Outreach & Missions

Serving our community and strengthening faith through action.

Getting Involved

Make a Difference

At St. James the Less, faith calls us to action. We're committed to serving those in need and building a more just community. There are many ways to get involved—find an opportunity that speaks to your heart.

Our Ministry Areas

Health Care

SJTL Free Clinic

A faith-based healing ministry offering free medical and dental care to uninsured, low-income Hanover County neighbors with compassion, dignity, and respect. Pop your head in some Wednesday evening—we are in the lower level of the church at Beverly Road and Lee Avenue.

Learn more →

Hunger Relief

Food Backpack Program

Every Thursday during the school year, volunteers meet at The Supply Room Co. and pack roughly 300 bags for children in our school district—each holding two days of food to carry a student through the weekend. Groceries are funded entirely by private donations.

Get involved →

Pet Food Pantry

Noah’s Ark Animal Outreach

A free pet food pantry every Wednesday from 6–8 pm in the church basement, so families facing hardship can keep beloved pets at home instead of surrendering them. Donations go in the Noah’s Ark in the narthex.

Learn more →

Youth Outreach

Senior High Youth Group

Our senior high youth put faith into action—helping with CARITAS, leading the Hanover ARC Christmas gift program, gathering supplies for the Ashland Christian Emergency Society, and joining the Tri-Cities Work Camp in Petersburg each summer to renovate homes.

Working Together

Community Partnerships

Alongside our own ministries, St. James supports partner organizations working on community, hunger, health, and education across the region.

Building Community

Forever Young

St. James the Less provides space for this wonderful event that brings older adults together, from Caroline County to Petersburg, for Food, Fun, and Fellowship.

Poptop Collection

Ronald McDonald House

We collect poptops in memory of Charlotte Reynolds from SJTL to go to the Ronald McDonald House. This year we had a record year of collecting over 51 pounds of poptops, 78,000 poptops on behalf of SJTL for Ronald McDonald House here in Richmond. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Richmond (RMHC Richmond)is an independent, non-profit chapter of Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Get involved →

Richmond’s East End

Peter Paul Development Center

This is an urban social ministry of the Diocese of Virginia that serves youngsters and seniors from low-income families of the East End of Richmond. Staff and volunteers at the Center make long-term relationships with the young people in a structured and loving environment that helps the center achieve its goal of building a community of learners. Click here to learn more about PPDC.

Get involved →

Connect

Hanover Churches Network

The mission of the Hanover Churches Network is for churches to coordinate their response to social needs in Hanover County, VA. By coordinating our responses to these needs we honor each church’s strengths and priorities and better steward our resources.

Learn More →

Local Food

Fall Line Farms

St. James the Less acts as a pick up location for food purchased through Fall Line Farms. Fall Line Farms is an organization that features gorgeous foods, plants and goods from local farms. You can go online and see what is being offered that week, order online and pick up at SJTL. What a wonderful way to support our local farmers and makers. Click here to learn more.

Get involved →

Support

ACES

Ashland Christian Emergency Services.

Mission: Our mission is to provide for the urgent unmet needs (food, clothing, limited household essentials and financial assistance) of the less fortunate within our community.

SJTL keeps a box in the hallway to collect items for ACES. Check out their current needs here.

Need Help? Click here to learn more.

Get involved →

How You Can Help

Volunteer Opportunities

Your Time Matters

Whether you can spare an hour a month or several hours a week, there is a place for you—packing food bags, staffing the clinic, sorting pet food, or driving a donation across town.

Volunteer today →

Financial Support

Give & Support

Nearly all of this work is funded by private donations. Every gift directly supplies a backpack, a clinic visit, or a bag of pet food for a neighbor who needs it.

Give →

Ready to Serve?

Reach out