The Outreach Committee brings before the parish the needs of people outside the congregation in the local community, on deanery and diocesan levels, as well as throughout the Church and the world. The committee recommends opportunities for service through parishioners giving time, talent and treasure. 

St. Luke’s has an ongoing relationship with the Queens Community House to support their programs for struggling families and senior citizens in our community. Located on 63rd Drive, the Community House is a settlement house that runs after-school programs, a nursery school, a senior center, and other essential services. On the first Sunday of the month, Saint Luke’s stocks the emergency food panty to benefit women and children who are victims of domestic abuse. In addition, each December we contribute holiday presents for children in need.

One weekend each summer, people of various faith traditions in Forest Hills get together to host the Forest Hills Interfaith Food Drive, working to staff booths at area grocery stores for the benefit of hungry people throughout Queens.

Annual Grant

Through a process of education and fundraisers, we present a financial grant (and hands on support when possible) to assist an organization’s efforts. Previous grant recipients have been Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen & Pantry, Habitat for Humanity, Queens Community House and North Brooklyn Angels.

Our 2023 grant recipient is LIFE Camp, Inc. We are collecting funds during our Sunday Hospitality Hour and at special events during the year in order to make an impact with a check at the end of the year. During Lent some of our parishioners also keep Mite boxes to donate towards the grant recipient.

Emergency Fundraising

Saint Luke’s encourages support of Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) through seasonal program efforts as well as when events around the world call for an immediate response. In response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, we had a special bake sale in March 2022 to raise funds for their Ukraine Crisis Response Fund. We raised $602 thanks to the generosity (and baking skills!) of our parishioners.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Forest Hills to be honored for their work in homelessness

By Jenna Bagcal
April 30, 2018

For the past 15 years, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Forest Hills has partnered with Queens Community House to tackle homelessness in the area.

After almost two decades of dedication, the church will be recognized at QCH’s Annual Celebrating Local Champions Reception on Wednesday, May 2 at the historical West Side Tennis Club.

“We always have someone in mind [for the award] and Saint Luke’s was an obvious candidate,” said Jennifer Weil who is the communications coordinator for the Queens Community House.

Weil added that St. Luke’s mission is unique in that they aim to be an interfaith organization that is extremely involved in the community, which was one of the deciding factors for the organization to honor the church.

Reverend Thomas R. Reese, rector for Saint Luke’s for the past 19 years, will attend the reception on behalf of the church, and said he is both “honored and humbled” that Saint Luke’s is being recognized. Father Reese said that the church has partnered with Queens Community House by donating to their food pantries and providing gifts to families with children during the holidays.

The donated food goes to one of two pantries: one is dedicated to emergency use and is open to people in special cases, such as those who
have suffered domestic abuse. The purpose of this is “so that women and children can have access on a short-term basis,” according to Father Reese.

The other food pantry is open every Wednesday during “regular hours” and is open to anyone who needs it.

Father Reese estimates that about 50 to 60 people in the congregation make donations to QCH during the year, but the number of contributors can reach up to 100 during the holiday season.

Another aspect of the work that St. Luke’s does is the holiday toy drive, during which the church and QCH gives wrapped and labeled gifts to children whose families are in need.

“A lot of feedback I get is that it takes the burden off of them [families] during a stressful time of year,” said Weil. She adds that the donations from the toy drive is “huge for parents” and takes away their financial stress, since the money they save can be used for other necessities.

When the church started running the toy drive, Weil estimated that it helped about 30 families. Currently, Father Reese said that gifts are donated to about 100 to 115 children yearly.

Queens Community House will also award Adolfo Steve Vasquez the Queens Community Builder Award. Vasquez is the founder of Queenscapes, a community-base organization that works to provide photography programs for schools, business and other organizations.

The honors will take place at the West Side Tennis Club at 1 Tennis Place from 6 to 8 p.m.