St. Michael Lutheran Church
Greenville, South Carolina
Serving Christ in the World
Social Ministry/Transitional Housing

This team is responsible for leading and coordinating our congregation’s many ministries of caring for the poor, the hungry and the homeless in our neighborhood, our city and world.  While these ministries are the core of our congregation’s identity and the reason many of our members unite with us, this team is responsible to see that we are always seeking ways to build on this strength, to do more of what we do well.  They are responsible for leading each member of St. Michael’s to in some way fulfill Christ’s mandate, “as you have done it to one of the least of these, you have done it to Me!”

St. Michael has partnered with the Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (GAIHN) by providing two transitional housing sites on campus for families to live in while transitioning into their own home. GAIHN provides the counseling, referrals, and other resources to help families get back on their feet. St. Michael's congregation provides both physical and emotional support to these families.

We have a two bedroom house next door to the office and a two bedroom apartment on the lower level of the office. The furnishing have all been provided through donations from our members. Families living in our shelters are invited and encouraged, but not required, to participate in all our worship services and all our activities.

This relationship has proven to be a meaningful way to serve Christ in the community and to learn to appreciate the plight of others who have experienced overwhelming situations. One of our past residents went on to become an administrator at a local non-profit that assists others in finding housing. Another was so overjoyed with our simple shelter that she said, "This is the most beautiful house I've ever lived in."

These family shelters allow whole families to remain intact and to stay for a longer duration, unlike emergency shelters that usually separate parents and children by gender after a certain age and where moving on is required quickly

TERRACYCLE CHIP BAG BLITZ!!! Today as you gather with family and friends to watch the Super Bowl and tear open those bags of yummy potato chips and other salty snacks, PLEASE SAVE THE BAGS FOR TERRACYCLE! If we collect the most bags in the Terracycle network, we will receive extra funds to support Learning Ministries! This is, of course, in addition to the ministry of careful stewardship of the earth!  Also PLEASE continue to collect and bring in ALL the other Terracycle items, including ALL diaper & wipe packaging!

TO DATE, OUR TERRACYCLE EFFORTS HAVE BROUGHT 300 DOLLARS of extra income, which is used to support Learning Ministries!  This is, of course, in addition to the ministry of careful stewardship of the earth!  PLEASE continue to collect and bring in ALL the other Terracycle items, including ALL diaper & wipes packaging!

THE FOOD OFFERING WHICH IS PRESENTED once a month during the Offertory reminds us that God has called us to feed the hungry. We collect and deliver non-perishable food items to United Ministries weekly. They use these items in their Emergency Relief programs to pass on God's love in the form of nourishment for the body and support for the soul of those in need. The food goes quickly and the needs are great. Would you please consider bringing some food and putting it in the storage bin in the hallway which is labeled "United Ministries"? Protein items are always greatly appreciated and go first.  Some suggestions for donations are cereal, soups and stews, canned vegetables and fruits, pastas, shelf safe milk, peanut butter, rice, along with tuna and canned meat. Baby food is also needed. Pop tops are especially convenient for the homeless who come into the day shelter. Thank you for helping.




Backpack Buddies Program

St. Michael Lutheran Church is beginning a program called Backpack Buddies in order to provide food to hungry children in our community over the weekends.  "76% of Greenville county households receiving food assistance have children less than 18 years of age in the household.  "What are these kids getting for lunch and dinner and over the weekend when they are not at school?  Many of these children are sent home at the end of each week to a house with little or no food until the following school day.  We want to help them.

We are partnering with Blythe Academy to provide food for these children to take home with them on Fridays. The teachers and administrators at the school identify children who they know are in need of this service. The child-friendly and nutritious food is sent home in backpacks that look just like the other kids’, so that they are not embarrassed to carry the food home. The backpacks are then returned and refilled for the next Friday. By providing these food-filled backpacks, we are able to provide these children with the nutrition they need to play, learn, grow, and just be kids.

How can you help?

We are collecting neutral color backpacks suited for elementary school aged children.    We need at least 6 backpacks; however, we would love more if possible!

We are also collecting food to pack in the backpacks.  Please use the list on the back of this insert to purchase food items.

Please place all donations in the bin labeled Backpack Buddies in the gathering area.  If you are not able to donate food items or a backpack, we will collect monetary donations toward this program.  If you choose to donate this way, please designate that the donation is for Backpack Buddies on your envelope.  Contact Sarah Williams (277-9269 or sarah.williams1@charter.net) or Bonnie Cook (277-1875 or bfcook01@gmail.com) or Emily Bugay (430-7783 or ebugay@gmail.com) with questions.

If you are interested in volunteering with this project, download the volunteer form here.

Backpack Buddies Food Items

Update:  1/19/2012
We are so thrilled with the enthusiastic response that has already come forward for the Backpack Buddies!  We are well on our way to creating a vital food ministry for Blythe!  Right now, our biggest needs are:  Milk (white especially), Pop-top ravioli, Cereal, Peanut Butter crackers.  Of course, we are happy to see any and all donations come in! 

