Mission & Outreach:

The Community Partnership Commission

Our Community Partnership Commission provides support and opportunities for volunteering with local partners whose mission and daily work reflect our vision of God’s mercy and justice.

Preble Street

The mission of Preble Street is to provide accessible, barrier-free services to empower people experiencing problems with homelessness, hunger, housing and poverty—and to advocate for solutions to these problems. From a nutritious meal to crisis intervention, from clean clothes to healthcare, from showers to a permanent home, Preble Street programs meet urgent needs and creates solutions to homelessness and hunger. St. Alban’s volunteers in the Soup Kitchen, preparing and serving lunch on the second Saturday of every month. Volunteers are always welcome!

Saint Elizabeth’s Essential Pantry

Saint Elizabeth’s Essentials Pantry is a low-barrier pantry serving non-food essentials to all those in need, including new Mainers and Mainers whose families have been here for generations. Every Tuesday at no charge, they provide basic, daily essentials to those living in need that cannot be purchased with SNAP funds. The pantry is located in the lower hall of St. Luke’s Cathedral in Portland. Volunteers from seven participating parishes staff the pantry each week. There are also other volunteer opportunities such as driving donations to the Cathedral, assisting  with sorting, set up, shopping, and other special projects that need support at other times. For more information, check the St. Elizabeth’s website.

Greater Portland Family Promise

GPFP provides shelter and services to homeless immigrant families, a top St. Alban’s priority and an organization that St. Alban’s has had a thriving volunteering relationship with GPFP for some time. They have increased their shelter population from 17 to 36, and the increased funding they received from the State to support that expansion will expire April 30. There are many volunteer opportunities.

Maine Needs

Maine Needs started in 2019 in Portland as a Facebook group to create a bridge between those donating things regularly and those working with caseworkers, teachers, nurses, and street outreach teams who knew what specific, essential items were most needed. Their work focuses on those starting from scratch: domestic abuse survivors, asylum seekers, and those facing financial hardships. Maine Needs has +/- 40,000 local followers on social media and reaches the needs of people in all 16 Maine counties.

In Her Presence

In Her Presence works to further a thriving immigrant community in Maine by lifting the language barrier and supporting the career trajectory and financial stability of immigrant women and their families. Organized and led by immigrant women living in Maine, IHP brings together immigrant women from across communities and generations to ensure that Maine’s economic agenda includes the aspirations and needs of immigrants. IHP serves women from 16 different countries: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Syria, Iraq, Angola, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Cameroon, Gabon, Burkina Faso, Afghanistan, Ukraine , San Salvador , Republic of Congo, and the United States.

Hope Acts

Hope Acts was founded in 2012 and operates out of Hope House, located at 14 Sherman Street in Portland. Hope House provides transitional housing and services to asylum seekers (immigrants and refugees), a top St. Alban’s priority. Hope House provides temporary housing to up to 13 refugees arriving in Maine and a number of important programs that help new Mainers find their way to independence and self-sufficiency.

International Mission

St. Luc’s School in Haiti

In 2007 St. Alban’s Parish entered into a partnership with St. Luc’s Church and School in Trou-du-Nord, Haiti. The partnership is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine Haiti Partnership Program. The primary goal of the partnership is to foster and nurture a relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Aptly named Building Connections, our partnership has been strengthened by annual visits to Haiti to exchange ideas with our Haitian partners, explore hopes and dreams, and work together to discern where the path of the partnership will lead. This partnership has been strengthened by the thoughtful exchange of ideas, resources, talents, hope and deep friendship. Together we have accomplished significant goals. Each of these improvements eases the burden of poverty while enhancing the learning environment.