Shepherd of the Valley Community Involvement

Local Benevolence Program Accepting Applications for Funding

Because the Holy Spirit calls us to share in God's continuing care for all people and for the entire creation and because God asks us to love our neighbors as Christ loves us, Shepherd of the Valley (SOV) Lutheran Church distributes 1 percent of its general offering in acts of service to address local human and environmental needs. The Community Involvement Ministry Team will be reviewing application requests for funding support from the Local Benevolence Program. Applications are due by October 1st and may be delivered or mailed to the church office attention: Community Involvement Ministry Team. Notification will be made by December 15th for funds to be distributed in 2008. Application forms are available on the "sign up" table in the church narthex and can be downloaded with one click! Click here to download PDF form

In order to be considered for funding, organizations should address local human and environmental needs and meet the following criteria:

1. Mission is congruent with the mission of SOV and ELCA principles of social justice.
2. Interest and ability to establish a relationship with SOV beyond receipt of funds. This might include volunteer opportunities, etc.
3. Will provide an end-of-year report to SOV showing how the funds benefit the recipient organization.

AGAPE FUND
Celia Maynard

SOV ministers to the emergency needs of members and neighbors through the Agape Fund. The Agape Fund makes it possible to provide $10 Albertson's cards to assist with emergency needs. In a typical month through the Agape Fund we were was able to provide emergency assistance to 28 persons. We helped 6 men and 22 women. Six were persons with disabilities, four were working full-time (Target, Walgreens, construction, call center), nine were working part-time and 6 were unemployed and seeking work. Six were coping with family illness or injury and 3 were homeless. Nine persons were seeking food and 16 were in need of gasoline.

Our office manager Debbie, Pastor Jim and Ministries Coordinator Pat manage the fund. In a recent month Debbie reported: One woman with children is going through a divorce. She works part-time and her job requires a lot of driving. Another woman is a single mother with 4 children who works part-time as a janitor. A third woman is a single mom with three children who works part-time at a Y. She has a sick son. Another woman has just returned to part-time work following knee surgery. A man with back problems is homeless. He is trying to get on Supplemental Security Income. Designated contributions to the SOV Agape Fund make a difference in the lives of many of our neighbors.

BREAD FOR THE WORLD
Vivian Parrish

Bread for the World* is a nationwide, nonpartisan Christians' citizen movement that seeks justice for the world's hungry people by lobbying our nation's decision makers. Bread for the World is 55,000 members strong, and growing. Our members focus on using the power they have as citizens in a democracy to influence government policies affecting hungry people.

David Beckman, Bread's Executive Director, is an ELCA pastor. Nearly one-third of all Bread members are Lutherans. Shepherd of the Valley has been participating in BFW offerings of letters for more than 10 years. Bread for the World members make a difference! It is the commitment, energy and faith of our members that makes Bread for the World effective. Year after year, Bread for the World wins legislative victories for hungry people because of people like you. Visit the Bread for the World* website for more information.

CITY LIGHT TOILETRIES
Celia Maynard

City Light Home for Women and Children in Boise is sponsored by the Boise Rescue Mission. Members of Shepherd of the Valley donate samples or regular size personal care items that collect in our homes to help out. For more information about City Light call 208.368.9901.

CROP WALK
Vivian Parish

CROP WALKS help end hunger locally and globally. Follow this link to find out more about the Crop Walk and to see Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church members "walking because they walk."

ELCA WORLD HUNGER APPEAL
Vivian Parish

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) commitment to supporting people who live with chronic hunger and poverty around the corner and around the world is carried out by ELCA World Hunger through relief, development, education, and advocacy.

Visit the ELCA Hunger* website to find out how this ministry is working towards ending chronic hunger in the world.

EQUAL EXCHANGE
Celia Maynard

Equal Exchange Coffee, Tea, Baking Cocoa, Chocolate Bars - buy your items in the narthex to support the growers around the world with a fair price given for the product. We are proud to say that all the coffee brewed at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church is purchased from Equal Exchange!*

    

FAIR TRADE
Open

The Lutheran World Relief (LWR) Fair Trade initiative demonstrates that by selling through Fair Trade, farmers and artisans build a better future for themselves, their families and their communities. By supporting Fair Trade, we make choices in line with our religious beliefs and affirm human dignity by promoting:

FAIR WAGES * CHILDREN'S RIGHTS * WOMEN'S RIGHTS * THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE * ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS * INDIGENOUS RIGHTS

To learn more about Fair Trade and how you can be involved through LWR visit their website at http://www.lwr.org/fairtrade/index.asp* and watch for more CIMT Fair Trade Activities such as our Fair Trade Market.

