The Board of Social Ministry coordinates all social action programs bringing the needs of people in the congregation, community and society in general to the attention of the congregation.  Meetings are held on a monthly basis.  Our ministry includes:

Backpack Ministry

We support three community schools with donations of school supplies and nurse’s items.  White Bluff Elementary, Windsor Forest Elementary, and the STEM Academy each provide us with a wish list at the beginning and middle of the school year.  Backpacks are filled with the generous donations of the congregation and are distributed to the schools to meet their student’s needs. 

Book of the Month Club

This monthly meeting is our answer to small group Bible Study.  We rotate locations for a pot luck supper and Bible study, sometimes showing movies with Christian themes.  Our group serves as the unofficial Cluster 6 Bible study with an open invitation to anyone who would like to join us.  Time and location are listed in the church bulletin. 

Food Pantry

The Food Pantry provides food for families who ask for the church’s assistance.  The Food Pantry is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.  Items are purchased with the generous donations provided by Trinity Lutheran Church members.  We are in continual need of the following items: canned soup, meat, stew, hash, fruit and vegetables, pasta and pasta sauce, crackers, microwaveable meals, boxed meals w/meat, tuna, cereal and peanut butter and jelly.  Donated items that are not appropriate for distribution through the food pantry are given to the Living Vine. 

Social Outreach

Social Outreach is coordinated with other ministries at Trinity Lutheran Church through adult only, family and/or children events.  We have the responsibility of developing and maintaining activities that reach beyond church walls to the local community. 

Support to the Community

We provide support to Interfaith Hospitality Network and SafeShelter, Center for Domestic Violence Services through social fundraisers and specific events to benefit these organizations.  All are welcome to join us as we reach out into the community.

Sunday Breakfast

Sunday Breakfast is provided by many different groups including Social Ministry, Youth Ministry, Lizzie and the Comfort Dog Ministry, the Board of Elders and various boards and groups that would like to serve this way to collect funds for their ministries, events and projects.  Breakfast is served between early Service and Sunday School.  We are always looking for more help in the kitchen.  If your group would like to commit to a Sunday breakfast just let Sharon Grefski know and she will get you on the schedule. 

Board of Social Ministry members are:

Sharon Grefski                     (912) 927-4569.

Steve Bellmoff                      (912) 308-7584

Pam Edwards                       (912) 713-3111

Bob Grefski                           (912) 659-6915

LeAnn Grefski                      (912) 920-0216

Karen Hanovich                   (912) 656-6511

Brenda Nuscher                   (912) 657-6418

Amanda Tavormina             (912) 373-4222

BOARD OF SOCIAL MINISTRY - April 2019 Newsletter

Our next project will be a servant event at Ronald McDonald House on April 27, 2019. We will be providing brunch for the families staying at the facility while their children are treated for serious illness at Memorial Hospital. The venue can only accommodate 6-8 volunteers at a time in their kitchen. Once we know how many from our board will be attending, we will do a shout out to the congregation for volunteers as needed.

We will be hosting a fellowship event at Skidaway State Park on Saturday, May 18th. We have secured the building available for group gatherings. It is air conditioned and provides a kitchen for our use. The rental on the facility has already been paid and the only additional cost to attendees will be the $5.00 parking fee per vehicle required by the park. This entitles us to use all the facilities offered by Skidaway State Park. There are hiking trails, volleyball nets, etc. A complete list of the amenities can be found on the Park website. The Board of Social Ministry will provide fried chicken and BBQ pork for the lunch time meal. Attendees are asked to provide side dishes for the meal. We hope that folkswho love the outdoors as well as those who just want to have a great meal and fellowship will join us that day.

We will provide a signup sheet in the narthex to get an estimate of the number attending and the food that will be provided. To date we do not have a commitment from any group to provide third Sunday breakfast, however we have a few volunteers willing to host that slot on a onetime basis. On months that we have no volunteers we will offer a pot luck breakfast. It would be appreciated if we could get volunteers to cover the coffee, setup and cleanup on those occasions.

We have also taken on a project to support and encourage our confirmands which will include having their photos and some info about them on display. We hope this will remind church members to include these young people in their prayers as they make their important journey to confirmation. Small gifts of encouragement and cards have been given to our confirmands to let them know they are recognized and supported by their TLC family. Look for the display in the next week or so.

Sharon Grefski

Board of Social Ministry