Time and Talent is the service component of the Faith Commitment program at St. Bernadette Church which fosters and promotes volunteer service opportunities for people of all backgrounds, ages, and skills. The Time and Talent Office also supports and enhances our ministry leaders by providing training and resources. 

As our community works to contain the spread of COVID-19, volunteering to do simple tasks — such as grocery shopping, helping out with errands, or simply saying “hello” — can go a long way.

1. Take time to pray for those who are sick, for an end to the coronavirus, health care workers, scientists, elected officials and church leaders.
2. Check on people who are elderly or disabled. It’s probably best to keep your distance in order to keep people safe, but stand on the porch and talk through a crack in the door or give him/her your phone number and ask him/her to call you.  Reach out and say “hello,” so people don’t feel isolated, or you could offer to pick up groceries, go to the drug store, or run errands. 
3. The Houston Food Bank is continuing to provide essential services to those in need.  They are in need of additional volunteers and have added extra safety measures amid COVID-19.  To volunteer go to: https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/
4. Donate Blood. The coronavirus (COVID-19) does not pose any risk to blood donors during the donation process.  giveblood.org   
5. Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen is continuing to serve food to the homeless.Volunteers are always needed to help provide a free hot lunch to about 250 chronically hungry guests daily (except Mondays), and breakfast on the weekends.  Please call 713-224-1373 between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., Tuesday through Sunday, or email lcronin@mhihouston.org, to confirm no changes in the schedule due to the fluid situation. Soup Kitchen located at 2009 Congress.
6. Call friends and family.  Stay in touch with the people close to you, especially those who are social distancing too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that communities create “buddy systems” to make sure vulnerable and hard-to-reach people stay connected. Why not make it a point to check in on your older friends and relatives? Such thoughtfulness is always greatly appreciated.
7. Call someone who is alone, bereaved, or going through a difficult time.  We can’t gather in person so much for a bit, which can be especially hard for those already struggling. Even a 15-minute FaceTime call can help someone feel connected and loved.
8. Make a prayer shawl to be given away to someone in need when things return back to normal.
9. Take the free Online Safe Haven Training.  This training is available to everyone and provides valuable information.  The training is only 1 hour and is required for current and future parish volunteers.  https://galvestonhouston.cmgconnect.org/
10. Help someone in your neighborhood with yard work, take the trash to the curb, or pick up the newspaper and put it by the door.
11. Meals on Wheels: Driver needs to be 18+.  Interfaith Ministries is currently working to cover  March 23-27, between 9 AM and 12 noon. Volunteers will be asked to report to IM’s MOW Headquarters at 3202 San Jacinto, 77004 on their scheduled day(s) of service at 9:00 AM for training. Click here to Sign up
12. Harris County Public Health: The Medical Reserve Corps is activated. Volunteers are needed from March 11 - 25, to make phone calls to assist the Medical Reserve Corps and HCPH Employees. If you are available during this time, please. Sign Up Click Here
13. The Beacon feeds the homless and needs help providing meals.  Click for more information and to sign up
14. Kids Meals - Emergency Help: Help make snack packs during this Corona virus crisis. Multiple days 9-12noon.  330 Garden Oaks Blvd., Houston.  Click here to sign up
15. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston drive-thru food pantry needs help.  Click for more info. and to sign up
     

Parish Special Project Help - If you may be able to assist with a special project as projects are identified during the Pandemic, please let us know.  Click Here.  Thank you!

Morning of Service - The Lenten Morning of Service and Renewal will be rescheduled after the Pandemic.