St. Andrew United Methodist Church to Host 10th Annual Prom Closet

St. Andrew United Methodist Church is hosting the 10^th Annual Prom Closet, Feb. 27, 28 and March 1 (Tues.-Thurs.) 4 – 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 3, 9 a.m. – noon, in the Smith Worship Center at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 1401 Mira Vista Blvd in Plano.  Girls from ANYWHERE in need of a prom dress are invited to come select a dress and accessories, all at no cost. Dresses sized 0 to 28 are available to choose from, many of which have never been worn. The only requirement is that girls must be present to select their dresses/accessories.

 

“As we reflect back over the last 10 years of Prom Closet, it’s amazing that we have grown from serving just 35 girls that first year to almost 1,000 last year,” said Devra Helffrich, an original organizer of the prom closet.  “The Prom Closet has proven to be a wonderful way to reach out and help the community.”

Community members, businesses, organizations, and local groups donate dresses, shoes, wraps, jewelry, handbags, and other accessories for this annual event, organized and operated by The St. Andrew United Methodist Women.  The Prom Closet was created to provide a unique shopping experience for young ladies who because of finances would be unable to attend prom.   Prom Closet organizers and volunteers confirm that not only is the need great, but the impact the dress makes on the girl and her family is immeasurable.  In addition to providing dresses to over 950 girls last year, 270 pairs of shoes and 1,700 pieces of jewelry were given to shoppers.

A link on Amazon is available for anyone that would like to help by purchasing items. These items will be shipped directly to the church. To review items available for purchase, https://tinyurl.com/PromClosetWishlist

“My students and I were so amazed when we arrived at The Prom Closet,” said Sylvia Cornelius, a teacher with Garland Can Academy who brought 12 students to shop in the Prom Closet in 2017. “To see so many beautiful gowns and have such sweet, spirited ladies working so hard to fulfill my students every desire was overwhelming. This program touches the lives of young women in such a magical way.  One of my students came up to me and said, ‘Ms. Cornelius, I never thought I would be able to get a prom dress and go to the prom.’ Garland Can Academy is grateful for the acts of kindness shown to 12 of our young ladies. I used this experience to teach and minister to the girls about service and how it's better to give than to receive.   We were blessed, and I give all praise to God for all persons responsible for this Prom Closet.”

Area school counselors have been provided information on their campuses.  Students must be present to shop for selection of dress and accessories. Please park in the east parking lot off of Mira Vista for donations and shopping.

Volunteer Opportunity: St. Andrew UMC Prom Closet March 23-28

St. Andrew United Methodist Church hosts its annual Prom Closet this week, and they're in need of volunteers today through Saturday, March 28th.

 

Community and church members have graciously donated shoes, wraps, jewelry, handbags, dresses and other accessories for this annual event, now in its 7th year. Girls who cannot afford a prom dress are able to shop this free event.

 

The impact a beautiful prom dress makes on a teenage girl and her family is immeasurable. Last year, 678 girls received prom dresses and accessories.

 

Volunteers are need to assist high school girls in their shopping experience -- selecting a dress and finding the perfect shoes, jewelry and a handbag to accessorize. Girls leave the church 'boutique' so thrilled with their complete look for prom.

 

Visit this link to volunteer for a two-hour (or longer!) shift.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0b4fa9ab2ea75-prom4

A St Andrew Christmas - Annual Musical Celebration and Live Nativity

Put the true spirit in your holiday season with “A St. Andrew Christmas,” Sunday December 14, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 5801 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas 75093.

 

This annual musical extravaganza will include traditional and contemporary holiday favorites from “Jingle Bells,” “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” and “The Nutcracker” to majestic settings of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Angels from the Realms of Glory,”featuring 200 singers, soloist Jodi Wright, bells, a 45-member professional orchestra, a magnificent pipe organ, and the ever-popular carol sing.

 

In between performances, from 5:45-6:45, there will be an outdoor Live Nativity complete with animals, shepherds, wise men, and the holy family. The Nativity presentation will be located on the west side of the church.

 

“We are thrilled to offer two performances and invite the community to share in this wonderful celebration of the season with us,” said Chris Crook, Minister of Music and Worship, St. Andrew UMC. “If you are looking for one musical Christmas event for all ages that contains the classic favorites delivered at the highest quality by fine singers and professional orchestra, look no further.”

