Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Summer 2013 Issue | Page 10

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Diocese Doubles Outreach Grants
From supporting education
opportunities in Sudan to food pantries
in Virginia, the 2013 Mustard Seed Grants,
awarded by the Diocese this spring, are
equipping churches to strengthen their
ministries while reaching out to their
communities and the world.

The Mustard Seed Fund is a
diocesan program which awards
outreach and mission grants annually
to Virginia churches and organizations.
This year, the Diocese more than doubled
the amount of grants awarded, growing

from $53,430 in grants in 2012 to $120,600
in 2013.

“We always say that Mustard Seed
money isn’t doing anybody in the world
any good sitting in our bank account.
Some say we should save it for a rainy
day – but let me tell you, it’s pouring out
there,” said Buck Blanchard, director of
mission and outreach for the Diocese.
“And our churches, regions and college
chaplaincies are engaged in such
wonderful, deserving ministries. So it’s
a blessing to be able to increase these

St. Alban’s, Annandale
Nancy Harrell

St. Alban’s, Annandale, has been involved with the Fairfax
County Hypothermia Prevention Program since 2006. The
Hypothermia Program runs from November through March
and ensures that no unsheltered individuals suffer or die due
to cold winter temperatures. Community shelters take on
additional residents and regularly meet – or, more frequently,
exceed – their maximum capacity.

St. Alban’s serves as one of 36 overflow shelters countywide, opening our parish hall to the residents for whom there
is no room at the shelter. Each weekend that we host shelter
residents, volunteers from St. Alban’s greet our guests and
make sure they are as comfortable as possible. Our volunteers
may provide a hot drink and a snack. Employees from the
community shelter stay overnight with our guest