OUTREACH COMMITTEE

Outreach to the needs of the world is considered a vital extension of our Christian spirituality. This is a call that the congregation of All Saints' Cathedral takes very seriously. The Outreach Committee always keeps actively involved in the needs of others and is the umbrella organization which coordinates the many activities to this mission.

Each Sunday, non-perishable food items for food banks are collected. Parishioners assist in preparing meals for the homeless at "The Gathering" at St. James' Church and also provide occasional lunches for University of Wisconsin Milwaukee students. A July 4th cookie sale is a parish tradition, selling to the Milwaukee public as they walk to the lake for the popular fireworks. Sponsorships for the CROP and AIDS walks are generously supported. Our neighborhood Cass Street School has been "adopted" and clothing is collected on an ongoing basis for the homeless children who attend that school. Each Advent, a Mitten Tree stands ready to receive warm mittens, hats and scarves for the needy. The Cathedral also opens its doors to 12-Step groups which meet regularly.

A main function of the Outreach Committee is to assist the congregation in identifying needs for quarterly projects. These projects are divided between needs of the greater Milwaukee area and those of the larger world. The organizations selected for quarterly donations are not necessarily associated with the Episcopal Church. In the past, organizations such as Sojourner Truth House, The Heifer Project, Repairers of the Breach, The Smile Train, the Nachingwea Maternity HIV/AIDS Control Project in southern Tanzania and a women's tailoring class in India have been only a few of the recipients of our many donations of in-kind and monetary gifts. In selecting these projects, the congregation also helps to develop awareness of the needs of others.

A major outreach project is the Annual Book Sale, which brings in over $20,000 for disbursement to outside organizations. Further information on this project can be found below.

All Saints' Cathedral Parish views outreach as one symbol of its vitality.