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For additional information and late-breaking news
visit our main
St. Stephen Ministry website at www.societyofststephen.org
| The Society of St. Stephen is an outreach
ministry initially established in 2003. It recognizes an early Christian disciple who
spearheaded efforts of the struggling new church to take care of the temporal needs of its
poorer members. Our motto, "A Helping Hand Up, Not a Hand Out," serves as a
guide for this ministry. The work of
Society of St. Stephen is two-fold: First, there is the Food Pantry, from which food is
distributed Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Second, Helping Hand Up enables clients to
transition back to the work force and/or out of undesirable living conditions. Through
various resources, we have helped clients find employment, pay necessary bills prior to
receiving a first paycheck, or pay for transportation back home or to another support
system.
Our organization provides individuals and families just
enough assistance to facilitate "a helping hand" up from abysmal poverty. The
clients, however, are not given carte blanche; rather, they receive "just
enough," which most often consists of non-perishable groceries for three days and a
referral for employment and/or other services. Back-to-work programs are a high priority
for Society of St. Stephen. Restoring hope for individuals through gainful employment is
essential for restoration of an improved quality of life. The ultimate goal at St. Stephen
is to offer an interview process whereby individuals are given opportunities to explore
possibilities and plot courses of action in order to reclaim their independence from
public assistance.
The food pantry is open:
Mondays
10 am - 2 pm
Wednesdays 4 pm - 6 pm
Fridays 10 am - 2 pm |
Click here
to view St. Stephen Brochure pages
For location, see map at
bottom of page |

The Society of St. Stephen Ministry
reaches out to the Las Vegas community

Society of St. Stephen
Reaches Out to Community
by Mary Lovelady
Society of St. Stephen welcomes community
partnerships. For-profit as well as non-profit partners have offered invaluable support
this year. Assistance League of Las Vegas at 6446 W. Charleston Blvd. - Beautiful teddy
bears for children of families requesting food at St. Stephen. Centennial High School
(Navy) NJROTC - Holiday Food Drive and occasional projects. The Gideons International -
Bibles for requesting families.
Income raised through fundraising is used to purchase food. Fundraiser(s) in 2009:
Pies Unlimited $683, EcoPhones (cells recycling) $ 9; Macy's Shop for a Cause cards $425;
Applebee's Flapjack Breakfast $441.
Society of St. Stephen Early 2010
Servies
Early 2010 tallies are in for groceries,
clients, and costs at the Soc. of St. Stephen food pantry: For the first 4 months we
provided 10,744 meals compared to 9,026 meals for the same period in 2009, a disturbing
19% increase. Last fall, Three Square representatives highly complimented the nutritional,
appealing lunches that Trinity is providing homeless individuals through Soc. of St.
Stephen. In fact, the homeless ministry now is reported separately, as a "Homeless
Bagged-Lunch Program." 280 zip-bag lunches were distributed to homeless persons first
quarter.
Through Three Square and its affiliation with Feeding America, any "member
agency" such as Trinity's Soc. of St. Stephen can purchase food at a reduced cost.
For example, St. Stephen purchased 3,255 pounds of food items in March at a total cost of
$1,163.54 (averaging $ .36 per pound). Although the "federal value" of the
Nevada Food Distribution Program delivery in February was stated as $1,755.10, the food is
free to Trinity/St. Stephen. We are blessed by participation in the Nevada Food program.
First quarter food purchased from Three Square and area grocery stores: $2,730.62..
ONGOING GOALS OF SOCIETY OF ST. STEPHEN: 1. Increase number of volunteers for all
facets of the ministry. 2. Continue to provide training for Food Pantry and Helping Hand
Up volunteers to ensure consistency of services. 3. Seek additional funding and supportive
partnerships. 4. Heighten community awareness and support through improved publicity. 5.
Increase marketing to attract private donor, business and foundation support.
Jesus said, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and
you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in
" "I
tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for
me." (Matthew 25, NIV.) As his disciples, we are committed to continuing his
ministry. |

This
wonderful mission began in 2003, when Gary McCallister, Sherri French, the Loving Office
Volunteers and a few others distributed some bags of food from the church office. Thanks
to all of you, we are better equipped today to assist folks in need. In 2007 we
provided groceries for 18,800 meals; in 2008, 27,185; in 2009, 31,182. |
| Some Monthly
Statistics |
Jan
2010 |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Number of households served |
130 |
102 |
124 |
107 |
141 |
113 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total number of people served |
329 |
239 |
296 |
289 |
268 |
276 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Number of senior citizens
served |
33 |
33 |
33 |
29 |
16 |
25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Number of children served |
78 |
58 |
104 |
59 |
73 |
89 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Number of meals served |
3,057 |
2,246 |
2,753 |
2,688 |
2,494 |
2,546 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lunches distributed to
homeless |
96 |
95 |
89 |
87 |
82 |
62 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Estimated percent of seniors
(60 or over) |
9% |
10% |
10% |
11% |
5% |
8% |
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|
|
|
|
|
| Estimated percent of children
(under 18) |
22% |
22% |
35% |
22% |
25% |
30% |
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Gifts of Food or
Money Always Appreciated
at Society of St. Stephen
The success of Trinity United Methodist Church's outreach
mission, Society of St. Stephen, is facilitated in part by membership in Three Square and
by selection as a distributing pantry for the Nevada State Food Distribution Program.
Three Square is but one of two Feeding America food banks in Nevada. Trinity UMC is an
"agency partner" of Three Square, and as one of over 100 recognized food
pantries in Las Vegas, Society of St. Stephen is able to purchase many food items from
Three Square at low cost. Funding for the Nevada Food Program is provided by the American
Recovery Act, which allows selected pantries to receive commodity food free-of-charge.
Every other month, food is delivered to Trinity's Society of St. Stephen, one of only
seventeen food pantry participants in Clark County.
But in weeks between free food deliveries or in times of
less available funding for food purchases, there are days when the St. Stephen food pantry
shelves are nearly bare. In the photos below only a few food items are displayed. At the
end of April 2010, the increase in clients of St. Stephen rose 19% over the first four
months of 2009. Predictably, more individuals and families who no longer can secure
sufficient employment are seeking support from neighborhood food pantries.
If you are able to contribute any food or money this
summer, please do so by noting St. Stephen on your check's memo line and/or on a
contribution envelope. With the ability to purchase some food at less cost from Three
Square, a little sometimes buys more. Several examples of foods periodically found at
Three Square include:
 | $ 1.44 - 27 8-ounce cartons milk, not requiring
refrigeration |
 | $ 6.84 - 12 16.5-ounce boxes pancake mix |
 | $ 9.55 - 24 1-pound bags white rice |
 | $19.28 - 48 cans tuna. |
Actual donations of food items always are very welcome at
Soc. of St. Stephen. For example, cereal seldom can be found at Three Square and is not
available from NV Food. A box of cereal can be purchased for ninety-nine cents. Other
items to enhance cans of meat and create a meal (e.g. Tuna Helper with a can of tuna)
usually must be purchased at area grocery stores.
At Trinity United Methodist Church we continue to serve as
disciples of Jesus Christ, who said, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.
I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did
for me." (Matthew 25:35) Through Society of St. Stephen, the church congregation
reaches out in support of those who are hungry or thirsty in the Las Vegas community. |

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