St. Mary of the Hills has an active outreach committee that mobilizes funds and volunteer efforts to impact our community and the world. For more information about Outreach activities, please contact Gary Gloster.
Tour of Homes
Sponsored by the parish, this highly successful, all-volunteer community event annually raises funds benefiting High Country nonprofit organizations each July. All net proceeds are given back to our nonprofit organizations in need. More than a thousand people partipate in touring Blowing Rock homes, as well as a variety of other fundraising activities on the church grounds. Visit the Tour of Homes page to learn more.
Tour of Homes 2024 Update
Thirty-two local non-profit organizations serving the High Country will share the $90,250 net proceeds from this year’s 66th annual Blowing Rock Tour of Homes. The St. Mary of the Hills Outreach Committee received over $182,000 in requests from programs serving those in need, demonstrating that the work of the many volunteers who pitched in to make this year’s Tour a resounding success is more urgent than ever. The programs feed the hungry, clothe the needy, provide shelter and sanctuary, offer educational and recovery services, and care for children.
The following programs are now receiving grants:
These grants are only possible thanks to the countless local volunteers who were donors, hostesses, flower arrangers, drivers, organizers, bakers, and cleaners, the generosity of those who underwrote Tour expenses, the Jordan, Church, Barrett, and Kitchin families who opened their lovely homes for the hundreds of people who participated in the Tour, and Westglow, which hosted this year’s “1920s Speakeasy” pre-Tour gala.
Hospitality House
St. Mary’s volunteers prepare and serve meals for this local facility which offers three daily meals and emergency shelter for individuals and families experiencing food or housing insecurity in Boone. The church also provides the "Back-on-your-feet" Boxes program, supplying household items for individuals and families transitioning into permanent housing. For more information on these programs, please contact the church office at (828) 295-7323 or email to: office@stmaryofthehills.org.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina
Members recover food from the Food Lion in Blowing Rock and Woodland’s Barbeque for use in preparing meals at Hospitality House.
Bags of Hope
Concerted food drives are made through "Bags of Hope" - once a month, parishioners take grocery bags home, fill them with suggested items, and return them the following Sunday for delivery to one of our local food pantries (Blowing Rock CARES, Casting Bread Ministries, Hunger and Health Coalition, or Hospitality House).
Habitat for Humanity
St. Mary's was one of the original Covenant Churches that began Habitat for Humanity in Watauga County. Volunteers participate in Habitat’s “Building on Faith” program, a joint program of area churches working together to help low-income families. ReStore, Habitat’s store is in need of volunteers to help keep the store operating. They will also happily accept donations of gently used items (furniture, building supplies, electric fixtures, etc.). The ReStore is next to the Deep Gap Food Lion on 421, east of Boone.
Heifer Fair
The annual Heifer Fair held in November and hosted by St. Mary’s is an important contribution from the church to Heifer International, an organization that provides animals, trees, and training for recipients all over the world to help people grow their own food and become self-sufficient. The goal of this event is to have enough animals sponsored to buy an Ark ($5000 providing includes two water buffalos, two cows, two sheep and two goats, along with bees, chicks, rabbits and more) for the program each year.
Recycle Your Eye Glasses
Parishioners provide their discarded prescription glasses to be distributed to those who need them. A collection bin is located in the Foyer.
Recycle Your Cell Phone
The program helps the clients of the Watauga County OASIS (battered women’s shelter). Phones are re-programmed for contact to 911 and provided to women at risk. A collection bin is located in the Foyer.
Environmental Ministries
For more information, please contact Lynn Coulthard at (828) 964-6072.