Zion is a congregation filled with people who are committed to serving with Jesus. Each time we gather for worship, we conclude with a statement of who we are and what we do: “With all we are and with all we do, we will trust in Jesus, live for Jesus, And serve with Jesus Christ our Lord.” We are people who trust Jesus for all things. Trusting Jesus in all things means that we live knowing, as Julian of Norwich
A huge thank you to all the wonderful donors and volunteers who were able to make winter much warmer and brighter for hundreds of kids and their families with warm coats, winter accessories, and thousands of slightly used clothing items in the Blessing Closet! You helped give 564 coats to 144 families and 394 kids. What a blessing! Below are the details for Blessing Closet and Coats for Kids and Mobile Food Shelf: Zion Blessing Closet Ministry Families Served—144 Children
The Social Ministry team helps children in the area by teaming with the Buffalo Food Shelf to pack ‘KID’S CHOICE’ bags for school-age children when they are home from school during the summer months of June, July, and August. Studies show that children who eat nutritiously function better. To provide proper nutrition for children, Zion Volunteers pack and distribute three bags of ‘kid friendly’ food which consists of refrigerated, frozen, and non-perishable items. These items are distributed to everyone in
Thank you to all those who took part in SERVE Weekend 2023. What a happy and productive weekend. It was delightful to see your smiling faces as we served together. We successfully met each of the goals that we set for serving this year. Here are a few examples: 20 teens fed -Timber Bay Meal 18 Kits completed and more started- Days for Girls 651 Thank you cards written for school staff 13 Fleece blankets for Camp Noah 13 Fleece
Thank You for your support and volunteering at the Blessing Closet, Mobile Food Pantry, Community Breakfast, and Bike Giveaway by setting up, sorting, and distributing. We had a very effective and gratifying distribution totaling $15,275 of product value given away as just a portion of SERVE Weekend. Blessing Closet 133 Families served (274 kids) 8,920 Items distributed 38 Cities represented $6,000 Product Value distributed Bikes & Helmets for Kids 105 Bikes distributed $2,625 Product Value distributed Food Pantry 136 Families
Looking for a way to save money on groceries in these inflationary times? Right here at Zion, the Social Ministry Team provides the answer—Fare for All! Fare for All is a non-profit discount grocery program that sells boxes of frozen meat and fresh vegetables, and is open to all—no questions, registration, or requirement—which can save you 30-40% off retail grocery prices. Fare for All has been coming to Zion every month since August of 2015 and over these 7+ years
The Serve Planning Team and The Social Ministry Team are so thankful for the generous donation of diapers that took place in September to highlight the ELCA’s annual “God’s Work. Our Hands” service project. The Diaper Program was implemented in 2021 in conjunction with the Blessing Closet and serves fifteen families each month with a large box of diapers (125-160 count) in our community. This year Zion will distribute diapers to about 180 families at the value of $4,500. None
Thanks to everyone who has donated household items, food, and monetary support to the Ukrainian families. They are doing pretty well and are working with different agencies to get their paperwork in order so they can get jobs. One family has moved into a home in Coon Rapids and another family has moved into an apartment in Minnetonka. One family member is still living with relatives in Montrose. They are very thankful for all that has been provided for them
In May, Zion’s church council approved the creation of a Ukrainian Refugee Working Group to investigate the opportunities and possibilities of sponsoring a Ukrainian refugee family in Buffalo. The group is researching and learning about the different opportunities offered by Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and Arrive Ministries, and investigating sponsorship with other area churches, and will make a recommendation to the council on the best path forward. In the midst of that work, several in the group learned of
The first quarterly distribution of Zion’s Blessing Closet was in August of 2015. To date, we have served 1,700 families with 4,000 kids that received 57,000 items of clothing. During these distributions, we were able to partner with other non-profits by giving away bikes, books, school supplies, coats, and holiday baskets. We have experienced tremendous support from Zion’s staff and congregation members with clothing donations, financial support to build a Blessing Closet storage facility, and many volunteer hours from over
