"Be doers of the Word
and not hearers only..." James 1:22

The mission of St. Michael's Outreach Commission is to minister the disadvantaged in our community in their basic human needs of food, shelter, clothing, and medical care. Another goal is to foster an awareness of world-wide human needs and provide opportunities for parishioners to minister to those needs.

We try to provide opportunities for every parishioner, young and old, and those with lots of free time and those with very little. For more information about any of the ministries listed below, please contact Donna Nelson, Outreach Coordinator at (804)272-0992 ext. 101 or dnelson@stmichaelsbonair.org. We welcome your presence among us as we engage in the following activities: 

Micah Initiative A partnership between faith communities in the Richmond area and the Richmond City Elementary Schools for the purpose of nurturing and supporting the city's most vulnerable children. St. Michael's volunteers work weekly at Redd Elementary school off of Jahnke Road as mentors, tutors, classroom assistants, and in other special activities. There is an ongoing need for volunteers to work in a variety of capacities.

CCHASM Chesterfield/Colonial Heights Alliance for Social Ministry is an organization that assists county residents with emergency situations. CCHASM screens clients and makes referrals to our Food pantry. Additionally we support CCHASM financially and we participate in their Thanksgiving meal program.

St. Michael's Food Pantry is staffed and operated by St. Michael's volunteers each Tuesday morning. In addition to providing groceries to those referred by CCHASM and Central Virginia Foodbank, we also provide groceries once a month to residents of Monarch Woods, an apartment complex for the elderly.

Freedom House is a team of volunteers who serve a meal to the homeless on the second Wednesday of every other month at Freedom House's Conrad Center. Additionally, we provide the food for another meal each month. We also support Freedom House financially with an annual donation.

Bainbridge Community Ministry is an organization that assists the poor in the Bainbridge area in Richmond. We provide financial assistance, food for their food pantry, and we participate in their Christmas Family program.

Our Little Roses Home for Girls St. Michael's sponsors a young lady at this home for girls in Honduras. Our sponsorship helps provide housing and education.

Mission Trips For the past few years, St. Michael's volunteers have traveled to Belize on international mission trips. We also send a team locally to Richmond Hill to participate in the "Summer Camp on the Hill." These trips are always meaningful and the participants routinely report that the "get" so much more than they "give."

CARITAS Each year we host a group of 40 homeless individuals with the CARITAS program. For one week they make St. Michael's their home. We feed them, give them shelter, and provide luxuries like showers and laundry service. There are many, many volunteer opportunities. In 2011, our host week is April 9-16.