Saint James Jam offers family fun while raising funds for food, clothing ministry

For the second year in a row, The Roman Catholic Parish of St. James the Greater is providing the community with a chance to run, bounce and play cornhole while supporting a ministry that feeds, clothes and provides furniture to those in need. 

The Saint James Jam begins at 7 p.m. Friday, July 22, at the church, 49 Crosswinds Drive in Charles Town. 

Activities include:

  • A 5K run beginning at 7 p.m. on the scenic cross-country course on the church grounds
  • A bounce house competition beginning at 7 p.m. for ages 11 and younger
  • A 1-mile stroller-friendly walk/run beginning at 7:10 p.m.
  • A double-elimination cornhole tournament beginning at 8 p.m. for ages 12 and older
  • A silent auction featuring two-night stays for two at the Hilton Brooklyn in New York City; the Hilton Garden Inn in Washington, D.C.; and Hotel Indigo in Pittsburgh 

The silent auction will continue at the parish picnic on July 24, where the winners will be announced.

Registration costs $15 per person, per event, which includes a T-shirt (guaranteed for those who register by July 8) and $5 in Jam Dollars, which can be used to purchase a variety of items at the Saint Isidore Market at the church.  

In addition, a variety of baked items, including pepperoni rolls, will be sold. The Knights of Columbus will offer shrimp bowls and Capitol Snow from Alexandria, Va., will sell shaved ice. 

All registration fees will be used by the Saint Roch Ministry at the church, which ships food to the needy from North Carolina to upstate New York. The proceeds from the Saint James Jam will cover increased fuel costs and maintenance to keep the ministry’s vehicles on the road.

The Saint Roch Ministry works with First Fruits Farm of Freeland, Md., and several local farms to provide healthy food to marginalized communities. In addition to food, the Saint Roch Ministry provides clothing and basic furniture to those in need and is working with the Bethany Retreat Center in Clearfield, Pa., which hosts groups from across the United States as they plan their mission work. The retreat center’s primary fundraiser is selling blueberries, but this year’s crop was decimated by gypsy moths, so it reached out to The Roman Catholic Parish of St. James the Greater for help. 

For more information, email stjamesjam22@gmail.com; go to stjameswv.org; or call 304-725-5558.