Thank you,
Backpack Buddies Ministry Team

•Milk - Hershey, Lil Milk 8 oz. aseptic packaging – usually packed 3/pkg.
•Juice - 6.75oz. juice boxes - e.g. Minute Maid, Tropicana, Pouches w/straw attached (Capri Sun)
•Fruits  - 4oz. cups –applesauce, diced peaches, oranges, and fruit in gel cups
•Meat items - Hormel & Bumble Bee 4 oz. salad kits (ham, tuna, chicken), Peanut Butter w/crackers, Vienna sausages, Van Camp Beanee Weenie 7oz. –anything that does not have to be cooked or microwaved & has an easy-open top
•Sweets  - cookies individually wrapped, 4 oz. pudding cups (Snack Pack)
•Breakfast - Cereal  (single serve boxes of any brand), Grits/Oatmeal (single serve packages)
•Snacks - individual size of peanuts, raisins, sandwich crackers, pretzels, Teddy Grahams, nutrition/granola bars, pop tarts, Gummi snacks, Goldfish
•Mac and Cheese (Easy Mac)
•Ramen Noodles
•Pop-top soups/raviolis
•Canned green beans

2619 Augusta Street
Greenville, SC  29605
864-232-8510
2012 Upstate SC CROP Hunger Walk
FACT SHEET

What is the CROP Walk?   The community coming together to raise money and awareness for hunger relief -locally and around the world. Some 1,800 CROP Hunger Walks happen every year in the United States. Walkers get their family, neighbors, colleagues and places of worship to pledge dollars for the walker's participation in a 5 K walk. (3.1 miles) All ages can participate. This is a family walk event, not a race.

When is the CROP Walk?   The walk will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2012 beginning at 3:00 PM. (Registration begins at 2: 15 PM.)

Where is the CROP Walk?  Paladin Stadium at Furman University.

Who gets the money?   One-fourth of the funds raised stays in Greenville to support local hunger and poverty fighting programs. The 2012 walk will support the work of Loaves & Fishes. The remaining money is used by Church World Service to alleviate hunger in poor communities throughout the world.

Who is helped?  In addition to assisting hungry families in the Greenville area, CROP helps families in the United States and around the world who are victims of disasters like hurricane Katrina, the earthquake in Haiti, and refugees fleeing war or famine in countries like Sudan. CROP also supports development projects in the world's poorest communities - agricultural training, health clinics, micro-businesses, schools, and fresh water wells in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Who should participate?  EVERYBODY! CROP Hunger Walks are community events involving everyone who wants to fight hunger around the block and around the world. The Greenville walk encourages teams and individuals from public and private schools, civic and cultural groups, area businesses and all faith groups - Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, etc.

Cost to Participate?  No fee to participate. All donations are helpful, but each walker is encouraged to raise $100 or more. The Greenville CROP Hunger Walk had 225 participants and raised nearly $12,000 last year and hopes to have 300+ participants and raise $18,000 in 2012.

For More Information : 
Contact Pastor Elise, at pvets08@bellsouth.net or 864-232-8510.

Council Liaison
Bonnie Cook

Next Meeting:
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Room 208
1:30 pm
OPERATION INASMUCH 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012

Projects to be considered and Leaders:
  • GAIHN
  • Triune Mercy Center
  • Harvest Hope Food Bank – Bonnie
  • Meyer Center for Special Children – Kristen and Kevin Wallace
  • Food Gathering at Bi-Lo  - Bill Henry
  • Hot meal for Overcomers Project at Miracle Hill Ministires – Alexa Moon
  • United Ministries
  • The Free Medical Clinic
  • Lutheridge
  • Open Arms Hospice – Comfort bags – Linda Cramer
  • Serenading shut-ins, nursing home residents and/or  Westminster Retirement Home residents
  • Yard work for elderly or disabled
  • Backpack Buddies – Emily Bugay
  • Gathering (catching) tuna/some other protein for an emergency food pantry

Possibly YOU have the energy and the interest to lead a project that YOU have in mind. It’s still early and we’re open to that. Once the “official” projects are listed for sign-up, we will proceed with the ones that have a leader and enough volunteers recruited to complete the project. If any are deleted due to lack of volunteers, we will share with them any donations which are left after reimbursements for expenses have been made.

The next meeting for OIA is set for
April 18, 2012 at 3:30 pm
in the Fellowship Hall of St. Michael Lutheran Church.

We will be looking for more input and any offers of help.

ST. MICHAEL'S GARDEN OF GOOD EATIN'

Are you tired of the cold and itching to plant something,  or at least talk about it, there is an opportunity for YOU! We are planning to use a portion of the land that Jordan Harriz cleared behind the church office for a vegetable garden.  The idea is to provide an activity that can:

1) involve all of us;
2) can teach our children how God grows our food if we provide the right conditions, and;
3) will give us the chance to, not only enjoy our produce, but share it with others.

This is a "retro" idea that is catching on all over the country as parents and other individuals realize the importance of locally grown produce and the healthy activity of working/playing together outdoors. As children see the simple wonder of a carrot as they pull it out of the ground, they begin to observe more closely the creation that God has provided to us and may increasingly value and protect it. We think that's important. So, we announce the first meeting of the St. Michael Garden of Eatin' gardening group. We need the expertise of our many gardeners, we need someone to plow a strip of 4 feet by 20 feet or so (for starters), we need some seedlings and seed, and some hands to dig in the dirt.

Let's get started on Thursday, February 23 at 10:30 in the Fellowship Hall. We can gaze out the window and dream of green fields. For those who work at that time, we'll have other more convenient times in the future. If you are willing to help, but cannot attend or if you have other questions, feel free to contact Bonnie Cook at 277-1875 or bfcook01@gmail.com. Thanks!