St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church

The purpose of the Mission Garden is to supplement our food pantry with fresh, organically-grown produce.  All the hard work, from the tilling nad planting and weeding and watering has finally paid off.  We now have an abundance of tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, beans, lettuce, carrots and herbs.

We distributed to Tuscarora community Clinic, Heart & Soul Soup Kitchen, Casey House, Niagara Street Food Pantry, and Migrant Workers.  Thank you to everyone involved.

P.S.  Donations are always welcome - from clothing to canned goods.

Respectfylly submitted,

Ron Masset

St. George Antiochian Orthodox Mission Project Annual Report by Judith Mokhiber

Food Pantry

Started in May 2004

· From the start of the food pantry, Tuscorora Reservation ( 2015 Mount Hope Rd , Lewiston , NY 14092 (298-8320) was given 30 bags of food twice a month.

· Hanna House has received 20 bags of food each month (278-0294, 424 9^th St , Niagara Falls , NY ).

· 5 families outside of the church has been given food from the pantry. Several members (working in the Health and Mental services in WNY) of the church has asked to take food for people they know who are in desperate need.

· Migrant workers were given over 50 bags of food once a month in conjunction with Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center , Niagara County Migrant Health Program, 621 Tenth Street , Niagara Falls , NY 14302 (Robin Laubacker, and Samir Lokhat (285-1563)

Clothes and supplies

· Theresa Hickey at the Niagara Falls H.S. has asked for clothes for two families who are in need, our church has given 2 large suitcases of clothes for kids (278-5800 x60750)

· Tuscarora received 5 boxes of clothes from our clothes drive.

· Migrant workers have received over 4 large bags of clothes and socks from the clothes drive.

· Migrant workers have received 3 boxes of pots and pans and kitchen utensils

· Migrant workers have received 5 bags of comforters, linen and towels.

· Ann Skinner, Hanna House has received aprox. 5 bags of clothes once a month from the church. (278-0294, 424 9^th St , Niagara Falls , NY )

· Over 15 boxes of clothes were given to Niagara County Rehab and Nursing Home

Outreach

· Spegetti Dinner for Mission Project on June 27, 2004 , raised aprox. 230.00

· Silk Screen shirt project and barbecue at Hanna House with the help of Iandry, Katie’s friend, with white shirts donated by Wal-Mart (50.00) gift certificate in July 13, 2004 .

· Maria Mokhiber and Laura Mokhiber helped Hanna House organize their supply room of clothes and food.

· Katie Chown has visited the Hanna House on a weekly basis to help and play with kids.

· Judith Mokhiber, Katie Chown, and Dawn Morasco has helped Heart and Soul Soup kitchen once a week to prepare food and serve.

Holiday Giving

· Educational toys have been bought for the Tuscorora Elementary School for Christmas of 2004

(June VanEvery-Huber, School Social Worker 298-8347, Tuscarora Indian School )

· Puppets were donated by Media Play and was given to Hanna House for the kids.

Garden

Our Mission Garden has produced approx. 1,400 lbs of fresh organic vegetables for the needy families in our community. The food has been distributed to the following on a rotating basis twice a week as well as specific families in our church and outside of our church: Heart and Soul (Sister Barbara, 282-5687), Migrant workers, and Tuscarora reservation.

The total cost for the initial construction of the mission garden was $2,357.07. All vegetables have been donated by various farms and Ricky Kinan. Farm owners were given a photo and thank you letter in August.

Memorial Flower Garden 9 people in our church have donated flowers for the memorial flower garden.

Fresh basil were given for the Raising of the Cross