Mission

St. Mark’s provides help to needy people in the community in many different ways. In several instances throughout the year we contribute to the efforts of Metropolitan Ministries and Tampa Jewish Family Services.

Ongoing Food Drive. Throughout the year St Mark’s collects non-perishable food for the Jewish Community Center’s pantry.

Backpacks and School Supply Drive. Each summer we collect new backpacks and school supplies to make sure that low income children start their school year with everything they need. These donations are then given to Metropolitan Ministries for their Backpacks for Hope campaign.

Christmas Angel Tree. St Mark’s cooperates with Jewish Family Services’ efforts to provide gifts and toys to needy children in the community. At Christmastime, our Angel Tree and lobby overflows with these donations of love.

Thanksgiving Meals for the Needy. Again, we cooperate with Jewish Family Services to make sure that low income families and elderly people in our community have a Thanksgiving meal. Instead of collecting food, we ask for donations of Boston Market gift cards.

Gift tags hang on the Christmas Angel Tree.

St. Mark’s is a major participant in the justice ministry of HOPE- Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality. Joining with 24 other congregations, HOPE has agreed to focus their efforts on affordable housing, services to the elderly to enable them to age in place, and expanding civil citation in lieu of arrest for minors with low level infractions. St. Mark’s has 15 Network Members. Five of our parishioners serve on HOPE committees.

Our Little Roses Mission in Honduras. St Mark’s supports an annual medical mission trip to Our Little Roses school for girls in Honduras. We also sponsor a 7 year old child, Evelyn, providing her with an educational scholarship, school clothes and school supplies.

Kairos Prison Ministries. A small group of parishioners from St. Mark’s brings the word of God to the Hernando Correctional Institute which is a women’s prison.