MINISTRIES
“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”
Matthew 25:40
St. Mark’s ministries strive to make a direct impact on the everyday lives of people in need, especially families and children. We invite you to join our efforts where the impact is often immeasurable to the givers, the doers and the receivers.
Our Daily Bread Food Pantry
Due to the ongoing need and increased food insecurity on Marco Island, St. Mark’s stepped up annual support to help feed our neighbors with monthly food drives, adapting our shed to be a food storage facility and hosting Mobile Pantry distributions monthly. To get involved, you can contact Doug Eichten through this form:
St. Mark’s Hurricane Pantry
Due to our unique location on a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, St. Mark’s works diligently to prepare for storms affecting our neighbors. In the event of an emergency, it is the goal of this ministry to provide one hot meal a day for parishioners, first responders, hurricane helpers and any resident of Marco Island and the surrounding area affected by a hurricane causing power outages or displacement. Any questions, you can contact Joann Moe through this form:
Habitat for Humanity of Collier County
Habitat for Humanity is one of St. Mark’s long-standing ministries, now in our 22nd year of God’s people working to help families break the cycle of poverty and toward that vision of a world without poverty housing. We pound nails, spread paint, raise walls and funds, interview prospective Habitat families, teach ESL and homeownership classes, advocate for affordable housing, assist in the ReStore, and serve cookies on the job site. Get involved and make a difference in the lives of hard-working families in Collier County. You can contact Lauri Shafer through this form:
Laundry Love
The Laundry Love initiative helps people who are struggling financially by assisting them with their laundry. We see the laundromat as a place where strangers become friends, people are known by name, and the worth of every human being is acknowledged and celebrated. Once a month our team is greeted with cheers as we insert coins into the washers and dryers as we strive to raise the dignity of low-income families through the simple act of clean clothes. If you would like to join the fun, you can contact Sandra Sloane through this form:
WSM Education & Scholarship Program
The Women of St. Mark’s (WSM) fund college scholarships for our youth through fundraising supported by the St. Mark’s family and community. You can contact Durell Buzzini this form:
Durell Buzzini
Adopt A Preschool Teacher
St. Mark’s is blessed to have a renowned Pre-K education program thanks to a group of exceptional teachers who work hard to care for and teach a class of 4-year-olds each year. Parish volunteers adopt a teacher for the school year, delivering dinner to them once a month, and sending cards and small tokens of appreciation on occasion. You can contact the Office through this form:
Path2Freedom (New for 2026)
In Florida there are no long-term evidence-based trauma facilities for sex trafficking survivors. Path2Freedom is the first of its kind. In addition to providing safe housing in Lee and Collier Counties, their program focuses on empowering survivors to become independent and self-sufficient through a wide range of services, including counseling, medical care, education and re-employment assistance, social re-entry, and spiritual reconciliation. Join us as we build this new relationship and determine how to support this thriving ministry in 2026. For a preview follow this link to a YouTube introduction.
Tumaini Fund USA
The Tumaini Fund’s mission is to help the estimated 200,000 impoverished orphans and widows in the Kagera Region of Northwest Tanzania. Their objective is to assist orphan families in becoming self-sufficient by meeting their basic needs such as nutritional support, clothing, housing, mosquito nets, access to clean water & educational opportunities. St. Mark’s raises funds for building wells and houses for Tumaini (which means HOPE in Swahili) and much more. We travel to Tanzania to visit Tumaini bi-annually. If you are interested in this type of international ministry please contact Rev. Jessica.
Manatee Middle School Media Center
We support reading and readers in a variety of ways at St. Mark’s, from our emphasis in the Preschool to this community ministry that supports Manatee Middle School Media Center Director, Babette Poteet and her work to prioritize books and reading. Donations from St. Mark’s purchase books for the book fair and raffle which raises more to buy even more books. In addition, parishioners help mentor and spend time with the kids. To join the fun, you can contact Wendy Happney through this form: