Community Meals

When Barbara came to me a few months ago and said, "I went to the chamber and they are going to help us" I had no idea what she was talking about.  I don't think of a chamber of commerce as being a place that helps churches and, really, what can they help with?

It turns out that Barbara was talking about our community meals.  A few years ago with the help of Chris Jones we had semi-regular community meals that were a little better organized.  Then we just did it about once a month, now we are doing it twice a week.

Over the last few years we have gotten into the habit of feeding people every Tuesday and Friday during God's Closet.  This has not been a well organized ministry, but it has been a really well received one.  Basically, we get donations, or sometimes volunteers bring some food themselves.  A few volunteers make food with whatever we have around, and when God's Closet opens, we have a nice, hot meal for everyone who comes hungry.  The meals are usually soup, pasta or rice, and there is always hot coffee.

Many of our homeless neighbors and neighbors in need have come to rely on this meal.  Many of our neighbors have come to count on it for a bit of social time.  Whatever the reason, community meals have become something that many of our volunteers and God's Closet 'shoppers' have come to enjoy.

So what Barbara did was awesome!   Barbara went to the South Loop Chamber of Commerce and asked what they could do to help.  A few days later I spoke to Colleen at SLCC and this week at their networking event, First Trinity was the recipient of gifts of food and funds to help support the community meal.

Thank you to Barbara for reaching out to SLCC and to the South Loop Chamber and member businesses for their contributions.  

So, many of you who come on Sunday but are not around during the week are probably thinking, how do I get to volunteer to cook and serve community meals!?  Well, it's easy... show up.  If you want to cook tell Rene or Alicia and we will figure out what you want to do.  You can donate food or use what has been donated to create a meal.  Community meals take place while God's Closet is open, Tuesdays 5-7 and Friday 10-Noon.  

Sharing a Meal

When God's Closet is open on Tuesday evenings and Friday mornings, we often share a meal with those who come to shop in the clothing pantry.  This is a potluck style meal, consisting of food that was donated to the church and prepared by volunteers.  It's always a nice time!

Today we shared chopped salad, chili and hot dogs, with a nice watermelon for dessert!  Anyone is welcome to come and eat or participate as a volunteer.

God's Closet is open Tuesdays 5-7 and Fridays 10-noon.  Contact gcloset@firsttrinitychicago.com for info.

 

 

 

Good Gifts

What are ELCA Good Gifts?
ELCA Good Gifts are a creative, meaningful way to support the ministries of the ELCA that mean the most to you and your loved ones. The items in the catalog lift up examples of work being done in different projects and programs supported by funds from the ELCA: the ELCA Fund for Leaders, ELCA Global Church Sponsorship, the ELCA Malaria Campaign, ELCA New Congregations, ELCA Vision for Mission, ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response. Each of these programs is a long-term, partnership-based ministry that focus on the needs identified by local congregations and global companion churches and their communities.

How does this work?
When you give an ELCA Good Gift you are supporting work within a specific category of ministry. For example, when you give a gift to “stock a health clinic,” your donation goes on to support the health care ministries of ELCA World Hunger where needed most. This allows our global companions to determine how these funds can make the biggest impact in their local contexts, and ensure that our work is sustainable.

How does this work at First Trinity?
Easy!  Do you want to go in on a meaningful gift with members of our church community?  Sign up on the bulletin board in the kitchen, see Jim Peters or email firsttrinityoffice@gmail.com.  Be sure to indicate how much you intend to pledge.  Once we know how much we will have we can choose an appropriate gift.  Money will be collected before Christmas.

Feed Somebody

                                                     

Dear Neighbor,

As you are aware, both hunger and homelessness in our communities continue to be pressing issues, as many of our neighbors—our sisters and brothers—suffer from a crashed economy, job loss, or the inability to find work.

Though it is not a permanent solution to the crisis, in response to the current crisis, while our neighbors and families still struggle, members of South Loop Campus Ministry (SLCM) and First Trinity Lutheran Church have started to do something about it.

Every Sunday evening, at Grace Place (637 S. Dearborn), we gather for the SLCM South Loop Campus Community Meal, to prepare a hot meal, and to share that meal with students, volunteers, the homeless, and other community members. After dinner, we deliver 50-100 sack-lunches, socks, and sanitary napkins to the streets, taking them to our homeless neighbors who were not at the meal. We started this endeavor with about twelve people, and have grown, in less than a year, to about fifty. Youth Groups from across the state and other volunteers frequently visit to participate.

Additionally, Tuesday evenings, 5-7PM, at First Trinity (643 W. 31^st St.) we distribute free, donated clothing to community members in need. About once per month we provide a big community meal for the shoppers, and any community members who'd like to participate.

While what we do may be seen as charity, we like to think of it as community. We share the gifts we receive with our neighbors—and they share what they have. So far this has been an amazing endeavor.

We are inviting you to participate! Our funding is limited, and we want this work to continue. Here's what we need each week: Food—enough to prepare a meal for 50-60 hungry people – or an already prepared meal if you are a restaurant, grocery store, or chef; 100 paper sack-lunch bags, baggies for sandwiches, 10 loaves of bread, 4 jars of peanut butter, 4 jars of jelly, 50-100 bags of chips, 60 bottled beverages, ice to keep beverages cool in (in the summer), 50-100 pieces of soft fruit (oranges, bananas, etc.) and plastic gloves for meal preparation. Also useful are sanitary napkins, tampons, socks, hand sanitizer, and other useful things for hygiene, eating or for living!

Weekly or one-time donations are deeply appreciated. We are happy to publicly thank you via printed media, social media, and the web. We'll also provide a letter of receipt for you tax-deductible donation!

You may contact Rev. Tom Gaulke, 773.979.3383, FirstTrinityPastor@gmail.com, for any additional information, or to set up a donation today!

Thank You!

First Trinity, Bridgeport and South Loop Campus Ministry