Outreach

2018 Outreach

October Outreach : Northwest Housing Alternatives

Northwest Housing Alternatives’ mission is to create opportunity through housing by providing affordable housing options for families, seniors and people with special needs across Oregon. NHA also operates the Annie Ross House shelter for homeless families with children and provides rapid re-housing and stabilization services through their HomeBase program. Low wages or fixed incomes combined with the high cost of housing, forces some families to choose between rent, utilities, nutritious food, medications and other basic necessities. NHA is working to provide new opportunities through quality affordable housing.

September Outreach: Lutheran World Relief Baby Kits

Lutheran World Relief work with Lutherans and partners around the world to end poverty, injustice, and human suffering. Baby care kits are distributed as part of emergency relief efforts. They also are given to encourage expectant women to seek prenatal care. A list of items being collected is posted on the bulletin board at the top of the stairs, and also available on the website and at www.lwr.org.get-involved/build-kits-of-care/baby-care-kits. The collection and packing will go through the month of September and early October.

Outreach For August : Quilts for Empowerment

Quilts for Empowerment is an Oregon non profit that brings dignity, economic independence, and hope to Kenyan women by teaching women to quilt. Last year, WLLC welcomed the founder, Mary Ann McCammon, to share heart-wrenching and heart-warming stories of the quilters at our women’s Advent breakfast. We learned about the steadfast but impoverished women who create and sell beautiful quilted stories and place mats. The women have lived with obstetric fistulas caused by unsupported childbirth or sexual assault. Many women also lost their babies during the isolated births that left their bodies leaking. Without surgery, the losses and assaults are compounded when women are cast out from their families and communities due to the stigma of their condition. These women hand stitch representations of their pain and healing into beautiful quilts and your purchases or donations bring economic aid both to the individuals and to their assisting organization (WADIDA- women and development against distress in Africa). Many of the women were abandoned by their husbands out of shame, and some have gone decades before receiving repair but are now growing their self-confidence right along with their economic independence. Please consider support for these beautifully resilient survivors, and check out their hand stitched stories of lived-experience. https://www.quiltsforempowerment.org/

Companion Congregation in Sacele, Romania - July Outreach

WLLC has been friends with a congregation in Sacele, Romania for about 20 years! Our relationship has grown with teams visiting over the years, and there is a team of 22 adults and youth traveling to Sacele at the end of July to make that connection. You can find out all about that trip on the website: Mission-trip-to-Romania.

We also send a financial contribution to the congregation annually; in 2018 it is the month of July. Money we send helps pay for winter heating of the church, and mission work the congregation does with the elderly and hungry in the community. With WLLC's help, the congregation remodeled a building across from the church to be a retreat and community center. Throughout the year there are programs for all ages to benefit health and spiritual growth of all. The congregation also maintains a cemetery next door to their sanctuary. We look forward to more sharing between the congregations as we continue to grow in relationship, and in our common mission to spread the Good News of God's love in Christ!

House of Zion : June Outreach
WLLC monthly ministry offering for July will go to the House of Zion Ministries in Woodburn, Oregon. This ELCA ministry serves the Hispanic migrant community. Under the leadership of Rev. Polo and Marta Garcia, the ministry focuses on the needs of families from food to spiritual nourishment.
Monetary donations are appreciated and donations of non-perishable groceries, clothing, and household items are also needed. Items may be dropped off in the “House of Zion” box near the fellowship hall.

The Facts Behind Senior Hunger
"Nearly one in every six seniors in America faces the threat of hunger and not being properly nourished. This applies to those who aren’t sure where their next meal is coming from and those who don’t have access to the healthiest possible food options. The issue is severe enough that the AARP reports that seniors face a healthcare bill of more than $130 billion every year due to medical issues stemming from senior hunger. Senior hunger is an expansive issue that requires an understanding of exactly what constitutes a senior being “hungry,” the issues that stem from senior hunger, and how seniors who are hungry can be helped." To learn more, please visit the National Council For Aging Care.

Camp Lutherwood - May 2018 Outreach

HOPE Food Pantry - April 2018 Outreach

This month, outreach will be focused on "HOPE Food Pantry" ministry of Oregon City. This church-based network of food pantries seeks simply to "Help Other People Eat". Many of the members of WLLC serve regularly at the First Baptist Pantry on Fridays from 1pm to 4pm, and you are welcome to join them to see how this ministry serves the neediest families and individuals in our county. Your gift is well used by the pantries to purchase food at a low rate at the Oregon Food Bank, so know that your dollars are very well invested! To give now to this important ministry, please go to our online giving page.

