The Bread of Life Grant invites the St. Mark’s community to engage and build relationships with a specific organization and their work in the city over a three-year period, with a grant totaling $60,000. This takes our outreach to another level, providing the inroads for us to make a deep impact on one another. We are now in our second three-year partnership with Communities in Schools, San Antonio (CIS-SA) at Crockett Academy.

Crockett was a high at-risk school until CIS-SA was brought in by the State of Texas five+ years ago. Some 46% of the students are classified as “at-risk”, and 186 CIS-SA cases are currently being managed in K-5th grade. CIS-SA focuses primarily on the non-academic (social) needs of students, many of whom are being raised by single parents or grandparents.

Crockett Academy’s proximity to St. Mark’s, just two miles away, makes it a ready partner for collaboration. Volunteers have enjoyed serving at one-time events like the school’s festivals, holiday collections, career days, and the ever-popular Love to Read Day. You might be drawn also to an ongoing relationship by serving as a mentor for a student.

CIS-SA and Crockett are innovating wisely when it comes to volunteering, with the health and safety of students as a priority. Look for COVID-friendly opportunities as they are announced throughout the year.

Holiday Happiness Gift Drive and Party at Crockett Academy
Our annual holiday gift drive for Crockett Academy students is back! Our goal is to provide gifts for 75 children at the “Holiday Happiness Party” to be held at Crockett on December 16 at 9.00am. Through the help of some holiday elves, we know several wishes for each child on the list. You’ll have a chance to sign up online to shop for a particular child, then wrap and deliver gifts to St. Mark’s no later than Sunday, December 13. Alternately, you may wish to donate money and let Santa’s little helper shop and deliver the gift to the church for you! Volunteers are also needed to assemble cookie and juice packets, help deliver gifts to Crockett, and assist with the (masked, distanced) party. To participate, sign up online.