Outreach
Holy Spirit in the Community
Social Concerns Committee
At Holy Spirit, responding to social concerns is integral to our mission and our congregation. The Holy Spirit Memorial Foundation provides funding to the Social Concerns Committee to manage in support of outreach projects chosen by the Committee and, when necessary, approved by the Vestry. In recent years, we have sponsored a number of outreach programs that benefit our church, the local community and the world at large such as Missoula Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, The Parenting Place and Red Cross in Missoula, the Family Resource Center at Hellgate High School (our neighbor), funding for students in El Golfo, Mexico, and for food assistance on two of Montana’s Native American Reservations.
Holy Spirit is a founding member of the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative and volunteers from our congregation are active in two important programs – Family Promise (supporting temporarily homeless families) and the Housing Advocate Network. For information on many of our past activities, Read our Social Concerns Committee 20th Anniversary booklet
Rio Grande Borderlands Ministry
For the past four years, Holy Spirit’s vestry has approved a covenant with RGBM that involves a monetary pledge and a pledge to do what we can to publicize, support and lift up this ministry.
We are proud that we were the first Episcopal Parish to partner with RGBM. We continue this support, and add to it by working to assist refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers in Montana and by sponsoring Diocesan Resolutions which reflect constantly changing needs for this support.
Habitat for Humanity of Missoula
Holy Spirit has participated in the Good Neighbor Build for many years now, raising funds for Habitat homes and helping to build them. Every year, Holy Spirit volunteers join Habitat for at least two “build days,” above and beyond funding provided through our Social Concerns budget. In addition, if you recycle your aluminum cans here, those funds also go to Habitat.
Parenting Place Ministry
Since 1981, The Parenting Place has strengthened children and families across western Montana through parenting education, one-on-one support, trauma & ACEs training, and collaborative community services. Their programs including Nurturing Parenting, support for caregivers & families impacted by incarceration, and statewide prevention efforts help turn knowledge and connection into lasting change.
Missoula Food Bank
For many years the Holy Spirit congregation has been making Sunday donations to the Missoula Food Bank, using the little manila envelopes found in the pews. But 2025-2026 is a special year, as the Vestry and the Social Concerns Committee have worked together to start an effort to Act with Compassion and Mercy. The Missoula Food Bank is our partner for this first year, which includes events such as:
- Regular get-togethers to help pack food for Food Bank clients and students
- Coordinating donations of Thanksgiving turkeys
- Community Concerns events focused on food insecurity, food waste and topics such as food and theology
Hats, Gloves & Socks
In January of each year, Holy Spirit holds a collection event appropriate for the season. We collect clean, used or new men and women's socks, as well as donations of clean new or used men's and women's gloves and winter hats. These items go to the Poverello Center for distribution to Missoula men and women who, being homeless, spend many of their winter hours outdoors.
Red Cross Blood Drive
Holy Spirit hosts a Red Cross blood drive in our parish hall in February and in all. Check our calendar for dates.
Resources on Race
Inspired by our baptismal covenant to strive for justice and peace and respect the dignity of every human being, we offer a collection of resources to help us learn, reflect, and engage more deeply with issues of race and racial justice. Click here for resources.
Butterfly Grants
Have an Outreach Project in Mind?
Consider applying for a Butterfly Grant from the Social Concerns Committee! These grants support outreach projects that make a difference in our community. For more information about Butterfly Grants, click here.
Emmaus Campus Ministry
Emmaus Campus Ministry is a Christian community that is committed to social justice, care of the environment, and working with marginalized people, which values conversations and questioning over convicted belief, and helps students find their own place and path in life.
Holy Spirit has been a partner in Emmaus Campus Ministry for many years and has participated in various fund-raising events including the annual Oktoberfest celebration, in addition to channeling funding from the Diocese of Montana and serving on the Board overseeing the Ministry. Read more about Emmaus Campus Ministry.
Creation Care
As Christians, we are asked to care for creation and to be good stewards of the Earth. Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man (and woman) and put them in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Today, as the population grows and spreads across the Earth, we see an Earth under stress.
Climate change, pollution, loss of habitats, endangered species and a disconnect from Nature are just some of the indications of this stress.
Some specific Guidelines for Personal Actions can be found here.
Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD)
The birthday and anniversary offerings throughout the year support Episcopal Relief and
Development's Global Needs Fund. The Global Needs Fund allows Episcopal Relief
Development to fight poverty and disease worldwide by helping people sustain healthier, safer and more productive lives. We also gather funds for ERD occasionally in response to disasters. Read more about Episcopal Relief and Development at www.episcopalrelief.org
In addition, in a typical year Holy Spirit’s Social Concerns Committee will make timely
donations to Episcopal Relief & Development for specific situations.
recent examples include disasters in Kentucky and Puerto Rico, hurricane Helene, flooding in Texas and fires in California.
Hellgate Community Ministry
Across 6th Street at Hellgate High School, nearly 1,300 students face a wide range of challenges. Many are experiencing homelessness, housing instability, or financial hardship. These are our neighbors who deserve support, stability, and a strong community behind them. Learn more here.
United Thank Offering
The United Thank Offering is a program of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church, founded and administered by women since 1889. The UTO Committee is a spiritual and financial partner in the mission work of The Episcopal Church, through every person in every pew.
It promotes thank offerings, to receive the offerings and to distribute the monies collected through grants ranging from small amounts to major contributions. Although these grants serve our church missions internationally, their impact has also been felt in our own diocese through a $40,000 grant to Partnership Health Center here in Missoula a few years ago.
Community Ministries
Homelessness, instability, financial stress, incarceration, lack of community… these issues are at the forefront for many of the at-risk families, youth and children at Hellgate HS and Parenting Place. We have the opportunity, through service, education, prayer and advocacy as church members and with other Missoula Interfaith Collaborative members, to build life-changing relationships at Hellgate and Parenting Place. Learn more about our Community Ministries.