StJB’S 30th EpiscoGolf Targets Kid’s Hunger & More
By Maureen Gillum, 11-10-25
While the EpiscoGolf mini-golf and raffle fun was in August, the benefits of St John’s outreach program for many local kids comes around Thanksgiving. The mission of EpiscoGolf, sponsored by the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist (StJB, Sanbornville, NH), is to better the quality of life for underprivileged kids by providing grants to children’s charities, regardless of religion, race or gender. This week, St John delivered or mailed out $12,450 in StJB EpiscoGolf grants to 15 worthy recipients. In EpiscoGolf’s 30th year, StJB sent more money to more children’s charities than ever in 2025. Since it started in 1995, StJB EpiscoGolf (www.stjohntb.org/episcogolf) collectively donated $155,000 to help support kids in need.
“We’re all in this for our local kids,” exclaimed Joe Beard, StJB EpiscoGolf’s Ministry team co-lead, “every penny of EpiscoGolf goes to help children in need. It’s a tremendous investment in our future.”
St John’s EpiscoGolf grant recipients this year included: Secret Santa (Wakefield), Home for Now (Rochester), School’s Out! (Ossipee), Wakefield Parks & Rec, Catie’s Closet, CHiPs (Children of Incarcerated Parents), and CASA of NH. The grants scaffold many worthy children’s charities to fund student enrichment, kid’s sports and reading programs, legal advocacy, clothing, scholarships, and Christmas gifts – all to foster and sustain hundreds of local children in need.
Increasingly, however, a portion of StJB’s EpiscoGolf grants are aimed to target an essential and sadly growing need: kid’s hunger. Food insecurity among children in Carroll County came in at 11.4%, among the highest in NH, which averaged 8.5% statewide, according to UNH Extensions’ Carroll County Food Access Network.
Some grant recipients also warned of today’s mounting pressures -- rising hunger and need pitched against eroding resources and volunteers. For example, the Wakefield Food Pantry (WFP) voiced concerns about recent major cut backs from key resources (e.g., NH Food Bank), compounded with the uncertainties of federal support (e.g., SNAP). At the same time WFP helpers have recently dwindled to about 50 people -- a 50% decline; and most food pantry volunteers are 65 or older.
Despite challenges, the Wakefield Food Pantry (www.wakefieldnhfoodpantry.org) shares its hope of ‘hunger-free communities.’ WFP serves children and families from Wakefield, Brookfield, Middleton, Milton NH and Newfields, ME, every Wednesday (10 am - 1 pm; and 5 - 7 pm). It also offers its Annual Dinner Giveaways for all for Thanksgiving (Sat., November 22nd) and Christmas (Sat., December 20th) – simply stop by the pantry (1500 Wakefield Rd, Wakefield NH), 10 am - 1 pm, for a take-home holiday dinner to prepare.
WFP’s VP, Janet Bye, appreciatively revealed, “Since 2006, we’ve thankfully received more than $26,400 in donations from StJB's EpiscoGolf, which helps us ensure our FIT (Food-In-Time) program continues to benefit our local kids in need.”
“We’re so grateful to be one of the long-standing beneficiaries of St John’s annual EpiscoGolf grants,” shared Marilou MacLean, WFP’s Operations Manager since 2021. “Community support and partnerships with our local churches, like St John's Episcopal and First Congregational, who faithfully donate to us weekly, are our mainstays."
Another key initiative to help the “1 in 5 kids struggling with food insecurity” is End 68 Hours of Hunger(www.end68hoursofhunger.org). There are nearly 40 ‘E-68’programs in NH alone, whose mandate is to “end childhood hunger in America one school at a time.” Our community is fortunate to have two E-68 volunteer programs at Paul School (Wakefield) and Milton Elementary (Milton). Each serve roughly 20 kids a week and coordinators report the kids love their ‘Food Bag Friends’ and anticipate an imminent rise in need. Further, End 68 also claims to have positive impacts on school performance, test scores, behavior and graduation rates.
