Quilting for Lutheran World Relief at Trinity
Quilts for LWR
Purchase a quilt for $60 to support Lutheran World Relief. They are on display in the Social Hall and the Ed. Building

Social Ministry at Trinity Lutheran

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

Steve Bellmoff

Pam Edwards

LeAnn Clifton

Karen Hanovich

Brenda Nuscher

Amanda Tavormina

BOARD OF SOCIAL MINISTRY - Apeil 2021 Newsletter

Our homeless neighbors who have been blessed by our Blessing Box have let our volunteers know that there are some who take advantage of our generosity and use our resources to their own advantage. In response to this information, we are changing the way we run this ministry. We will keep the Blessing Box minimally stocked with items so that no one can help themselves to excess.

We will start to prepare bags of groceries which will be kept in the Hearts of Compassion Helping Hands room and our volunteers will let trusted neighbors know when they can be picked up. In this way we hope to gain better control of the flow of items going out and make sure as best we can that we are only helping those truly in need. It is the relationships that have been developed with the folks we serve that was responsible for this problem coming to light. Our volunteers take the time to interact with the homeless and others that ask for help and an environment of trust has developed between those who serve and those who are served. Jen and Ron will also be offering bagged groceries to the folks they serve our Hot Meals for the Homeless to.

This will mean more work for our volunteers, but we are determined to continue to meet the needs of the truly needy in our community

Since Council voted to move the Hearts of Compassion Helping Hands Ministry from Evangelism to Social Ministry, I have learned a great deal about the scope of what our volunteers have been doing. They are not just collecting items that sit in the Hearts of Compassion closet waiting for random folks show up. Our volunteers have developed a network of organizations and ministries that share resources and keep each other informed about what is needed in the homeless community and where it is needed. Our volunteers then move our donated items to areas where they will serve those most in need. Several agencies have asked if they can refer their clients to us. Word of mouth and efficient reporting on local websites keeps TLC in the spotlight of community affairs.

Our Hot Meals for the Homeless Ministry continues to flourish with help from TLC members and our surrounding community. Our homeless neighbors continue to get wonderful hot, homecooked meals twice a week.

This ministry is a blessing to both us and those we serve. It has also encouraged other groups to reach out to help with this ministry. Savannah Baptist Temple will be providing dessert for our April 23rd meal, and they are interested to learn how we are managing this ministry.

~ Sharon Grefski