St. Charles offers a number of opportunities for you to get involved with the community around us. Contact the parish office for details on any of the following:

Blood Drive Donors

St. Charles has quarterly blood drives.  We are in need of individuals to donate their blood.  This is a life saving gift that requires very little time. Time Requirement:  45 minutes per blood drive.

The Dorothy Day Center

We have an ongoing food drive for the hungry in our neighborhood.  If you have children this is an excellent way for them to be involved in direct service to the poor.  Volunteers are needed to make a weekly commitment to bring food items.  Every week there are items mentioned in the bulletin for you to bring to church and place just inside the door.  We always welcome other items, especially canned meat/protein, such as tuna, chicken, peanut butter, etc. Time Requirement:  None.

The Dorothy Day Food Deliverer is the position that most people involved in The Dorothy Day Center hold.  These volunteers receive phone calls, take down information, sack groceries, and make home deliveries to the homes of our clients.   Many people find this a very fulfilling experience.  A good knowledge of the streets and ddresses of the metro Oklahoma City area is very helpful. Time Requirement: 1 to 3 hours on delivery days.

We have many other volunteer opportunities at the Dorothy Day Center. Learn more at thedorothydaycenter.com.

Evangelization Committee

We welcome and assist new parishioners into the parish community.  This committee sponsors the “Catholics Home Again” project.  It meets monthly.

Holiday Programs

We provide food baskets during Thanksgiving and Christmas to 100 households.  At Christmas, for children under the age of 18, we provide gift cards for their parents to purchase needed items for each child.  The names of the people we serve come from our Pastoral Team, teachers in our school, and volunteers through any of our outreach ministries.  We need people to assist with food, donate time for organizing, help prepare baskets, purchase gift cards, and make deliveries.
Time Requirement:  We are willing to work with any individual time/schedule.

Legion of Mary

This group offers spiritual assistance by visiting the sick and shut-ins, and by inviting inactive Catholics to return.  Devoted to Our Lady, time is spent in daily prayer and reflection.  Members also attend funerals of Catholics, when possible.  Weekly meetings are Mondays at 9:30 a.m. Time Requirement: 2 hours per week.

Mobile Meals

We prepare and deliver hot, nutritious meals every Friday to the frail elderly in our area.  This is to enable them to continue to reside in their homes.   Our most pressing needs are both cooks and drivers.  

Mobile Meals Cooks are provided with menu, food and directions for cooking and serving.  Normally 3 people cook a meal once a month in the parish office kitchen. Time Requirement:  2½ hours monthly.

 

Mobile Meals Drivers are provided with an area map and directions.  Meal delivery begins at 11:00 a.m.  Some of our drivers use their lunch hour to deliver.  Delivering food is a great way to serve if you have small children at home and want them to share in this experience.   The older individuals love it and the children enjoy helping as well.  We are in need of 3 drivers right now.  Meal delivery begins at 11:00 a.m. Time Requirement:  45 minutes to one hour monthly.  

Project Gabriel

Project Gabriel is a parish-based pro-life outreach to women who find themselves in crisis when faced with an unplanned pregnancy.  Project Gabriel provides real help for women who otherwise might not choose life for their unborn babies, offering spiritual, material, and emotional support during pregnancy and afterwards.

RAIN Team

The Rain Team acts as extended family for someone living with AIDS.  Team members visit, listen, provide transportation, prepare a meal, give the primary caregiver a break, etc.  Males and females are members of the team.  A team consists of 10 people who share the responsibilities.
Time Requirement:  12 hours of initial training, and a monthly 1-hour team support meeting.  Volunteer time is fit to your schedule.

Social Justice Committee

The Social Justice Committee concentrates on social justice action in the parish.  It works to influence the systems which affect the common good, and is committed to providing a voice for the poor in the political system.  It provides social justice education and training to the parish.  It studies the social justice teachings of the Church and seeks ways to put those ideas into practice.  The Committee meets monthly.  All parishioners are invited to participate. 

Legislative Advocates are volunteers are members of te Social Justice Committee network, who respond to action alert emails by making phone calls or writing letters to their legislators on health care and poverty issues.  Action alerts provide background information on proposed legislation and include specific requests for action.  Periodic training is provided.   Time Requirement:  30 minutes or less per action alert.

St. Vincent de Paul

This society began in Paris in 1833.  Today it is world-wide in the Church.  This group is very active in our parish; we receive calls daily for help.  Inspired by gospel values, the society leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to- person service to the needy and suffering.  It is through these relationships that members share the healing love of Jesus with those in need.  "Whatever you did for one of these least of my brethren, you did for me." (Matt. 25:40)  This is a way to feed your soul. Time Requirement:  Flexible to your schedule.

St. Charles/McAuley Free Clinic

Provides an opportunity to maintain wellness to any individual who is considered medically indigent (not covered by Medicare/Medicaid or any other insurance).  We do this through education in the areas of diabetes, high blood pressure, nutrition and women’s clinics.  We also are open to individuals who are sick and seeking treatment during regular clinic hours:

Family Practice - Monday Evenings at 4:30 p.m.

 

Diabetic Clinic - Check with clinic staff for specific clinic dates

 

Gynecology exams - Contact the clinic at 495-4667 to schedule a gynecological exam

St. Charles/McAuley Clinic Volunteers Are Always Needed:  We have a pressing need for Physicians and Pharmacists at this time and could use a couple of Spanish translators.  We also need volunteers for the following positions:  Clerical, Lab, Nurses.  Also, anyone interested in computer data entry, and we always are in need of volunteers to help maintain our facility. Time Requirement:  Flexible to your schedule.

OUTREACH TO OUR PARISH MEMBERS

The following serve to enhance the sense of community and mutual support of each parishioner and are vital to our parish. These are great opportunities to get to know people in the parish while helping others.

Coffee & Donuts/Between Mass Social

Coffee and Donuts are served each Sunday between the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Masses.  Volunteers serve coffee, juice, pastries, and donuts.  We hope to encourage community by providing a comfortable place to visit with old friends and new, and together enjoy something to eat and drink.  This is also an excellent venue to advertise upcoming parish activities and ministry opportunities.
           

Coffee & Donuts Volunteer duties include:  pick up donuts and other groceries and supplies, set-up tables and serving areas, make coffee, greet parishioners and other guests, keep serving areas and juice decanters clean and full, and clean-up.  Set-up normally begins at 8:00 a.m., first guests normally arrive at 9:30 a.m., clean-up can begin at 11:00 a.m. or when last guests depart. Time Requirement:  Team of 2-4 individuals per week, 3½ hours per Sunday (can be divided between 2 people setting-up, and 2 people greeting and clean-up.)

Food Preparation and Funeral Dinners

There are many opportunities for volunteers to prepare food:  funeral dinners, a meal for a family in crisis, cookies or finger food for one of our parish activities.
Time Requirement:  Volunteers are rotated as needed.

Funeral Dinners are one of the most compassionate and thoughtful expressions of Christian charity.  Dishes are prepared for the bereaved family to assist them during a difficult time.  The Altar Society furnishes the meat.

We presently need:

Funeral Dinner Volunteers. Set-up, serve, and clean-up following the funeral dinners that occur at the parish hall. Time Requirement:  3 hours per funeral on a rotating basis.

 

Funeral Dinner Coordinator. Supervise and coordinate volunteers, ensure necessary supplies are available and prepared for meal.  We presently need to expand the number of teams coordinating funeral dinners.  We try to rotate coordinators. Time Requirement: 4-5 hours per funeral.