Many of us are passionate about issues of poverty, homelessness, hunger, racial and economic inequality, sexism, homophobia and other social justice concerns.  As in Micah 6:8 : "Do justice, have mercy, and walk humbly with your God," we believe that it is our responsibility as Christians to incorporate outreach, advocacy and study into our spiritual faith. 

We welcome anyone who would like to participate in this ministry.  To volunteer or to learn more about any of the following projects, please contact Social Justice Ministry Co-Chairs Pat Haga or Aria Christenson.  

Our current major social justice activities are: 

The Blue House - providing support for a Ugandan orphanage that houses and schools girls who have lost parents to AIDS. St. Matthew's has a special relationship with the Blue House, because it was founded by a longtime parishoner and minister at St. Matthew's, Beatrice Garubanda. 
 
Loaves & Fishes - Six Sundays a year, we serve meals to homeless individuals and families at the Dorothy Day Center in downtown St. Paul. An average of 265 individuals are served each time ranging from 225 to 325.  We need volunteers to serve and cook, donate cookies and bars, and prepare food the day before.  The remaining confirmed dates for 2010 are May 23, August 22, and November 28.  Two more dates have not yet been finalized.

Project Home - As part of St. Paul Area Council of Churches Project Home, each night in August we offer our downstairs as an overflow shelter for homeless families when the regular shelters are full. Sadly, the last couple of years, we have been very busy. We need volunteers to staff the shelter during the evenings and nights.
 
St. Barnabas Apartments - St. Barnabas Apartments opened in April 2005 and provides 39 efficiencies for homeless and at-risk youth and 13 for low-income working adults. Services are provided on site, 24 hours a day, to assist youth in achieving their employment, education and self-sufficiency goals.  St. Matthew's members were instrumental in its founding, and several serve as mentors there.

Keystone Community Services Food Shelf - On the second Sunday of each month a special monetary collection is taken at each of the services to support the food shelf.  Cash donations are preferred so that the Keystone staff can purchase the most needed items and get discount pricing.  In 2009, St. Matthews parishioners contributed nearly $3,000 to the food shelf.

Parishioner Activities – Many members of St. Matthew’s parish volunteer with nonprofit organizations beyond the major ministries listed above.  Some have shared this information so that others who may be interested in similar work can join them.  Learn more in the Social Justice Chat Room. 

In addition, we support a number of other ministries including the St. Paul Area Council of Churches and Episcopal Community Services.