“Thanks to community support, our program is going very well,” shared Brianna Valdepena, Wakefield’s Paul School Counselor and Co-Coordinator of Wakefield’s End 68 Hours of Hunger. “We’ve had about a 20% increase in the number of students we serve compared to our first full year (2024) and the kids and their families greatly need and appreciate the help.”
“We’re very thankful for St John’s continuous support,” Milton’s long-time E-68 coordinator, Jodi Trefethen, added, “especially since we’re expecting an increase in kids who need the weekend food.”
What can we all do to help? Drop off a bag of non-perishable items to your local food pantry (e.g., WFP has a donation box next to its front door, open 7/24). Better yet, show up to volunteer, even just once or twice a month, or donate money to WFP or End 68 Hours of Hunger. Every gift of time or treasure, no matter how small, collectively makes a major difference.
“We owe much gratitude to many for EpiscoGolf’s continued success in its banner 30th year – our community business partners, raffle buyers, our parish, support of friends and family, as well as our dedicated grant recipients,” StJB’s Parson Kit Wang, concluded. “Our children are our future and our most cherished assets.”
St John’s 30th EpiscoGolf Nets $12,820 for Children’s Charities
By Maureen Gillum, 8/24/25
St John’s EpiscoGolf reached its milestone 30th birthday this year and we ‘putt’ some (mini) golf back into EpiscoGolf. Thankfully, it also had a most successful year raising $12,820 to benefit local children’s charities.
EpiscoGolf was started by the Episcopal Church St John the Baptist (StJB) in Sanbornville, NH (www.stjohntb.org) in 1995 with a mission to better the quality of life for underprivileged children by providing grants to children’s organizations and charities. It is a non-denominational community outreach program providing grants regardless of religion, race or gender.
“As our premier outreach program, StJB’s EpiscoGolf is an important part of how we work with and support our greater Wakefield community with a special focus on all of our futures – our kids,” explained StJB’s Parson Kit Wang.
At St John’s community Chicken BBQ on August 16th, the last ticket was sold and StJB EpiscoGolf 2025 grand prize golden raffle ticket was drawn, worth $1,940. The winner was recent widow, Leslie W., who was visiting her family camp at Horn Pond. Incidentally, she has deep family ties to St John’s through her late grandparents, Arthur & Lillian Burleigh of Sanbornville. Leslie also graciously gave back a hearty part of her kitty to further help the kids.
For some added excitement and a nod to its golf tournament roots, StJB also put some golf back into EpiscoGolf this year, thanks to Joe Beard, EpiscoGolf’s new Ministry Team’s co-lead. “It was a lot fun to launch our mini StJB EpiscoGolf 3-hole golf tournament at our community BBQ last weekend,” shared Beard enthusiastically, “and three of our BBQ guests happily won some great gift baskets.”
Since its inception, 100% of StJB EpiscoGolf’s proceeds -- collectively more than $143,000 -- has supported NH children’s charities including End 68 Hours of Hunger (Milton & Wakefield); School’s Out (Ossipee), Secret Santa (Wakefield), Home for Now (Rochester), Wakefield Food Pantry/FIT Program, and CASA of NH.
Now that the funds have been raised, it’s time for local children’s charities to complete and submit StJB’s very simple 1-page grant request. StJB EpiscoGolf’s 2025 grant applications can be easily downloaded at www.stjohntb.org/episcogolf. All grant applications are due back to St John’s by October 30th. Typically, StJB releases its EpiscoGolf funds to selected grants recipients by Thanksgiving.