 

Tickets range from $8 to $18, depending on seating sections and are available by calling 469-385-1810, or online at www.astandrewchristmas.org.

 

Crook added, “Join 2,000 others for what has become one of the area’s most popular December events. You will not be disappointed!”

Seven Loaves Community Derby Run 5K and 10K

Racing to end the impact of poverty - particularly hunger - in Collin County, The Seven Loaves Community presents Derby Run, a 5K & 10K Run on Saturday, May 3, from 7 to 11 a.m., at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 5801 W. Plano Parkway, 75093. Strollers and dogs on leashes are welcome too!  Event co-chairs are Aimee Heiser and Pamela Sewak. On race day, Seven Loaves Community will be collecting canned tuna, canned chicken and canned fruit for the Food Pantry. A donation bin will be placed at the registration tables.

 

Seven Loaves Community was established in 2009. The Food Pantry, the first initiative of Seven Loaves Community, serves over 1,800 individuals monthly (half of which are children). It is estimated in 2014 over 750,000 pounds of food will be distributed. The program now includes Joseph’s Coat, a clothing closet, which provides an average of 4,000 garments each month; Project Hope, a mentoring program to support women in crisis; and Plus One, a new initiative providing hygiene products to clients.

 

“All three organizations are more than service providers - they are lifelines of hope and vital to Collin County,” said Rev. Jennifer Arnold, Executive Director, Seven Loaves Community. “With an estimated 130,000 people in Collin County living below the poverty level, more than half of which are children, the human need in our own local community is significant. The Derby Run helps us to raise vital funds to continue to serve those in need.”

 

Project Hope, a program of the Seven Loaves Community, was created to eliminate hopelessness for families by providing a grace-filled program of coaching, training, education, opportunity and hope to women in crisis who desire a sustainable quality of life. Participants, who sign a year-long contract, are identified based on referral or from the Food Pantry. The goal of the program is to transform lives by focusing on seven areas: family, faith, education, career, budget, health and counseling. Volunteers from St. Andrew and from the community have donated funds and serve as coaches, sharing their gifts and talents, meeting with the participants weekly. This program also helps by providing a stop gap program to support the needs of women in crisis who aren’t aware or who don’t currently fit the profile of existing social agencies.

 

Run registration includes the run, boot camp for non-runners, 100 yard dash and more. Registration is available at www.derbyrun.org. The schedule is as follows: 7 a.m. - registration and packet pick up; 7:30 a.m. – race warm up with Vitality Fitness & Nutrition; 7:45 a.m. –Call to Post; 8 a.m. – starting gate opens for the 5K & 10K; 8:30 a.m. – 100 yard dash and other events for all ages; 10 a.m. – awards ceremony.

 

Advance online registration closes at midnight on Thursday, May 1. Participation in the 5K or 10K will also give you access to the Family Events area. For additional information, call 214-291-8038. For more information visit: www.7loavescommunity.org.

Donate Your Prom Dresses to St. Andrew UMC Prom Closet

St. Andrew United Methodist Church invites all girls from anywhere in need of a prom dress to FREE prom shopping days at the church, March 25-27, 4 – 8 p.m. and Saturday, March 29, from 9 a.m. – noon.  Community and church members are invited to donate shoes, wraps, jewelry, handbags, dresses and other accessories for this annual event.  The St. Andrew United Methodist Women organize and operate the prom closet.

“This is our sixth year to operate the prom closet, and it has proven to be a wonderful way to reach out and serve the community,” said Devra Helffrich, an original organizer of the prom closet with the help of Jane Marshall.  “The first year we provided 35 dresses to local high school girls, and last year, we provided over 200 dresses.  Presently we have around 1,000 dresses in the closet, sizes 2 to 22, and are excited to collect more this year!”

“One of our greatest needs is for donations of shoes, handbags, wraps and jewelry,” added organizer Jane Marshall.  “Those items truly make the whole thing pop, and the girls are so excited to leave St. Andrew with their complete look for prom!”  

Prom closet organizers and volunteers confirm that not only is the need great, but the impact the dress makes on the girl and her family is immeasurable.

