Forty-seven Operation Christmas Child boxes were filled and returned to the church. They were taken to Hilltop United Methodist Church by Andrew Westberg who chaired the project. Thanks to everyone who participated for a job well done.

At the October 14 Food for Friends dinner, eighty-four people were served by St. John’s volunteers. Nickie and Dale Van Stelten were trained to chair future participation in this program. Our church is scheduled to serve on March 3l and October 13 in 2007.

Echo Food Shelf reported that they had received fifty pounds of food from us during October. Nancy Zwickey advised us that the thirty-six packages of laundry soap were not included in the count.

The United Nations has set Millennium Development Goals to cut world poverty in half. The Outreach Committee will be planning ways to work on these goals during the coming year.

The Episcopal Church, including the Diocese of Minnesota, has asked every member and every organization within the church to contribute seven tenths of one percent of their funds for world relief. The Committee will follow this plan when distributing funds.

Ginny McNear reported that she had discovered a web site that posted the top ten charitable institutions. The web address is charitynavigator.org.

The Outreach Committee will be looking into the needs of Theresa House, CADA, and Episcopal Community Service, as well as the Salvation Army when considering where to send items collected on the Mitten Tree. Beginning in mid-November we will be asking for donations of mittens, gloves, scarves, and caps.

The Committee will provide funding for ten Thanksgiving baskets to be distributed by the Echo Food Shelf.

The next meeting of the Outreach Committee will be held on December 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the vestry room. New members are always welcome.