Of course, the continued success of St John’s EpiscoGolf relies on its village of many generous supporters. StJB gratefully thanks our key community partners, including Poor People’s Pub, Key-Day Builders, Eastern Propane & Oil, E.F. Dolaher & Sons, Seven Lakes Realty, Profile Bank, and William Krause, CPA, along with St John’s Vestry, parishioners and friends.StJB also keeps its village well feed. St John’s hosts several terrific community dinners and three popular holiday pie sales every year. Our last pie sale of 2025 will be on Labor Day weekend, Saturday, August 30th at 9 am. St John’s final dinner of the year will be a Ham & Bean supper on Wednesday, September 13th at 5 pm. Like all St John’s dinners, it is open and free to all; donations at will are gratefully accepted to help cover food costs.
Everybody needs a place. We invite you to make St John’s your place. The Episcopal Church of Saint John the Baptist proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ in worship, fellowship and outreach. For more information, please visit www.stjohntb.org, call us at 603-522-3329, or simply drop in at 118 High St, Sanbornville, NH for any Sunday service at 9 am (and yummy post coffee hour).
Episcogolf 2025 Golden ticket raffle
Dear Friends of St John’s EpiscoGolf,
July 2025
St John the Baptist (StJB)’s annual EpiscoGolf Children’s Charity celebrates it’s special 30th milestone this year! We hope to exceed last year’s St John EpiscoGolf Raffle, which raised $12,200. Since 1995, 100% of StJB’s EpiscoGolf proceeds – collectively, more than $143,000 – has supported local NH charities which help kids, including End 68- hours of Hunger (Milton & Wakefield), Secret Santa (Wakefield), Families in Transition (Rochester), School’s Out (Ossipee), Wakefield Food Pantry (Wakefield), Catie’s Closet and CASA of NH. These and many other groups – most our community partners -- depend on us each year. Please consider supporting StJB’s EpiscoGolf outreach efforts:
Buy a StJB EpiscoGolf 2025 Limited Golden Raffle Ticket. Only 100 tickets ($100 each; buy solo or split w/ a friend or group) will be sold for a chance to win up to $2,000 (20% of raffle intake).
And/or be a StJB EpiscoGolf 2025 Sponsor (ideal for business) or Personal Donor (any amount welcome):
__ Platinum ($500+); Gold __ ($250-$499); __ Silver ($100-$249); $__ Bronze ($25 to $99) $_____ (other)
Remember, no contribution is too small – every dollar helps. Together, we can & will make a collective difference to help our local kids. Please visit: www.stjohntb.org/episcogolf or contact me directly (mgillum.m@gmail.com or 603-494-8466) for more info – or just fill out the slip below & mail it back with your check to StJB by August 10th.
We also hope to see you at St John’s (118 High St. Sanbornville, NH) for our tasty StJB Community BBQ on Sat, August 16th, 5 pm. At the BBQ we’ll draw the 30th EpiscoGolf grand prize raffle winner (up to $2K!) around 6 pm (winner needn’t be present). In honor of our 30th milestone year, we’ll also be having a 3-hole mini golf tournament at our BBQ on 8/16. Please come enjoy some great food & summer fun for the whole family.
Thank You and God Bless,
Maureen Gillum and Joe Beard
StJB EpiscoGolf Ministry Team Leads
Click on the ticket image to enlarge and print…
episcogolf grant 2025 applications
Deadline is October 30, 2025
Contact Maureen at mgillum.m@gmail.com for any questions/concerns.
drizzle brings success to stjb’s episcogolf 2019
StJB’s EpiscoGolf 2019 Committee (L to R): Peter Campbell, Jimbo Keating, Loretta Campbell, & Hap Horrigan
StJB’s EpiscoGolf 2018 Delivers
StJB EpiscoGolf’s Peter Campbell (L) and Jimbo Keating (blue shirt) presents WFP’s Howie Knight (2nd L) and Janet Miller (R) a check from EpiscoGolf 2018, at the Wakefield Food Pantry.
“The Outreach Mission of EpiscoGolf is to better the quality of life for underprivileged children by providing grants to children’s organizations and charities. We are a non-denominational community outreach program providing grants regardless of religion, race, gender, etc.”
