Social Justice & Charity Ministries
Reaching out to our neighbors in compassion
Below are some of the ways to keep involved with the ministries & organizations supported by our Social Justice Commission.
2022 School Supply Drive
July 11 to July 30
Many students in the Bloomington, Richfield and Edina school districts need help filling their backpacks this fall. Items most needed are backpacks, scientific calculators and Bluetooth headphones. We are collecting these items—as well as traditional supplies—for VEAP to distribute to local school districts. Place donations in designated bins starting July 11.
Catholic Tutor Corps
The Catholic Tutor Corps has been placing volunteer tutors in Minneapolis and St. Paul Catholic grade schools for 20 years. Our tutors work in grades K-8 helping students primarily with reading and math. We work in the schools during the school day. Most of our tutors work 2-3 hours once a week at their school. It is certainly possible to work more days if you have the time. The benefit to the students from one-on-one help is huge; the reward to the tutors can be even greater.
LEARN MORE about the Catholic Tutor Corps
Dudley Emergency Fund
St. Edward has an emergency assistance fund called the Dudley Fund. It is funded by parishioners and is available for both parishioners and community members that find themselves in financial need. If you would like more information about receiving help please call Mia Ah Sani in the parish office at (952) 835-7101.
For additional options on giving to the Dudley Fund, please visit our giving page. If giving by check make sure to include “Dudley Fund” on the memo line.
Father Mike Tegeder Fund
This latest outreach effort is named for the late Father Mike Tegeder, a former pastor at St. Edward. Fr. Mike inspired many people with numerous acts of kindness and outreach throughout his lifetime.
The fund is a pooling of voluntary donations from individuals giving above their regular parish commitment plus 5% of unrestricted bequest funds. The Tegeder Committee will utilize a grant request process in assessing project requests from local non-profit organizations.
Feed My Starving Children
Founded in 1987, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is a non-profit Christian organization committed to feeding God’s children who are hungry in body and spirit. The approach is simple: children and adults hand-pack meals specifically formulated for malnourished children and FMSC ships those meals to nearly 70 countries around the world. These extra-nutritious meals save children from the brink of starvation, even benefitting St. Edward’s Sister Parish in Nicaragua
Loaves & Fishes
Third Thursday of the Month
If you’ve been looking for a rewarding, local, volunteer opportunity with fellow parishioners, join the St. Ed’s Loaves & Fishes team! We prepare and distribute meals at Christ the King Lutheran Church, located at 8600 Freemont Avenue South, Bloomington. If you are interested in helping, click on the Volunteer Sign-Up button.
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels delivers meals to the homebound in the communities of Eden Prairie and Bloomington. St. Edward volunteer drivers cover ten routes during their scheduled week, once every six weeks.
LEARN MORE about Bloomington Meals on Wheels
Respect Life
Respect Life (Pro-Life) works to promote respect for human life from conception to natural death. Created in the image and likeness of God, every person is unique and special. Each of us has a responsibility to God, to self and to others to nurture, protect and sustain life at all stages. Respect Life sponsors events and collections throughout the year including the Mother’s Day Baby Shower Collection in May. These collections support pregnancy resource centers for women or couples facing an unexpected pregnancy, including SouthWest Options for Women (SWOW).
Sister Community
Since 2002, St. Edward has supported Teresa Toda, a home for girls who have had very difficult life experiences. The primary activity of the ministry is hosting an annual summer camp, or “campamento” in which we do Bible study and reflection, sing, dance, do crafts, tutor in math, explore science, engineering, and health, and build community.
Visit our Sister Community page.
Read the Campamento blog.
For additional options on giving to our Sister Community, please visit our giving page. If giving by check make sure to include “Sister Parish” on the memo line.
Sister Parish
In the midst of the political unrest, economic insecurity and COVID-19, St. Edward has continued to support our sister parish; Our Lady of the Angels in Jinotega Nicaragua. Among other projects, deliveries of Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) MannaPack Rice are helping nourish the poor in that region. Read stories about a few of the recipients of our support:
A Day in the Life of the Espinoza Family
In Nicaragua: Gregorio’s Network
For additional options on giving to our Sister Parish, please visit our giving page. If giving by check make sure to include “Sister Parish” on the memo line.
VEAP
Throughout the year, St. Edward collects non-perishable food for VEAP, as well as toiletries and paper products. There are bins in the chapel vestibule and in the church foyer for you to put your donations in, and volunteers deliver it to VEAP once or twice a week. Every summer, we hold a school supply drive to benefit students in local public schools. If you are interested in volunteering to pick up the donations at church and deliver them to VEAP, please call Mia Ah Sani in the parish office at (952) 835-7101.
LEARN MORE about VEAP
VEGGIES 4 VEAP
Each summer our “Giving Garden” grows fresh, healthy food for the VEAP food pantry!
Throughout the spring, summer and early fall, Wine & Weeding volunteers tend the garden; including planting, weeding and harvesting. Look for more information about Wine & Weeding on our events page!