LOCAL ACTION MINISTRY LINE-UP

There are hundreds of opportunities to serve the needy in the Metro Denver area. This year, St. John’s provides ongoing support to eight of these. Below is the name, address (when appropriate) and a description of each ministry, followed by ways you can help.

Alternatives Pregnancy Center :

APC addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those in pregnancy-related crisis, and offers a meaningful alternative to abortion. Free services include pregnancy and ultrasound testing; pregnancy and post-abortion counseling (in person and via a 24-hour help line); financial, legal and housing assistance; medical referrals; baby clothing and supplies; and an abstinence education program.

Broadway Assistance Center :

BAC ministers to low-income families and individuals, primarily those in a changing, multi-ethnic neighborhood just south of downtown. BAC offers a twice-weekly food and clothing bank; a weekly soup supper/medical clinic; job placement services; and help with rent, utilities and other financial needs.

Christ’s Body Ministries: 850 Lincoln.

CBM calls upon volunteers from churches throughout the Metro Denver area to serve the inner-city poor, homeless and oppressed. Services include hot lunches, a food and clothing bank, advocacy and emotional support, regular Bible studies, and a Sunday evening worship service and dinner.

DenverWorks :

DenverWorks meets the employment needs of those who have difficulty finding jobs, including ex-offenders. Services include weekly job-seekers workshops; clothing for interviews and employment; carweer counseling; job placement help; a computer lab; and a job search/job retention mentoring program.

Habitat for Humanity:

Habitat builds homes with and for families in need, believing that everyone deserves and should have simple, safe and decent housing in order to grow into what God intends them to be. Kris Clay, a member of St. John’s and an employee of our Early Learning Center, has been selected to become a Habitat homeowner. St. John’s is a partial sponsor, partnering with Habitat to build Kris’s home. Sponsorship entails both raising funds and providing volunteers from the congregation to help Kris build her home later this year.

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Pancake Breakfast: 850 Lincoln.

Since November of 2004, four men from St. John’s have served a pancake-and-sausage breakfast to 150 low-income/homeless individuals at Christ’s Body each Friday. They not only cook and serve the breakfast, but also purchase all food not provided by Christ’s Body or by St. John’s monthly support checks.

Plumfield Cottage School : I-

Plumfield is a private school that Lori Ventola has operated for several years -- first, out of her home; now at Joshua station, a transitional housing program for people who are homeless, where Lori lives as a resident volunteer. In September of ‘06, Plumfield became a full day school for children at Joshua Station who had trouble benefiting from conventional classes.

In November, Local Action Ministry began funding breakfast for Lori’s students, many of whom were having difficulty concentrating, learning and flourishing in class because they were not fed an adequate breakfast before arriving at school. Substantial improvement in their health and academic progress resulted from this support.

Currently, the need at Joshua Station is more focused on helping all its children to succeed in their various schools; so Plumfield has become primarily a night school, offering homework help and extra tutoring to all who need it, from preschool through high school. At the same time, Lori is working on building the foundation of the school by selecting an advisory board, writing policies and procedures and strengthening its curriculum; and Local Action Ministry continues to support her excellent work on behalf of homeless students. Lori plans to reopen her day school, once the comprehensive tutoring program at Joshua Station has been more firmly established; and she will need tutors for the current night school and for her day school once it has reopened.

St. John’s Food Bank :

This ministry provides emergency food assistance to members of our church and community who have fallen on hard times. Cheryl Rasmussen oversees the food bank, which serves 1-3 individuals or families per week, and which is supported solely by food and cash donations from our congregation.

You can support these ministries in any of the following ways: First, a small percentage of all General Fund Giving is designated for Local Action Ministry programs and activities. Second, there will be opportunities throughout the year to donate goods, such as food, clothing and baby items, to one or another of our supported ministries. Finally, if you or your share group wishes to volunteer a few hours a year, or a month, to any of the ministries described above, you can fill out the attached sheet and place it in the offering basket or Local Action Ministry box at any time. A member of the LAM team will get back to you to answer any questions you may have, and to connect you with the ministry you have chosen.

Alternatives Pregnancy Center 

[ ] Counsel APC clients (training provided)

[ ] House a woman experiencing a crisis pregnancy for a few weeks or months

[ ] Provide clerical or phone support at an APC office

Broadway Assistance Center

[ ] Sort/distribute food and clothing on Wednesday or Friday morning

[ ] Cut up ingredients for soup supper on Wednesday morning

[ ] Have your share group serve a Thursday night soup supper to 300-350 persons

Christ’s Body Ministries

[ ] Donate at least 2 hours a week to help cook or serve weekday breakfast or lunch on site

[ ] Donate at least 2 hours a week to supervise use of CBM’s shower and laundry facilities

[ ] Have your share group prepare (off site) and serve a warm entrée to 150 people on Saturday afternoon or on Sunday evening (CBM provides rest of meal plus entrée recipes)

DenverWorks 

[ ] Deliver donations from St. John’s to clothing closet

[ ] Sort and distribute donations to clients at clothing closet

Habitat for Humanity

[ ] Serve as construction volunteer

[ ] Serve as hospitality/registration volunteer

[ ] Serve as food prep volunteer

Pancake Breakfast

[ ] Help cook and serve breakfast any Friday morning

Plumfield Cottage School

[ ] Tutor or provide homework help to preschool through high school students

St. John’s Food Bank

[ ] Organize donations and stock shelves

[ ] Assemble food bags

[ ] Purchase inadequately-stocked items (cash will be provided)