St Paul Area Council of Churches

Hunger, poverty, homelessness, academic disparities, racism – these problems confront us daily. For some in our community, they are constants.

At the Saint Paul Area Council of Churches, we believe that we share the responsibility and opportunity to meet these challenges together. With you.

Together, we strengthen the community by empowering families to make it through crises with dignity and safety, equipping individuals and congregations to overcome barriers and disparities, and nurturing leadership for the common good.

Last year, that looked like this:

GATEWAYS TO SERVICE
Congregations contributed $21,800 worth of school supplies for the School Tools drive--enough to fill 630 backpacks. The Generous Spirit Campaign in March mobilized 1,859 pounds of food and $11,212 for the Department of Indian Work food shelf.

MLK JR. HOLIDAY COMMUNITY BREAKFASTS
1,202 people attended these community breakfasts at four local congregations and two satellite sites, coming together across racial, religious, and socio-economic lines to celebrate and commit to furthering Dr. King's dream. Attendees pledged 3,000 volunteer hours and contributed $5,217 to community organizations.

INTERFAITH YOUTH LEADERSHIP COALITION
Through the Interfaith Youth Leadership Coalition, 388 youth representing various faiths – Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Unitarian, Hindu, non-religious, and others - and diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, came together for dialogue and 1,200 hours of service to the community. A committed group of 30 youth planned and led activities.

PROJECT HOME
Our emergency shelter program provided a place to spend the night for 579 families, including 689 adults and 1,041 children. Family emergency shelter beds were slept in 12,689 times. 64 host and partner churches, synagogues, and schools provided space and volunteers for shelter, and along with individuals from 89 other congregations, gave 29,139 hours of service to make this possible.

PROJECT SPIRIT & FREEDOM SCHOOL
218 scholars built math and reading skills and a stronger identity through the academic and cultural enrichment activities at the Project SPIRIT after-school program and Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® summer program for African American youth. Programming took place at five Saint Paul Public Schools elementary schools.

DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN WORK
117 children received academic support and gained a stronger cultural identity through our Department of Indian Work Youth Enrichment after-school and summer program. The Emergency Services food shelf provided food to 1,377 people from 371 households--an estimated 35,000 meals. 101 adults and 154 youth attended the Family Education Diabetes Series evening screenings or classroom workshops to learn how to prevent and manage diabetes.