Love Outreach 2024
$5,000 | 5,000 HOURS | 5 WEEKS
 
For this year’s Love Outreach during Lent, we are giving $5,000 of designated funds already given to a program called Equipped to Work, which provides individuals with resources to secure employment. Additionally we are challenging the congregation to visibly demonstrate God’s love by serving 5,000 hours in 5 weeks! This outreach will take place between Ash Wednesday (Feb 14) and Palm Sunday (March 24).
 
You can serve in any organization you are passionate about or take advantage of any serving opportunity God brings your way. If you’re looking for somewhere to start, some of our partner organizations are listed below, along with ideas for random acts of kindness.
 
After you’ve completed service activities, help us celebrate the impact by sharing how many hours you served and what you did. Every little bit makes a difference, and this helps us discover where God is leading our church to be involved in the community! 
SERVING IDEAS & OPPORTUNITIES
 
Random Acts of Kindness
– Shovel a neighbor’s sidewalk/driveway
– Bring a meal to someone
– Make a card for a friend
– Make a tie blanket for someone going through a rough time
– Create a birthday bag for the Food Shelf
– Make cat/dog blankets for the Humane Society
– Create First Aid Kits for the United Way
– Decorate placemats for Meals on Wheels
 
– Promoting independence and restoring hope one car at a time. They offer safe and reliable cars, car care clinics, and life skill training.
– Youth are welcome to volunteer, help is needed in the afternoons.
– Volunteer opportunities include: working on cars (training provided), cleaning cars, tidying the shop, etc.
– Contact Kris Chisholm at 320.460.7911 or kris@carcareprogram.org
 
– Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.
– Volunteer opportunities include: build site (training provided, must be age 16+), cleaning, devotions, mentorship, board or committee members, ReStore stocking, organizing, customer service, and seasonal projects like weeding, watering, and planting.
– Contact Sara Gronholz at 320.762.4255 or for the ReStore contact Mona Strege at 320.759.1989
 
– Their mission is to work with individuals or families in need to not only meet immediate needs through their own resources and referrals, but to walk with them to help meet the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs to sustain them into the future. 
– Volunteer opportunities include: clearinghouse volunteer, appliance ministry volunteer, ally financial mentor, teach a class, prayer team, church ministry coordinator, mentoring, annual garage sale, etc.
 
– Exists to inspire faith, stewardship, and community in God’s creation. They do this through summer camps and year-round retreats.
– Volunteer opportunities include: grounds keeping, maintenance, office help, hospitality, kitchen help, mentoring, skill sharing (fishing, painting, music, coaching), photographers, medical support, decorators, and event volunteers.
– Contact Maureen Wieland at 320.846.2431 or maureenw@luthercrest.org
 
– A nonprofit agency offering a myriad of services to victims and survivors of crime, families, and communities in a nine-county region in West Central Minnesota. They work to assist victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual exploitation and trafficking, labor trafficking, and other crimes as they navigate the social, emotional, and economic impacts they face as victims on the path to becoming survivors.
– Volunteer opportunities include: assisting at the parenting time center, administrative support, maintenance support, fundraising
 
– Connecting people, resources, and ideas to promote individual self-sufficiency through investments in health, education, and financial stability.
– Volunteer opportunities include: February book collection for the Travelling Tree House, Sip & Savor event volunteers on March 1st, March backpack attack, food drop volunteers each month rotating between Alexandria & Glenwood.
– Contact: Leah Wolkow at lwolkow@uwdp.org