“We want anyone out there who has donated a dress or accessories, or who can do so this year, to know what a difference it can make,” added organizer Jane Marshall.  “We anticipate another exciting year for the Prom Closet.”

Donations of dresses, shoes, handbags, and jewelry will be collected Saturday, Feb. 15 through Sunday, Feb. 23 in the main church Narthex on Saturday and Sunday, and in Room 126 on weekdays.  Larger dress sizes 14 and above are always needed.

For more information go to www.standrewumc.org or email standrewpromcloset@gmail.com. Area school counselors have been provided information on their campuses.  Students must be present to shop for selection of dress and accessories.  St. Andrew United Methodist Church is located 5801 Plano Parkway, corner of Mira Vista and Plano Parkway.

 

(For shopping days, please park and enter the church from the west parking lot, off Plano Parkway.  For donations, please park in the east parking lot off of Mira Vista.)

2nd Annual Derby Day





Racing to end the impact of poverty in Collin County, The Seven Loaves CommUnity presents Derby Day, a 5K and Fun Run and Festival, benefiting Seven Loaves CommUnity, Plano Children’s Medical Clinic, and The West Side Clinic.

Saturday, May 4th

7 to 11 a.m.

St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 5801 W. Plano Parkway, Plano

Event Co-Chairs: Nancy Frazier and Jane Abigail

Strollers and four-legged friends are welcome to join the Fun Run as well!

Seven Loaves CommUnity, which serves over 1,000 weekly, was established in 2009 to begin providing immediate food relief to the food insecure.  The program has expanded and now includes Joseph’s Coat, a clothing closet; Project Hope, a mentoring program with a focus on family, budgeting, education, health and other family matters; and referral services to medical access through Plano Children’s Clinic and The West Side Clinic. Plano Children’s Medical Clinic opened in 1991 in response to the need for medical care for low income children.  The West Side Clinic, a part of the Collin County Adult Clinic, provides limited primary medical care to uninsured adults, 18 years of age and older.  All three organizations are more than service providers - they are lifelines of hope and vital to Collin County.  

Seven Loaves Project Hope client Monique Williams, 32, and her family will serve as this event’s first honorary chairs.  Her life and that of her two children have been transformed with the help of all three Derby Run beneficiaries.

Run registration includes Seven Loaves’ 4th Birthday Party following the run with food, snow cones, a dunking booth, bounce house, basketball shoot, games, and more.  Presented by St. Andrew’s Mom to Mom Group and Lukes Locker, registration is available at www.derbyrun.org. 

The schedule is as follows: 

7 a.m. - registration and packet pick up

8 a.m. – starting gate opens for the 5K

8:30 a.m. – family fun area opens – Seven Loaves Birthday Celebration

8:45 a.m. – fun runners get ready to gallop

9 a.m. – awards ceremony.

Advance online registration closes at midnight on Thursday, May 2.  Participation in the Fun Run or the 5K will also give you access to the Family Fun Festival area.  For additional information, call 214-291-8038.  For more information visit:  www.7loavescommunity.org

Lunch & Learn: Feeding the Need

St. Andrew United Methodist Church and

Seven Loaves Food Pantry invite you

to a free Lunch & Learn

"Feeding the Need"

Making it Visible

Thursday, October 18, 2012

12:00-1:30 PM

St. Andrew United Methodist Church

5801 W. Plano Parkway in Plano

Keynote Speaker:

Texas State Senator Florence Shapiro, District 8

Luncheon tickets are complimentary. However, reservations are required as space is limited.

Click here to make your reservation.

Join Seven Loaves to serve the rapidly growing number of Collin County residents living below poverty level. Learn about the challenges facing our community and join in shaping a solution.

Plano Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert

Home for the Holidays - Family Traditions
December 19, 2010
4:00 and 7:30pm
St. Andrew United Methodist Church

Few events are more popular in Collin County than Plano Symphony Orchestra’s “Home for the Holidays” concerts. The 2010 celebration features “Family Traditions.” Hector Guzman and the Plano Symphony are joined by the Plano Civic Chorus; Ralph Stannard, Director; and Teresa Gomez, Soprano. Enjoy favorite carols, arrangements of beloved holiday music for large orchestra, a little seasonal humor, the popular sing-along, special guests and much more. Complete your holiday season with the joy of music. Click here to purchase tickets.