WLLC Quilters - March 2018 Outreach

In the month of March, your outreach gifts will go to support the work of our own "in house" outreach ministry, The WLLC Quilters! There are a few different kinds of quilted projects that this group creates together to donate to people in need. "Quilts of Comfort" go to Legacy Emanuel Chaplains to distribute, and fleece blankets go to two different Children's Centers, and The Father's Heart and House of Zion. A new project, "no-no's," are sent to Guatemala for mothers of new babies who have had surgeries and these quilted cuffs help to keep the child's hands out of his or her mouth while recovering from surgery. Donate money, new quilting fabric, or new fleece fabric. To give to our quilting ministry, please go to our online giving page.

Incight -February 2018 Outreach

Incight is a non-profit that supports and empowers people with disabilities in education, employment, and independence. They offer three distinct programs that provide resources to help people with disabilities realize their potential and engage the community at large. The work includes creating workplaces free of stigma surrounding disability, support systems for students to access all necessary resources to successfully transition to college and/or career, and recreational opportunities for athletes of all abilities. WLLC member Scott Hatley is Co-founder and Development and Community Relations Director for Incight. Recently, our own Scott Hatley and Incight were given a donation at halftime of a recent Portland Trail Blazers game in the amount of $5000.00. Learn more details at www.incight.org.

The Father's Heart - January 2018 Outreach

This month, outreach will be focused on The Father’s Heart Street Ministry, in Oregon City. TFH is a local, faith-based organization in Oregon City that helps anyone in need. Their target group is the ever-growing homeless population, which includes families living in vehicles, seniors, veterans, single mothers, single fathers and single individuals. Donate money or items such as coats and socks to this ministry to help the homeless in our community. For more information, please go to their website: http://www.tfhstreetministry.com/

2017 Outreach

Pastors' Discretionary Fund/Community Assistance - December 2017 Outreach

The church maintains a fund that has been known as "Pastors' Discretionary Fund" but is used for many different kinds of community assistance. When someone calls the office or enters our door looking for help with rent, utilities, food, transportation, or other personal needs, we access this money to assist. Over the past year we have contributed to keeping people in their homes, seeing that they have heat and water, and helped them get to jobs. Your contribution to this fund meets many needs for members and visitors to the church.

ELCA World Hunger- November 2017 Outreach

Each year, Americans spend over $300 billion on Christmas shopping. Imagine what would happen if we could redirect some of that spending toward the things that really matter, like putting an end to hunger. With ELCA Good Gifts, you can do just that. Choose from more than 50 charitable gifts to give in honor of loved ones – from goats to water wells, school uniforms to food for refugees. All of these gifts can be given in honor of friends or loved ones and make great alternatives to traditional Christmas gifts.
If you wish, your family will be handed an ELCA Good Gifts catalog at church. Take the catalog home OR if you would rather view it online, it can be found at ELCA.org/goodgifts. Take some time to look at the catalog. Also view the bulletin board across from the library for more ideas.
ELCA Good Gifts is just one of the tremendous ways our church is making a difference in people’s lives in the U.S. and around the world. Thank you so much for being a part of this work – God’s work – now, and for years to come. For more information, please visit :www.elca.org/hunger

Janus Youth Services - October 2017 Outreach

Janus Youth Services provides shelter, aid, and counselling for homeless youth in the greater Portland metropolitan area. WLLC is changing its relationship with Janus. After this month we will no longer provide a monthly meal, but we will have an Outreach month for financial donations, collect clothing and toiletries in the Janus box, and encourage people to train with Janus for ministry to at-risk youth. More at Janus Youth Services Website.

Companion Congregation in Sacele, Romania - September 2017 Outreach

WLLC has been friends with a congregation in Sacele, Romania for about 20 years! Our relationship has grown with teams visiting over the years, and preparations are underway for a team of high school youth and adults to visit in the summer of 2018. You can find out all about that trip on the website: Mission-trip-to-romania. We also send a financial contribution to the congregation annually, usually early in the fall. Money we send helps pay for winter heating of the church, and mission work the congregation does with the elderly and hungry in the community. With WLLC's help, the congregation remodeled a building across from the church to be a retreat and community center. Throughout the year there are programs for all ages to benefit health and spiritual growth of all. The congregation also maintains a cemetery next door to their sanctuary. We look forward to more sharing between the congregations as we continue to grow in relationship, and in our common mission to spread the Good News of God's love in Christ!

