St. Mark's Seeks Donations
for Silent Auction to Benefit Haiti

St. Markss has set the date for two benefit events to raise funds for Haiti disaster relief: a Soup Soirée and Silent Auction. The silent auction will run daily February 15-18 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Friday, February 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Soup Soirée is set for Friday, February 19 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. The auction will close at the end of the soup dinner.

The church is soliciting donations of auction items, including artwork, services, entertainment and dining certificates, and asking that they be dropped off at the church from February 7 to 11. Pick-up of auction items is available when necessary; call the church office for information. The auction tables will be set up on February 12.

"We'll also be asking area restaurants to donate some of their signature soups for the Soirée," says Cheryl Birchard, St. Mark's parish administrator. "And we can certainly use lots of help putting on these two events." Call the church office at 247-1129 or email CherylB@StMarksDurango.com if you can assist.


St. Mark's has a strong and living connection with Haiti and thus we are more deeply touched by the destruction and suffering of its people now. There are several ways to help offer compassion, prayers and resources to ease the suffering. First of all, let us be in daily and specific prayer. Please pray for all the suffering and injured people, those who grieve and those now in need of basic resources like clean water and food. Pray for all those who are on the ground offering help and resources, and pray for us that we may open our hearts and lives in ways that truly and effectively respond with Christ's love and care to his children in need.

Find out more about what these agencies with St. Mark's connections are facing and how they are responding:

Episcopal Relief and Development: www.er-d.org
—30% of all donations received by St. Mark's are fully matched and then sent to the Diocese of Colorado which also matches.
—Are rated 4 star (Exceptional) by Charity Navigator.Ê88% of normal budget is for direct services.

Colorado Haiti Project: www.coloradohaitiproject.org
—23% of all donations received by St. Mark's are fully matched and then sent to the Diocese of Colorado which also matches.
—Not rated by Charity Navigator. 89% of normal budget is for direct services.

Compassion International: www.compassion.com
—23% of all donations received by St. Mark's are fully matched and then sent to the Diocese of Colorado which also matches.
—Rated 4 star (Exceptional) by Charity Navigator. 87% of normal budget is for direct services.

Albert Schweitzer Hospital: www.hashaiti.org
—23% of all donations received by St. Mark's are fully matched and then sent to the Diocese of Colorado which also matches.
—Rated 3 star (Good) by Charity Navigator. 83% of normal budget is for direct services.

We are setting up a fund at St. Mark's to be used for disaster relief: Make checks out to St. Mark's Church and note "Haiti relief." We will match gifts to that fund up to a total of $13,380. Those funds will be distributed to Episcopal Relief and Development, the Colorado Haiti Project, Compassion International and/or The Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Haiti as the Vestry and outreach committee considers the most effective use, greatest need and the ability of St. Mark's to hear about the relief efforts of those agencies. (there are St. Mark's connections to each of those agencies). We are planning to hold an event, maybe several, to share the stories of the need in Haiti and generate support in Durango for these efforts.

Fr. Kesner Gracias who visited St. Mark's twice is the rector of St. Paul's in Petit-Trou-de-Nippes (for whom we pray every Sunday) which is 90 miles west of Port-au-Prince. I've heard that Fr. Kesner and his family are all safe and well and that the buildings at St. Paul's were not seriously damaged. The Colorado Haiti Project took me to Haiti three years ago and has done an amazing work in Petit-Trou-de-Nippes. As I hear more about what the Colorado Haiti Project is positioned to do, we will be considering how to best support them. www.coloradohaitiproject.org

Shaun Stanley is a member of St. Mark's who works with Compassion International which focuses on the needs of children. Shaun will likely be going to Haiti soon to be part of the efforts of Compassion International, whose facilities and people were hit very hard. We will be learning more about that ministry and its needs from Shaun in the days ahead; keep him in your prayers as he travels. www.compassion.com

Wendy Grant, another member of St. Mark's, has a connection with the Albert Schweitzer Hospital (www.hashaiti.org) and has spent much time in Haiti, including some of her medical training.


For more information, please call (247-1129) or e-mail the church office.


910 E. Third Ave. • Durango, CO 81301 • (970) 247-1129