Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network
 WIHN
is an agency dedicated to correcting homelessness in Wake County. As a host congregation,
Soapstone opens our doors for one week, four times a year, so that families may
receive dinner and a place to sleep. We also provide breakfast and food for lunches
and transportation to and from the WIHN Day Center.
Families who enter the Network are provided with professional case management and
assistance on a daily basis at the Day Center, helping them access the resources
available and providing the support that they need. Approximately 70% of WIHN families
succeed in moving into independent living. Contact Marianne Absher through
the church office.
Children of Chernobyl
 This
program brings children from Belarus (formerly a part of the Soviet Union) to the
US for 4 weeks during the summer. Soapstone began participating in this program
in 1997. The children in this region are suffering the effects of the nuclear accident
that occurred in Chernobyl in 1986. The goal of the program is to give the children
nutritious food, exposure to a less radioactive environment, medical and dental
checkups, and love, fellowship and fun. Contact Gwen Cox through the church
office.
Food Drives
On Communion Sundays, food is collected and distributed by Moveable Feast to support
local agencies including Urban Ministries of Wake County and Tri-Area Ministries.
Contact Ginny Rowe through the church office.
Local and International Work Teams
Throughout the year, Soapstone adult and youth work teams travel to local, regional,
and international areas to help with cleanup and construction, and to support and
connect with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Teams have traveled to flood damaged areas of Eastern NC, rural areas of Western
NC, and on international teams to Jamaica, Montserrat, and Guatemala. Soapstone
teams also work with the United Methodist Marion Edwards Recovery Center Initiative
(MERCI) which sponsors construction of low-income housing in Eastern North Carolina.
Contact Tom Leonard through the church office for more information.
Backpack Project
 This
annual summer project collects backpacks and school supplies through Vacation Bible
School, Sunday School Classes, and Worship. The supplies are provided to children
in need identified through Wake County Social Workers. Contact Alene Watson
through the church office.
Soup Labels for Walnut Terrace Child Development Center
Walnut Terrace Child Development Center (a program of Methodist Home for Children)
located in downtown Raleigh, participates in the Campbell’s Label for Education
program. The center has benefited from the program by being able to purchase
educational equipment in exchange for the soup labels. You can help by placing
your soup labels in the box located in the Missions closet.
Society of St. Andrews Gleaning
Sponsored by our Children’s Ministries, families travel together to a local farm
to perform this ancient Biblical practice of gathering crops that would otherwise
be left in the fields to rot. The food is distributed to the Food Bank and
local relief agencies. This is a good mission project for small children. For more
information, see the Children’s Ministries informational brochure.
Interfaith Food Shuttle
 Coordinated
by our Mary Martha Circle, the Food Shuttle transports food from area restaurants
that would otherwise go to waste. The food benefits various centers including
a battered women’s shelter, a halfway home for released prisoners, and a home for
those living with AIDS. The Mary Martha Circle sponsors a Bake Sale each election
day to help support the Milk and Egg Fund for Interfaith Food Shuttle.
ZOE: Zimbabwe Orphans Endeavor
This emerging initiative was birthed in the Raleigh District. The North Carolina
Annual Conference is developing a comprehensive ministry to orphans suffering in
Zimbabwe in the wake of the AIDS pandemic. A full-time missionary liaison position
between the NC and Zimbabwe Annual Conferences has been filled by the Rev. Greg
Jenks. 3 Soapstone members have traveled to Zimbabwe as part of development team
and will continue to partner with the NC Conference in this work. Please visit their
website at http:\\www.zoeministry.org for
more information or contact Susan Graebe through the church office.
Hats for the Homeless
The wonderful volunteers in the hats for the Homeless group continue to stitch up
hats and scarves. All of the handmade creations are donated to the Durham
and Raleigh Rescue Missions in hopes of providing warmth where needed. Contact
Carey Mauget through the church office.
Methodist Home for Children
Soapstone has created a partnership with the Durham Boy’s Home. The Boy’s
Home provides a “short-term supportive, instructional and positive motivational
residential environment for addressing drug use among young adolescent users”.
The normal length of stay is 6 months. The MHC Action team visits the boys
and often joins them for dinner. They keep in regular contact with the boys
and the Director of the home, and coordinate efforts to meet the many needs of the
Boys Home. Contact Carol or Dick Otten through the church office.
Book Collection for Women's Prison
We collect books for the Women’s Prison library on an ongoing basis. Please drop
your books in the box near the front doors. Thank you for your donations! (No magazines,
please, except Guideposts.) Contact Lorraine Atkinson through the church office.
Christmas Giving Tree
 A
Christmas Giving Tree is displayed in the foyer from mid November through mid December.
Gift tags are hung on the tree for you to select family members and gift requests
consisting of clothing items, toys, stockings, and personal requests. Soapstone
also hosts a Christmas party to meet sponsored families and give them their gifts
as well as enjoy a time of fellowship together. Contact Stephanie Kelber through
the church office.
Missions For All Ages
Soapstone is dedicated to providing a variety of mission opportunities for adults,
youth, and children. Watch the church newsletter, worship bulletin, and the
Missions bulletin board for information about projects not listed in this brochure.
Samaritan Fund
Our Pastor’s discretionary fund supports persons in need of emergency assistance
for utility bills and other situations. Holy Communion offerings collected throughout
the year support this fund.
Hydration Station
This program, started and run by the fourth grade Sunday School Class, raises money
for missions, through donations for donuts, coffee, and water during the Sunday
School hour. Many missions have benefited from this project such as, meals
for IHN families and pizza parties, the Heifer project, Race for Grace, the Dubois
Center, Zimbabwe and children’s bibles for the Guatemalan sister church.
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