The Lazarus Ministry

The Lazarus Ministry

Mission: Embracing our call to discipleship and service, the Lazarus Ministry seeks to serve with dignity and respect families vulnerable to housing instability, particularly those living in the Lee Road motels. We will support their basic needs through various events (Spring Clean, Read2Succeed, Summer Meals and Back to School) and by assisting families in their efforts to find stable housing.

2026 Lazarus Event Calendar

Back-to-School

The Lazarus Ministry partners with Orange County's Neighborhood Center for Families to provide back to school supplies and essentials to families in need living in motels off Lee Rd.

  • Calendar:
    Jul 18-19: Backpack distribution in Courtyard
    Jul 19 - Aug 2: Return Donations to SMM
    Aug 6: Back-to-School Event
  • Donate:                
  1. SHOP the supply list HERE
  2. or BUY on Amazon, ship to yourself
    • Amazon Elementary School Supply List
    • Amazon Middle/High School Supply List
  3. FILL backpack with supplies
  4. RETURN to SMM by AUG 2

Read2Succeed

Interested in becoming a reading tutor for OCPS 1st & 2nd graders as part of the Lazarus Ministry?

The Lazarus Ministry is partnering with Orange County Public Schools' Read2Succeed program once again during the 2026–27 school year to tutor and mentor students in developing vocabulary and reading skills. Trained SMM volunteers will meet with a paired student for 30 min. once a week during school hours at either Killarney or Lake Weston Elementary. In addition to helping students improve reading, volunteers will help students gain important skills in social and emotional development.

Aug 11, 6:30pm:  Zoom Informational Meeting: REGISTER

If you have questions contact Trish at [email protected]

If you would like to donate funds to be used by the Lazarus Ministry.

  1. Electronically - go to the donate link on the St Margaret Mary website: https://stmargaretmary.org/online-donation/.  Once you have made your donation, please send an email to [email protected] to let us know so we can follow up with the Parish Administration.
  2. Check - If you prefer to write a check, make the check out to St Margaret Mary Church and write Lazarus Ministry in the Memo Line.

Please sign up to help below:

Fill out my online form.
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