Outreach Team – April 2025
Our members include Chris Kollen as lead, Carol Buuck, Phyllis Teager, Patty Clymer, Janette Carollo, Gail Nicewander, and Sandy Mitchel. We have a recent addition to Outreach! Ruth Gross will be joining us on the Team. She is a new congregational member, we are excited to have her join our team. Welcome Ruth!
We are planning new and exciting projects this coming year. If you’d like more information about becoming a member of Outreach, contact Chris Kollen at lizzykollen@comcast.net or at 520-419-7475.
Continuing Events
Marana Food Bank
The Marana Food Bank would like to request that we collect canned tomato sauce, instant rice, mac and cheese, jelly, cereal/oatmeal, tuna/chicken, and instant mashed potatoes.
Spring is a time for renewal and renewed hope. Let’s do our part to serve our neighbors in need.
Donated items can be placed in the wooden cabinet located in the hallway outside the Fellowship Hall. Please remember that the food bank cannot accept any food items that have been opened/used or expired. Also, please no glass containers.
If you would like to donate and keep your gift for the needy of Marana, you can send a check to:
MFB-CRC
c/o Sahuarita Food Bank
PO Box 968
Sahuarita, AZ 85629
Please make checks payable to Marana Food Bank – Community Resource Center or MFB-CRC. You can also donate online at mfb-crc.org.
Your monetary gift goes a long way.
Upcoming Events
Butler’s Pantry – Roadrunner Elementary
Lord of Grace will be collecting personal hygiene items for Butler’s Pantry, to support our friends at Roadrunner Elementary throughout the month of April. Personal care items are essential for maintaining good health and hygiene. These items may seem small, but they can make a significant impact on a person’s daily life. Maintaining adequate personal hygiene is among the biggest challenges of those living with limited means. When we donate these items we allow individuals to feel appreciated and valued, which can help boost self-esteem and confidence!
The items that we will be collecting include:
● Bar soap
● Deodorant
● Shampoo
● Body wash
● Feminine hygiene products
● Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
Help us reach our goal of 100 bottles of shampoo during this spring drive! Thank you so much for supporting this important outreach in our community!
Past Events
LSS-SW Zoom meeting on 3/19/2025 – Update on status of refugee support
Chris Kollen attended a Zoom meeting on the status of LSS-SW with the loss of federal funding for refugee services.
Refugee resettlement was paused with the new administration. LSS-SW and all other refugee resettlement organizations received a stop work order; no expenses will be paid. During the 90-day review, there will be no reimbursements. Just in January, LSS-SW had 180 refugees (116 refugees were settled in Tucson) that LSS-SW needs to support. In the last 90 days, 388 refugees were settled in Arizona. LSS-SW is owed $1.3 million for refugee services provided in December and January. As a result of a lawsuit by an LSS sister organization, half of the payment has now been made to LSS-SW for December and January.
There are two phases of services for refugee resettlement. All Phase I services (reception/placement) have been paused. Phase II (employment etc.) will continue, but the money will be sent to states directly if states want to continue the services.
In January, LSS-SW asked the community for support and received about $300,000 in funds from 436 congregations and individuals. They are also looking for privately funded sponsors.
As a result of these cuts, on March 30th they will be stopping one of their services – IHELP (Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program) that is offered in Phoenix.
How can we help:
· Advocacy – contact senators and representatives for support.
· Become a co-sponsor for a refugee
· Help identify employment opportunities, talk to employers about hiring refugees
· Volunteer with LSS-SW to help refugees find jobs
Lutheran World Relief Baby Care Kits – A great group of volunteers put together the baby care kits on March 9th! We were able to collect enough items to send 11 baby care kits. Last year they distributed baby care kits to Angola, Lebanon, Peru, Senegal, Turkey, Ukraine, Zambia and the US.
Sister Jose Women’s Center - We cooked a wonderful evening meal for the residents on March 12th. We served lasagna, salad, bread and dessert to about 50 women. They were all very appreciative! Thanks Norma Suchomel, Gail Nicewander and Phyllis Teager for volunteering! We were a great team!
Lotsa Pasta results
We received a note from Interfaith Community Services (ICS) about the Lotsa Pasta drive we participated in.
The ICS Outreach team would like to extend a huge THANK YOU for donating Lotsa Pasta this year! We received approximately 7925 packages of pasta and 4387 cans of sauce! Your contributions allow our food bank to continue serving those who need it most in our community. We truly appreciate the time and effort you devoted to our food drive.
Time to Help our Neighbors at Roadrunner
Lord of Grace will be collecting personal hygiene items for Butler’s Pantry, to support our friends at Roadrunner Elementary throughout the month of April.
Items Needed:
● Bar soap
● Deodorant
● Shampoo
● Body wash
● Feminine hygiene products
● Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
Help us reach our goal of 100 bottles of Shampoo!
Thank you so much for supporting this ongoing outreach in our community! 🙂