Immanuel Lutheran Church

Serving the Greater Community

Support for Seniors & Feeding the Hungry

September10, 2006

 

Members of Immanuel contribute to the health and well-being of the greater community in many respectful and constructive ways. 

 

For seniors unable to manage the physical and financial challenges of home maintenance, Immanuel sponsors annual Paint-a-thon and Rake-a-thon events.  For the homebound, Immanuel volunteers participate in the Meals On Wheels home meal delivery program. 

 

Nearly two dozen Immanuel members serve 33 elderly members of the congregation through Care Team Ministry.  Care Team Ministers are trained and supported by a social worker from Lyngblomsten, and engage in one-on-one relationships with homebound seniors by visiting them, providing transportation, doing light housework, shopping and offering other assistance. 

 

Food-for-the-hungry programs offered through Immanuel include the Food Shelf collection and monthly lunch preparation and service at Dorothy Day homeless shelter in downtown St. Paul.  Some members are involved in Compatible Technology, a Twin Cities nonprofit that introduces technologies that can be used by families or communities in developing countries to improve their diet – such as peanut and corn grinders and grain storage systems.

 

 

              Meals on Wheels is such a good volunteer experience – for the just plain shy or for the most exuberantly social person.  Anyone who can drive a car and wants to share their time and presence with another person who needs them can volunteer once a month for just a couple of hours.  It’s a beneficial way to spend a noon-hour – you get to get out of the home or office and meet some real nice people who live in our neighborhood in St. Paul.  It’s a satisfying, nuts’n bolts way to be engaged in neighborhood, sharing your time, concern and kindness.  In return, you get to make some lovely new friends. 

                                                                        -- Margaret LeBien, Meals on Wheels Volunteer

 

 

New ideas in outreach to seniors and feeding the hungry are being considered by those involved in the above-mentioned activities.  With our wonderful new space, and provided enough support and resources from the congregation, several ways to increase Immanuel’s outreach efforts have been discussed, including:

  • A monthly “respite care” day for caregivers of people with mild dementia, during which time they can bring their loved ones to Immanuel for socializing and group activities, and take a break from their care-giving responsibilities.  
  • Initiate a couple of events per year where home-bound members and their families and friends can gather for fun and socialization. 
  • A “drive a friend to church” program through which Immanuel volunteers can be matched-up with shut-ins and others who are not able to drive themselves to church on Sunday.