Outreach Ministries

Crisis Assistance  

Crisis Assistance is held every Thursday from 11:30 to 1:00.  Please come during this time to fill out an application in person and remember to bring any supporting documents for the assistance you are requesting.

We are located at St. Paul's Parish House (directly across the street from St. Paul's Episopal Church) 

206 West Cowles St.

Wilkesboro, NC

A light meal is served.

Thank you to all who donated to First Fruits, to our assistance ministry, to our lunches, and to our clothing closet.  Without each of your donations, we would not be able to have this ministry in helping our neighbors.  Thank you! In 2022, we helped 375 of our neighbors with their power bills, fuel oil, gas, rent, and other needs.  

The Wilkesboro Methodist, North Wilkesboro Methodist, North Wilkesboro Baptist, North Wilkesboro Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Friendship Church of the Brethren have played a huge role in our ministry as well.  With each of these churches helping, we are able to do so much more for our neighbors in need.

Meals are served every Thursday to our neighbors and a big thank you to members of the church, North Wilkesboro Presbyterian, and Doug Morris, who each provide one meal a month. In 2022, A Thanksgiving meal was served by the Cook Family and a Christmas meal was served by the Harris Family.  Thank you to the Southwells, Adams, and Houghtons who are such faithful volunteers.  Our volunteers are our angels sent to do the work God gave us to do - to be kind, to love, and to feed and be that helping hand.  Blessings to all.

A thank you note from a neighbor we were able to help read, “Thank you so much again for helping me and my daughter.  I don’t know if you know how much of an impact you have on the people who need it in this area but you are truly a blessing ma’am.”  

Contact: Carol Canter

The Step Ahead Ministry is a goal-based grant program developed and supported by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. It offers grants to participants to help with expenses so that they can become self-supporting. The program is designed for neighbors who are unemployed and actively looking for work or want to find a better job. 

In order to earn a grant, participants are required to complete eight hours of voluntary work at a local non-profit, attend a six-hour course on how to successfully obtain employment, and register with NCWorks where they participate in a mock job interview and create a resume.

 After completing the requirements, participants meet with Step Ahead volunteers to consult on how to best use the grant that they have earned. Participants have used their grants for various necessary expenses such as vehicle repair, tuition, and housing.

Contact: Dave Greenwood stepahead456@gmail.com . 

This committee has traditionally used small grants to fund a variety of ministry efforts in the Wilkes County area: h.o.p.e. Ministries Food Pantry and Christmas Toy Fund, Wilkes Homeless Shelter, Samaritans Kitchen Food Pantry and Backpack Program. Funds were also allocated to St. Paul’s Crisis Ministry, Steph Ahead and Dishcloth project. While funding has been an important aspect of this ministry, the promotion of Volunteerism and ‘hands on’ programs are also supported. 

Contact: Ruth Harris