St. Margaret’s Community Outreach (SMCO)

HISTORY & MISSION

St. Margaret’s Outreach began in 1991 at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Carrollton,

Georgia at the hand of the late Father James Callahan. Inspired by the church’s matron saint,

Margaret, Queen of Scots, and her compassion for the poor, Father Callahan hired the late Barry M.

Staples, attorney, community activist and schoolteacher, to design and implement a ministry of

compassion to the local poor. During the years since its inception, the program has expanded beyond

the boundaries of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church into the community. In 1995, the National

Episcopal Church designated St. Margaret’s Outreach a Jubilee Center, that is, an exemplary ministry

to the poor. Over the years, numerous alliances and partnerships have been forged throughout the

area, fostering a working philosophy of “collaborative ministry.” These alliances and partnerships

include religious and secular organizations, private and governmental bodies, individuals, families and

groups. The mission of the current St. Margaret’s Community Outreach (SMCO) remains

consistent with the mission of the original organization: to provide for the unmet needs of the

poor and disadvantaged throughout Carroll County and beyond without discrimination as to

race, religion, color, creed or national origin.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

SMCO continues to operate as a ministry of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church. St. Margaret’s

Episcopal Church Vestry serves as the Board of Directors for SMCO. St. Margaret’s Rector serves

as the Chief Executive Officer of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church. The Outreach Director, employed

by St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, serves as Administrator for St. Margaret’s Community Outreach.

A part-time Outreach Office Assistant is grant-funded. Volunteers assist with all programs of SMCO.

Student internship opportunities are sometimes available. (For more information about volunteer or

internship opportunities, please contact Outreach Director at smcommunityoutreach@gmail.com.)

SMCO appreciates the volunteers who assist with all its programs. A grant from the Alice Huffard Richards

Foundation funds a part-time

Office Assistant.

PROGRAMS & SERVICES

SMCO pursues organization’s mission of “providing for the unmet needs of the poor and

disadvantaged” in a number of ways:

GENERAL ASSISTANCE for clients takes many forms, including, but not limited to,

payments made on behalf of clients for housing, utilities, food, gasoline and/or medicine.

Assistance may also be given to clients with clothing, as well as information and access to

educational programs and employment opportunities. The General Assistance Program is

partially funded by the Community Foundation of West Georgia. Those seeking assistance

are invited to call SMCO at (770) 834-5282 for appointment. Telephone greeting instructs

caller of current schedule.

Clients seeking “General Assistance” are

interviewed during office appointment

to determine most urgent need.

The BACKPACK SNACK PROGRAM provides nutritious weekend snacks to children

identifies as “at-risk for hunger” at a local middle school. SMCO participates as a “team

player” with numerous other local players providing snacks for students at other area

schools.

Members of St. Margaret’s YAC Sunday School Class

stuff the Backpack Snack bags as a regular part of their weekly

class.

The HOMEWORK HELPER PROGRAM conducted by SMCO gives elementary-age

school children opportunities they otherwise would not have. One afternoon a week,

volunteers from St. Margaret’s, local high schools, the University of West Georgia and the

community conduct the Homework Helper program in a low-wealth apartment community

in Carrollton. Special programs and projects supplement basic tutoring and skills-building.

Carrollton Golden K Kiwanis Club provides partial funding for the Homework Helper

program.

Volunteers and students work together to complete homework

assignments and then proceed to seasonal projects

and celebrations.

The PAPER PANTRY PROGRAM provides essential personal care products (which

may not be purchased with food stamps) to those in need. Products are delivered to the

hospital rooms of new mothers by program volunteers from St. Margaret’s and the

community. Products are also available from the office of SMCO. The Paper Pantry Program

distributes gifts from many

different individuals and

organizations, including,

among others,

Carrollton Dawnbreakers Rotary,

St. Margaret’s ECW, and

Grace Lutheran Church.

The Paper Pantry Program received funding from the

first “Power of the Purse” (a component of the Community

Foundation of West Georgia) grant award.

The COMMUNITY FAMILY MENTORING

PROGRAM (CFMP) offers a year-long program of

instruction and support to families identified as

participants. The program seeks to introduce the concept

of “self-sufficiency” to participants; assists participants in establishing goals; utilizes

“mentor families” to model and encourage; teaches techniques to equip participants with

proper tools to overcome obstacles to success; and, recognizes and rewards progress

toward and achievement of established goals. SMCO serves as Program Administrator

and partners with a number of local community churches, “Program Partners,” and

numerous “Resource Partners” to present the program. Representative (Mentor

Coordinators) from each Program Partner Church form the CFMP Board. The Community

Family Mentoring Program is primarily funded by the Community Foundation of West

Georgia, Alice Huffard Richards Foundation, and Program Partners (For more information

about the Community Family Mentoring Program, please click here.

During the last program year, five families, including six

Mentees, worked with Mentors to achieve program goals

and graduate from the Community Family Mentoring

Program.

Other SEASONAL / OCCASIONAL PROGRAMS & PROJECTS require coordination

and oversight. SMCO frequently administers charitable programs for other entities (civic

clubs, school groups, etc.).

St. Margaret’s Community Outreach recently

assisted with the distribution of Carrollton City

School’s system-wide homecoming collection of

enormous proportions of personal care items

to area non-profits for further distribution

into the local community.

Groups of children and adults alike utilize the distribution allocation mechanism St. Margaret’s Community

Outreach offers. The above groups (left, Girl Scout Troop 481; right, St. Margaret’s J2A Sunday School Class)

conducted food collections for the Backpack Snack Program. Below, SMCO assisted in the distribution of coats

for the Carrollton Rotary Club, followed later by gently-used evening gowns.

THE FUNDING OF SMCO Funding for SMCO comes primarily from private individual and corporate monetary gifts

and in-kind donations. Community organizations and civic clubs also frequently contribute.

Additional funding comes from grants and fund-raisers. Contributions are tax-deductible and go

directly into its programs and services, or as directed, toward Endowment funding.

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church Women (ECW) conducts an annual Valentine Luncheon as a fund-raiser for

St. Margaret’s Community Outreach. Carrollton High School Show Choir has entertained luncheon guests for a

number of years.

TO CONTRIBUTE FOR CURRENT PROGRAM NEEDS… Contributions intended to assist with current programs and services may be made to St.

Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 606 Newnan Street, Carrollton, GA 30117.

Please note “Outreach” on check. Or donate online…

TO CONTRIBUTE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME… In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of St. Margaret’s Community Outreach, and in

preparation for the years to come, contributions are needed to fund an Endowment. This Endowment,

when fully funded, will provide a minimum level of core funding on a monthly basis, enabling the

continued pursuit of the organization’s mission. Contributions to the Endowment may be made to St.

Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 606 Newnan Street, Carrollton, GA 30117.

Please note “Outreach Endowment” on check. Or donate online… Click here for SMCO Program-and-Services-At-A-Glance.