Ways to Serve

There are many ways St. Mary's can help you serve our community. 

Choose the one that sounds right for you, and join!

 

The Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center

St. Mary's contributes time, talent, and treasure to the MLK Community Center.  St. Mary's supports the MLKCC through various initiatives.

  • Weekly collection and delivery for the food pantry - Jon Edwards at
  • Christmas Giving Tree - Judy Hall at
Community Outreach Team

The Community Outreach Team's focus this year will be the needs of the food and housing insecure in our community.  St. Mary's will have opportunities this year to help those in need, while also learning more about the agencies and programs designed to help fill gaps in the safety net. More specifically we will be working with

  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Crossroads Rhode Island
  • The Martin Luther King Center's Mobile Food Pantry
  • and more

 For more details, or to join this important work, contact

  • Lynn Carlson -  
St. Mary's Community Garden

St. Mary's Community Garden's donates fresh, organic produce to local food pantries and to help alleviate hunger on Aquidneck Island. Located on St. Mary's property, the garden has relied on the efforts of parishioners and friends to raise fresh vegetables for donation to area food banks, including the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Lucy's Hearth, and the Salvation Army. Cutting flowers are also grown for use by the St. Mary's Pastoral Care Commission and community. The garden has contributed over 2000 pounds of fresh food in an effort to reduce hunger and food insecurity on Aquidneck Island.

The garden is open to members of the community with free seasonal plots. Our intention is to bring organic gardening within reach of a larger local population while encouraging gardeners to donate excess fruits and vegetables to local food pantries.

We are RIPTA accessible (bus route 60) and have garden tools and a watering hose available for onsite use. 

Apply online for a plot. For more information, contact 

  • Elise LaParle Garcia at
Soup Kitchen

The people of St. Mary's have been involved with the local Soup Kitchen for a long time. We provide a complete  dinner that includes a meat loaf, vegetables, fruit, dessert, and a drink on the second Thursday of every month at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Newport.  Ways you can help -

  • Cooking a meat loaf ahead of time
  • Helping prepare the meal at St. Paul's
  • Offering hospitality by setting tables, greeting guests or serving dinner
  • Cleaning up.

If you would like to help, please contact

  • Dave Ferkinhoff at
G-2TTWZN14LN