St. George's and St. Barnabas
Social Outreach Committee
History
The Committee, the brainchild of Dean Rudolph Smithen, then Fr Smithen, began to function in February 1987. There have been various improvements over the years to bring it to its present state. Before then there were some visits to the sick and the occasional outing with the elderly.
Mission Statement
We commit ourselves to show love by administering to the sick, the elderly and shut-ins, by visiting them regularly to provide companionship, and to cater to their physical and spiritual needs using all available resources.
Current
Beneficiaries of the Programme
More than 40 elderly, infirm, shut-ins benefit from the programme. On their visits, which are usually pastoral, the visitors may become aware of a special need where some type of assistance is required. If they cannot meet the need the matter is referred to the Director who refers it to the Parish Priest if she herself is unable to help. Family members have confidently and successfully sought the help of visitors in non-pastoral matters.
Structure of the Committee
There are thirteen (13) members, not all of whom can function at any one time. Each person is assigned a number of shut-ins whom he/she must visit a minimum of once per month. As they become more and more acquainted with each other the visits tend to increase.
Other Activities
(a) The Committee members (as many as possible) pay group visits to each shut-in on his/her birthday and hold a service with Scripture readings, prayers, hymns and a short inspirational address. The shut-in is presented with a birthday gift which may range from duster, pyjamas, vests, T-shirts, boxer shorts, religious music on cassette, cake, fruit basket, etc.
(b) In June each year the shut-ins and elderly are taken on a picnic at a different venue each time. They are treated to refreshments such as sandwiches, dinner rolls, chicken, pumpkin cake, patties, fruit, coconut water, ginger beer and mawby. |
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Brimstone Hill Picnic, June 2005 |
(c) Each December they are treated to a Christmas luncheon at the Church Hall where the typical fare is rice and peas, macaroni pie, ham, turkey, steamed vegetables, creamed cabbage, green salad, vegetable quiche, fruit cake, plain cake, ice cream, fruit, sorrel, coconut water, ginger beer and mawby. They usually have something, however small, to take away.
At that function they are given their Christmas gifts which may be any of a number of items such as sheet sets, dusters, pyjamas, bedside rugs, door mats, flasks, pampers, bath towel sets, etc. They also play games in which they may win small prizes, and they are entertained.
Entertainmennt: Over the years they have been entertained by choirs - youth and adult. These have come from the Church, schools and even a business-place. We expect to have additional entertainment of a different type this year.
(d) A week or so before Christmas The Committee members deliver hefty food hampers to the most needy shut-ins and elderly.
(e) The Committee members have sung at the funeral of deceased shut-ins but with so few to take part it is often not effective to sing alone, hence we sometimes join with another organization.
The above activities are made possible, in part, by donations from Committee members in June and December each year - each person contributes an item. The Christmas Gifts, Food Hampers and sometimes tranportation costs in June are covered from the Poor Fund. The meats are cooked by members or family members of the congregation. A few members of the congregation would give a dish, a monetary contribution or a dinner for a needy one on Christmas Day. In the early years we have received more than a dozen Christmas dinners for distribution on Christmas Day. One gentleman is now a regular donor of a generous supply of rice and toilet paper for the hampers.
Some business-places also help in their own way. When we purchase the gifts from them they give a special discount. We have benefitted, also, from Supermarkets and Bakeries.
Transpotation
Return transportatiion is always required to take the shut-ins from their homes to the Church Hall in December and to a pick-up point to go on the picnic in June, Over the years a faithful few men - including a non-Anglican, and one female, have provided this service but some are now either deceased or ill, hence additional help is required.
General
We, the Committee members, do not ourselves have social functions but we recognize the good work done by those members who give of themselves so unstintingly and we have recently awarded plaques of Recognition and Appreciation to two (2) persons who have retired from the Committee.
The number of shut-ins who actively participate in the functions is dwindling due to death or infirmity. However, we take what we can to those left at home.
We of The Social Outreach Committee say THANK YOU to the many persons who, at one time or another, have helped us to fulfill our Mission.
We are a very small Committee and we are seeking additional members to assist us in this intensive and extensive proramme.
Given what you have read above, would you like to contribute to the Committee, whether by being part of it and engage in the very necessary and useful visits, or by donations, especially if you are overseas and cannot be physically present?
Meeting Time
5.00 p.m. every last Monday of the month except June and December.
Venue
St Barnabas Anglican Church, Malone Avenue, Basseterre.
Vision
Other Churches on the island would do something similar and we can have joint social events.
Contact:
The Venerable Archdeacon Valentine Hodge
Tel: (869) 465 2167
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Old Testament