to encourage other Church members to join him. Rob has found that volunteering for Habitat Collier has been rewarding and worthwhile.
Generally, Rob volunteers once a week in the construction area either painting, installing windows, doors, and countertops, or hanging vinyl siding. These are just a few examples of the construction volunteer opportunities in which Rob is involved. If you are interested in discussing this and possibly joining Rob to create an Emmanuel Habitat Team, please email him at robboheadley@yahoo.com.
There are also many other ways to volunteer that await you at Habitat for Humanity Collier - not all volunteer opportunities are on the job site! These opportunities include office work, ESL tutoring, teaching/mentoring, retail donation store, to name a few. To obtain more information, visit the website at habitatcollier.org/volunteer.
LUTHERAN DISASTER RELIEF: “You brought the sunshine back.” One woman’s fifth-floor apartment was impacted by the Russian bombing. Though her building wasn’t hit by a direct strike, her windows were shattered and parts of the outside wall of her apartment were damaged. Fortunately she had a “community mobilizer” (case worker), supported by Lutheran Disaster Response, who regularly checked on people after bombings, especially older residents. With assistance from Lutheran Disaster Response, the plywood covering the broken window was removed, the wall was repaired and a new window was installed. Looking out through the window in her kitchen, she said with a smile, “Look, you brought the sunshine back.”