FOR CONGREGATIONS: You’re invited to download and share…
FOR INDIVIDUALS: If your congregation isn’t participating and you’d like to give directly to Outreach for Hope, click the button below…
Seventeen days into the new year, and where would we begin to list all that has changed in 2021?
The two constants from 2020, Covid-19 and HUNGER, remain significant issues in southeast Wisconsin.
Can we count on you and your congregation to support our collaboration with Greater Milwaukee Synod and the National Souper Bowl of Caring program to assist our siblings in Southeast Wisconsin with their food needs?
How can your congregation participate in this first Outreach for Hope Synod wide food drive? We have created two options from which you can select what is most appropriate for your congregation.
Option # 1 – VIRTUAL Food Drive
Share the message with your congregation that many of our siblings live in food deserts and need help this winter.
- Consider a request of your Council to contribute a monetary donation to Outreach for Hope. Outreach for Hope will use these funds to purchase much-needed pantry products for our Ministry Partners Food Pantries.
- All funds received will be divided equally (50/50) going 50% to Outreach for Hope’s work purchasing needed items for our ministry partners and 50% to the ELCA’s World Hunger campaign.
- Ask your members to donate directly to our drive using the link here.
- Other options to collect virtually would be to send in a check to our office or include a check with your weekly offering.
Next week Outreach for Hope will provide messaging that your church office can begin to include in your weekly communications.
February 7, 2021 (Super Bowl Sunday) will be the final contribution date for your members.
Option # 2 – Traditional Food Drive
Share the message with your congregation that many of our siblings live in food deserts and need help this winter.
- Consider a request of your Council to contribute a monetary donation to Outreach for Hope. Outreach for Hope will use these funds to purchase much-needed pantry products for our Ministry Partners food pantries.
- Ask your members to begin shopping for HEALTHY food to be delivered to your church on February 7 (Super Bowl Sunday). We are suggesting that half of the food collected remain in your neighborhood for distribution to local pantries that your congregation already supports.
- Outreach for Hope will help pick up the food from your church and deliver it to our Ministry Partners the following week.
- Next week, we will supply the list of items that pantries are requesting to be purchased by your members.
- For members who aren’t able to shop or drop-off food, please encourage them to donate directly to our drive using the Outreach for Hope website. Other options will be to send a check or include a check with their church offering.
- Outreach for Hope will provide messaging that your church office can include in your weekly communications
- When the food delivery occurs on the 7th, consider timing this to your normal church’s Sunday morning schedule in conjunction with the food drop off, and including a prayer petition in your worship services, something like this- “For this congregation to be a part of sharing God’s abundance, so that all would have equal access to healthy food.”
Please email us at chris@outreachforhope.org by Friday, January 22, if your congregation can participate and which option #1 or #2 that you would prefer. Also, please provide us with a contact person for this project, including their email and cell phone number.
Thank you so much for considering this SUPER opportunity to care for our neighbors in need.
We know together, we can do much more than by ourselves, and we appreciate you considering joining our TEAM to move food to where they are needed most. Working together we all win!
And may all God’s people say AMEN! and be blessed with enough.
Go Team!
Outreach for Hope Team