Northwest Housing Alternatives- August 2017 Outreach

House of Zion- July 2017 Outreach

WLLC monthly ministry offering for July will go to the House of Zion Ministries in Woodburn, Oregon. This ELCA ministry serves the Hispanic migrant community. Under the leadership of Rev. Polo and Marta Garcia, the ministry focuses on the needs of families from food to spiritual nourishment.
Monetary donations are appreciated and donations of non-perishable groceries, clothing, and household items are also needed. Items may be dropped off in the “House of Zion” box near the fellowship hall.

Incight- June 2017 Outreach

Camp Lutherwood - May 2017 Outreach

During the month of May, our outreach focus is Camp Lutherwood, our Lutheran Church Camp in Cheshire Oregon. Camp Lutherwood has been serving Lutheran congregations in Oregon and Southwest Washington since 1959! They provide affordable summer programs to people of all ages including options like two different "Family and Friends Weekends," on July 14-16 (Register) or August 11-13 (Register); a women's weekend for age 18+ (July 28-30), confirmation camps (June 25-30th for our church), high school service camps as well as one weekend for adults with disabilities (July 5-7).

ELCA Disaster Response - April 2017 Outreach

During the month of April, our outreach fund will be the ELCA's disaster relief organization, Lutheran Disaster Response, based in Virginia. Lutheran Disaster Response strives to help the church continue to be church in the midst of disaster — following Christ’s call to bring hope and healing to our neighbors in need. Some key areas of work include:

Providing emotional and spiritual care for people who have been affected by a disaster and for leaders who respond to a disaster
Coordinating volunteers through our local affiliates
Assisting refugees in a holistic way by meeting the varied needs of the community
Promoting disaster risk-reduction by helping communities build their assets thereby reducing the effects of likely disasters
Providing long-term recovery efforts by addressing the unmet needs months or even years after a disaster strikes

Where Lutheran Disaster Response is working in 2017:

WLLC Quilters - March 2017 Outreach

HOPE Food Pantry - February 2017 Outreach

The Father's Heart - January 2017 Outreach

Hunger and the Economy

House Democrats write to Pope on minimum wage, hunger [ http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/pope-francis-visit-democrats-letter-minimum-wage-hunger-213275 ] – Politico
A group of 96 House Democrats have asked Pope Francis to speak on hunger during his address to the joint session of Congress on September 24. "Currently nearly one in seven households are not sure if they can afford enough food to feed their families," write the Democrats in a letter to the Pope. "Yet, recently, Congress enacted cuts to food support for those in need that totaled almost $9 billion over the next decade. We believe the continued existence of hunger in America is a disgrace and an indictment of our government."
Check out this article from FRAC's Weekly News Digest - http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/pope-francis-visit-democrats-letter-minimum-wage-hunger-213275

Low-Income Workers See Biggest Drop in Paychecks
Despite economic improvement, take-home pay for many American workers has decreased since 2009, with the lowest-paid workers in areas where hiring has been strong (home health care, food preparation, retail) experiencing the biggest declines, reports the National Employment Law Project. A recent report by the Economic Policy Institute found that while labor productivity has improved since 2000, the benefits are going to companies, shareholders and top executives, not employees.
Check out this article from FRAC's Weekly News Digest - http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/03/business/low-income-workers-see-biggest-drop-in-paychecks.html

Senior Poverty

More than three-quarters of a million elderly Californians 'unofficially' poor
The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research reports that nearly one in five California adults over 65 (more than 750,000 people) are unable to afford basic needs but are not eligible for government assistance. "Many of our older adults are forced to choose between eating, taking their medication or paying rent," said D. Imelda Padilla-Frausto, a UCLA graduate student researcher at the center and lead author of the study. "The state might be emerging from a recession, but for many of our elder households, the downturn seems permanent."
Check out this article from FRAC's Weekly News Digest - http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/more-than-three-quarters-of-a-million-elderly-californians-unofficially-poor
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About Us: The Food Research and Action Center is the leading national organization working for more effective public and private policies to eradicate domestic hunger and under nutrition. Visit our Web site [http://www.frac.org to learn more.

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