Church of St. Thomas

Breakfast is served five days a week during the summer. The program was originated to fulfill a perceived need for the children who would get breakfast at school during the school year. We quickly learned that it is not only children in need of a good hot breakfast. We serve all who come to be fed. This summer just past we served around 8,000 breakfasts. The program is supported by donations from the community. Some of the community organizations volunteer to staff the kitchen in addition to the parishioners of St. Thomas. We are brought together to serve the less fortunate by the grace of God and we are enriched by being in community with all who participate.

Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets are prepared and delivered to over 70 families. The need is great and we are grateful to be able to assist in this small but important way.

St. Thomas turns a portion of the parking lot into a pumpkin patch for the last two weeks of October. We sell pumpkins and baked goods, hold a chili cook off and a trunk or treat event. We are able to come together as a church community to earn funds to help fund the other outreach activities. It is especially fun to see the children who come to the trunk or treat event. Through this the Pumpkin Patch has become it own outreach program. What started strictly as a fund raising project has turned into so much more, both for the neighbors of St. Thomas and the parishioners.

While we do not have a formal ECW at St. Thomas, we do participate in UTO ingathering.

Our young people are especially moved by "we walk because they walk". They are encouraged to pray for those who are in such need. Support for Crop Walk is a meaningful for those who walk and those who contribute.

St. Thomas supports financially the Franklin School Back Program. At risk children are sent home on Friday with a back pack of food for the weekend. Without this some of those children would have nothing to eat for the entire weekend. We are privileged and honored to be able to assist in this way.