Service & Justice

Raising Catholic Consciousness about Social Justice Concerns

St. Thomas Aquinas is a Catholic community and as such has a commitment to service and justice.  This page will highlight service and justice opportunities at St. Thomas as well as provide links to Catholic teaching and perspectives on relevant social justice issues.
 

 

 

  

 

St. Thomas is helping the WHO (Winter Hospitality Overflow) shelter during the week of March 1-8 2020. 

The WHO is a shelter run out of St. Andrew Lutheran and St. Paul’s churches between November 1st and March 31st for individuals, and families needing shelter (families at St. Andrew’s and single men at St. Paul’s) during that time.  Vancouver has a limited number of shelter beds for the homeless that do not meet the needs of our community.  The WHO offers additional beds during the coldest months of the year.

St. Joseph has committed to staffing volunteers for two weeks during the WHO schedule at St. Andrew Lutheran.  Please sign up by following the following link:

https://volunteersignup.org/YR4E4 Questions?  Contact David Lester in the office. david@stthomascamas.org)

 

 

           

Donations Urgently Needed at Good Shepherd Manor

Help us make a difference in the lives of our elderly. Good Shepherd Manor is a non-profit Adult Care Home operated by the Human Dignity Foundation, a 501(c)(3) run by lay Catholics. We offer loving care to all regardless of financial means – but only Medicaid does not cover our costs. It is becoming increasing difficult to keep the doors open and the need in our community is growing. Can you help? Every donation makes a difference. We need an additional $3,000 a month. Food and toiletries are always welcome and volunteers are always needed. We are located at 1493 N. Shepherd Road in Washougal. Financial donations should be sent to PO Box 990, Washougal, WA  98671. Please call if you have any questions – Carol at 360-606-3620. 

Caples Terrace Apartments,
500 Omaha Way, Vancouver, WA

They will be owned and operated by Vancouver Housing Authority. The units will be rent subsidized with supportive services available to the residents. VHA is seeking furniture donations. The desired donations would include furniture or gift cards for furniture. No used mattresses will be accepted. Photos of items should be sent to akoppert@vhausa.com. Donations Desired: full & single size bed frames, night stands, small dressers, full size dressers, new mattresses, small kitchen tables w/chairs, loveseat size couches, full size couches, easy chairs and cribs.

 

 

 

Encore Network website:     https://encore.org/encore-network/

Click HERE to apply.

CLICK HERE to read a summary of the May 15, 2018 Community meeting.

Click HERE for a Post Record Article on homelessness in Camas. (Feb. 8, 2018)

 

 

Share The Journey
 

Share The Journey is a global Catholic campaign of compassion and support for migrants and refugees.  Find information and resources:  seattlearchdiocese.org/STJ

Advocate by contacting your representatives: thewscc.org

Donate online at catholiccharitiessusa.org  or at crs.org

 

 

Who Is My Neighbor? The Face of Poverty in Washington State
Visit thewscc.org to download the Pastoral Letter, Study Guide, and Video

 

Join the Good News People today!

  

What is the Good News People?

  • 2 seven week small faith sharing groups intended to help us reflect upon ways to put our faith into action.

When do the groups meet?

  • The groups meet when it is most convenient for the members.  The hope is that we will have several groups meeting on different days and at different times.  Join today and invite your friends!

How do I sign up?

  • Fill out one of the pew cards and drop it in the basket or contact David Lester.

 

Consider joining the PREPARES team at St. Thomas.  Journey with families from a pregnancy through age 5.  Contact David Lester for more information.

 

New City Initiative wants to partner with St. Thomas to journey with families who recently transitioned out of homelessness.  We would like to form a team that can help a family for the first 6 months of this important transition.  Please contact David Lester to get involved.  

 

 

 

 

Here is a picture of a family that worked with the Village Support Network.

 

 

 

Habitat for Humanity is looking for parish groups to partner with them to help build affordable housing for local families.  Please contact David Lester if you are interested in forming a Habitat for Humanity team.

 

 

 

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St. Thomas Aquinas Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

St. Thomas Aquinas Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) is a spiritually based group of volunteers, inspired by the Christian values of charity and compassion for all.  SVDP provides financial assistance for rent, utilities and gas vouchers for work and medical appts, as well as offering resources for food, clothing & shelter.

SVDP members interact personally with their clients and make home visits to assess individual needs. SVDP conducts a school supplies drive and Christmas Giving Tree Program to solicit specific donations from our parishioners to benefit the needy.  

Meetings are the first Wednesday of every month. For further information about this organization,  contact President, Kim Steinke.  CLICK HERE to view the new website of our Parish chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

 

Respect Life Committee

     The Respect Life Committee is responsible for passing on current information, updates and details of events concerning all aspects of the dignity of human life to the parishioners of St. Thomas Aquinas Church.  This is done primarily via the Sunday bulletin, the Summa and an email notification list.
     We also assist other pro-life groups within the Parish: We give support to the local 40 Days for Life Campaign each spring and fall. We assist with procuring items to give away, and the scheduling of people to cover shifts for the Knights of Columbus pro-life booth during Camas Days each July. 
    We are a resource for high school students in the parish doing research papers for school. We provide website addresses and other information to help students find the truth, which is difficult to find in our culture.     We provide information and resources concerning all stages of human life, from conception through natural death.  Contact:  parish office