Social Concerns Committee Activities for 2009-2010

The Social Concerns Committee at Christ Lutheran Church supports a variety of agencies and causes which advocate for the poor, the hungry and the oppressed.   Because God calls us all to serve others, many individuals in the congregation and several other groups in the Church are also involved with social concerns endeavors such as CROP Walk and Habitat for Humanity.

Supporting the homeless

• A quarterly gathering of needed supplies for Timothy House.
• Walk for the Homeless in January to raise funds for Good Works.

Clothing those in need

• The Undie Sundays project in September collects emergency clothing items such as underwear, socks, and sweat pants to be distributed to local schools.
• Harvest Mitten Basket in November collects mittens, hats, and scarves to be donated to Athens Children’s Services.
• Shawls and baby caps are made and donated to those in need of loving care by a wonderful group of knitters.

Feeding the hungry

• Collection of food items and monetary donations on the first Sunday of each month for the Athens County Food Pantry
• Good Works Friday Night supper in November will feed about 150 people.

Raising awareness about national and international concerns

• Bread for the World Sunday in November will present information about our nation’s decision makers efforts to end hunger at home and abroad
• A Forum on Torture in the spring will raise our awareness of this issue.

Promoting economic justice

• A Good Gifts sale in early December offers fair trade items from Ten Thousand Villages, the Empower Campaign and the Zienzele Foundation

Promoting earth justice

• A winterization workshop in October
• Participation in a program sponsored by Ohio Interfaith Power and Light to reduce our congregation’s carbon footprint.
• Movies and videos concerning climate change and saving energy are made available to individuals and groups.
• Contact Jeanne Haseley for more information about the Earth Justice Advocates Group.

Supporting others in need

• Red Cross Blood Drive
• Fundraiser in February for Montana de Luz, a home for children with HIV/AIDS in Honduras
• Explorations of how we could be supporting the work of Southeast Ohio Ministries in Caldwell.
• Financial support for Lutheran Social Services, World Hunger, Bread for the World, Global Mission, Good Works, the Food Pantry, My Sister’s Place, Habitat for Humanity, Rural Action, the Gathering Place, and Hopes and Possibilities.

Committee Members

Wanda Weinberg, Chair

Dick Brackin

Adele Hanson

Sam Hanson

Fred Harner

Jeanne Haseley

Mary Kay Kerber

Jo King

Betsy Knies

Bill Kuhre

Carol Kuhre

Dot Meyer

Sue Righi

Carl Savage

Karla Schneider

Eileen Theodore-Shusta