Backpacks of Love
Contact: Marty McPherson
Homelessness and poverty have become much more visible and prevalent problems in suburban areas like northern Metro Atlanta. Backpacks of Love serves homeless and food-insecure children at 17 schools (elementary, middle, and high) in Forsyth and North Fulton counties. In the 2023-2024 school year, Backpacks of Love delivered a total of 3,758 backpacks of food. The average bi-weekly backpack delivery was 210 backpacks – delivered 19 times throughout the school year.
First of all - many thanks for your steadfast support of the Backpacks of Love program! We couldn't make it work without your help to give these kids a "hand up".
We will have our first delivery of 2024-2025 school year the week of September 8th.
Backpacks of Love has received an overwhelming need for food to support food-insecure children this fall (2024) In addition to the food donations we receive, we spend approximately $1,200.00 per delivery on purchasing additional food. Last School year we used 19 cases of EACH food item (fruit, peanut butter, meat protein, etc) each delivery week, to fill the bags. We use monetary donations to shop for any additional groceries that are needed and to help pay our rent at "World Headquarters" (aka our warehouse).
Backpacks of Love operates entirely through the stewardship of its sponsors and volunteer labor. We have no paid staff. St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church is joined by 4 sister churches (Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, Johns Creek Baptist Church, Alpharetta Methodist Church, and Zion Missionary Baptist Church) who make food and monetary donations to the program. Additionally, many businesses and school organizations contribute to Backpacks of Love through team building events or charity drives. In the past school year, 30 + volunteers provided the “hands and feet on the ground” to make this program run. Backpacks of Love was conceived at St. Aidan’s in 2011.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Contact: Laura Van Riper
We meet every Tuesday at 11 am but always check with Laura for schedule changes. The prayer shawl ministry is open to all levels whether you are a master knitter or a complete beginner. Patterns are available for those who wish to work on their shawl at home.
Click below to request prayer shawls; be sure to include who it’s for, and ideally why you would like the person to have it (at least as much information as you are comfortable sharing) — so that we may add an appropriate prayer to the shawl itself.
We always have prayer shawls on hand for immediate needs. We will also make shawls for specific people with upcoming needs (having a baby, upcoming surgery or treatments, etc) upon request. Donations of leftover yarn or donations to buy yarn are gladly accepted as well.
Community of Hope (Pastoral Care Givers)
Contact: Kathy Bump
The Community of Hope trains people to become Lay Chaplains and to form a Benedictine Community which gives pastoral care in the parish and throughout the community.
Blood Drive
St. Aidan’s sponsors two LifeSouth blood drives each year. LifeSouth is a community blood center, meaning the blood supply collected from our donors directly serves the needs of patients in over 30 local hospitals and Children’s Healthcare facilities. To give blood, you must be in good health, 17 years-old or older or 16 years-old with parental permission and weigh at least 110 pounds. A valid photo I.D. is required. Our next scheduled blood drive is Sunday, October 6th. LifeSouth provides each donor with an emailed cholesterol screening results. And each donor also gets a commemorative tee shirt in appreciation of their donation. For more information regarding our Blood Drives, please contact one of our two Co-Chairpersons.
The Drake House
Contact: Susan Basile
The Drake House provides short-term crisis housing, education and empowerment programs for homeless, single mothers and their children in North Metro Atlanta, designed to provide stability for the children and assist the family in working toward self-sufficiency.
We help maintain the property by volunteering to help clean empty apartments and tackling any landscaping tasks needed.
Episcopal Relief & Development
Contact: Mary Kathryn Nix
Episopal Relief and Development facilitates healthier, more fulfilling lives in communities struggling with poverty, hunger, disasters and disease. In addition, they offer resources and training to help communities prepare for disaster and provide emergency support so that they can make a full and sustained recovery.
Memorial Garden
Contact: Barry Mansell
The committee of parishioners is responsible for the overall administration and maintenance of the Memorial Garden for the church.
Grief Group
Contact the church office at (770) 521-0207
Megan O’Brien, a Grief Counselor, leads our Grief Group meetings. The group meets twice a month, this month on August 15th and August 22nd, and the meetings are at 5:30 in the Church office. The group discusses topics like boundaries, big emotions, mindfulness, navigating family feelings, handling everyday situations, learning to not get triggered. To attend, please register by the Tuesday before each meeting by calling the church office.