Saint Francis Ministries kicked off its yearlong 80th anniversary celebration on September 3 with a day of volunteer service by senior leadership—the first step in its “80 Years, 8,000 Hours” initiative. The campaign shines a light on the many ways SFM employees serve their communities, both during and outside of work.
The goal is to complete 8,000 volunteer hours by the end of the fiscal year in June, and staff are already off to an impressive start. So far, Saint Francis employees have contributed 472.5 hours of service, most supporting local churches and schools.
To encourage participation, SFM offers each employee eight hours of Volunteer Time Off (VTO) for community service. The Marketing and Communications team has also created a form on the Saint Francis website for employees to log their hours—whether completed during work hours or on personal time—so that every act of service counts toward the goal.
By sharing their stories through the form, employees can help demonstrate the many ways Saint Francis staff are making a meaningful difference in the communities they serve.
Here are several early submissions from the website:
“Libya is trying to rebuild after decades of war-torn strife. I joined a team that provided free heart and orthopedic surgeries and clinic visits. My role was to assess and quantify the rebuilding of hospitals and manage a current hospital in the country to improve the level of care and range of services that would be available in the country. Our group went at the invitation of the Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund.” Donald Weideman, Driver
“I provided volunteer services for my sister’s good friend, who resides in Newton, Kansas, and is struggling with cancer and treatments. She is elderly and has very little family or community support. I made and delivered a couple of homemade meals, along with making a goodie basket full of snacks and cute, seasonal fall items. I provided a lengthy visit to help ease her loneliness.” Dee Peters, Licensed Foster Care Homes Specialist
“Cooked and served dinner at church for 160 people learning about the faith.” Teri Augustus, Director, Family Centered Treatment
“The Arkansas Baptists recently held “One Day – Serve Local”, a one-day mission outreach program hosted annually in a selected community. Arkansas Baptists from all over the state join forces in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to give back to the community. Some of the give back opportunities include – block parties, medical and dental clinics, food distribution, haircuts, cookouts, and a variety of other events. I volunteered at one of the block parties held in an impoverished neighborhood in Jonesboro. Our block party included games, bounce houses, snow cones, cotton candy, praise and worship, haircuts, free yard sale, cookout, and food distribution center.” Gretchen Clayton, Executive Director, In-Home and Prevention Services
“I helped organize a blanket drive to support elders and children living on the Rosebud Lakota Reservation. The winters are especially harsh in South Dakota, and since the poverty is so extreme, older persons can’t afford to heat their homes. The congregations I serve – Grace Episcopal Church in Hutchinson, Kansas, and St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in McPherson, Kansas- donated about 80 new, slightly used, and handmade blankets and quilts for distribution to elders and children to help them get through the winter. We also included some handmade scarves and hats. I helped deliver them – along with a priest and a layperson from Grace – to Mission, S.D., on Monday. On Tuesday, we participated in the consecration of the newly rebuilt Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, which had been destroyed by arsonists two years ago.” Shane Schneider, MarCom Editorial Content Manager
“I volunteered to help oversee a dog kissing booth, where we took pictures of the dog with the public for a donation. To raise funds for the Festival of Hope that helps cancer patients with funding for unmet needs, such as food, gas, and rent. It was a day-long event that had live entertainment, information booths, a silent auction, a race/walk, and a memorial for past loved ones who have lost to cancer. A butterfly release completed the day.” Leigh Thompson, Foster Care Homes Specialist – Nebraska
The MarCom team will continue sharing volunteer highlights throughout the year in Mission Brief and on SFM social media platforms … only 7,527.5 hours to go!
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