SOCIAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE
This committee's purpose is to increase the congregation's awareness of and concern for the needs of our church members, our community, and our world. This committee does great community outreach work. Not only does our church give 10% of our Ministry Fund giving as benevolence funds too the synod and world-wide ELCA, but our giving of special offerings also is given to community groups such as Manna Pantry, Eagle Village, WISE, Project Starburst, Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity. A number of our members give of their time to work at Manna Pantry also.
We are also proud to announce that we were given the "Matthew 25" award at the Synod Assembly this year. This is recognition for exceptional community outreach. We are one of two churches to receive this reward.
We are supporting "Manna Pantry" with both food contributions and manpower. They could still use more manpower and people to pick up food, however. Marianne Wolken is our coordinator here at Immanuel, so please contact her if you want to help out. We had a "Fill the Grocery Bag" program last fall that helped collect food, and are going to do it again this year.
In 2012, Immanuel will again be leading and coordinating the Dump & Run activity, which involves the reclamation of clothing, food, bedding, school supplies and cleaning supplies discarded by Ferris students at the end of the school year. These items are sorted and distributed to charitable groups in Big Rapids.
We are also proud to announce that we were given the "Matthew 25" award at the Synod Assembly this year. This is recognition for exceptional community outreach. We are one of two churches to receive this reward.
We are supporting "Manna Pantry" with both food contributions and manpower. They could still use more manpower and people to pick up food, however. Marianne Wolken is our coordinator here at Immanuel, so please contact her if you want to help out. We had a "Fill the Grocery Bag" program last fall that helped collect food, and are going to do it again this year.
In 2012, Immanuel will again be leading and coordinating the Dump & Run activity, which involves the reclamation of clothing, food, bedding, school supplies and cleaning supplies discarded by Ferris students at the end of the school year. These items are sorted and distributed to charitable groups in Big Rapids.