SOV Fair Trade Market a Success! Thanks to all the volunteers that supported the Shepherd of the Valley Fair Trade Market. This event to raise funds to build teacher housing for the Lutheran School in our Companion Synod in Tanzania was a huge success! Those of you who publicized the event, the excellent bakers and soup makers, those who staffed and those who purchased items all made the first Fair Trade Market an event to remember! Many people attended from the community as well as SOV and other Lutheran Churches. The event was featured on the Saturday night Channel Six News at 6:00 p.m.!

One of our goals was to raise awareness about fair trade issues. Job well done everyone! A special thank you goes to Al Shimondle and Thrivent for matching up to $1,600. Over $6,000 was raised through Fair Trade Market activities and new relationships were built with members of ELCA Treasure Valley Churches.

HEIFER INTERNATIONAL
Celia Maynard

Heifer International*- a group that provides animals to people to help them learn to care for the animals and make their lives better. It provides a way for them to help others in their community with gifts of animals to take care of on their own. Shepherd of the Valley encourages members to consider supporting this organization committed to ending hunger and caring for the earth.

IDAHO INTERFAITH ROUNDTABLE AGAINST HUNGER
Vivian Parrish

The Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger* (IIRAH) seeks solutions to the root causes of hunger.

Vision: to make hunger history in Idaho by assuring food security for everyone.

Mission: The Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger (IIRAH) seeks to explore the complexities of hunger by engaging diverse communities of faith and good will throughout the state in developing solutions to the root causes of hunger through education and public policy and by supporting providers of direct hunger relief.

IIRAH is co-sponsoring a fall 2006 Idaho Summit on Hunger and Food Security. Shepherd of the Valley members are playing major roles in developing IIRAH. IIRAH is endorsed by the SOV Church Council and by the Eastern Washington/Idaho ELCA Synod Council. Visit the Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger* website for more information.

INTERNATIONAL POTLUCK
Open

Members of Shepherd of the Valley interested in international issues and our role as neighbors to people worldwide gather to share international food and a guided discussion. We gather on "most" second Sundays of the month from 6:00-8:00 pm, unless there is a holiday or another conflict. Soup and drinks are provided.

Does the idea of preparing an international dish keep you from coming? Don’t let it! Here are a few ideas if international cooking is not your thing: French Bread, German Chocolate Cake, Taco Salad! You are more important than the food you bring.

MERIDIAN FOOD BANK
Pat Gieseke

The Meridian Food Bank is a food pantry serving Meridian and the greater Treasure Valley. This organization provides food for our community. There are many among us who are facing hard times. The Food Bank is staffed by volunteers who feel a special calling to help the families of our community. Shepherd of the Valley supports the Meridian Food Bank by holding monthly food drives and by volunteering to help stock shelves and prepare food baskets.

You can help the Meridian Food Bank by offering your food or cash donations or by volunteering your time. Food Bank Sunday is the first Sunday of every month when our members bring their offerings of food. Food donation boxes are located in the hallway next to the mailboxes and also at the front of the church by the altar. The Meridian Food Bank is currently open Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays from 1-5 pm and on Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:00 pm. If you are interested in helping out, or want more information, contact Pat Gieseke.

To find out more information about the Meridian Food Bank or volunteer, call 888-1209 or 888-2141.

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
Kelley Mata

Shepherd of the Valley hosts two blood drives each year in collaboration with the Red Cross of Greater Idaho. SOV provides the site, publicity, and volunteers — the Red Cross conducts the blood drive. Kim and Mark Phelan organized the last drive held on a Saturday in the Fall. They are the Ministry Team contacts for this community service. Contact Kim or Mark for information about the next blood drive to be held on a summer evening in July or August. Volunteers are needed for this important service.

SANCTUARY — Boise Response to Homelessness
Open

Many faiths and community organizations united in compassion to house the homeless and to feed the hungry in Boise. Shepherd of the Valley has participated in the development of this new coalition, recruiting volunteers and writing articles for church publications. For more information about Sanctuary and the upcoming summit on homelessness, go to The Interfaith Alliance of Boise website http://www.tiaidaho.org/*.

SOUPER BOWL OF CARING
Vivian Parish & the J-Team

This national event, which occurs every year on the same Sunday as the NFL's Super Bowl, is traditionally led by youth in local congregations who stand at sanctuary exits following worship services on that Sunday and collect $1 and/or one can of food from each parishioner to support local, national, and international anti-hunger efforts. The amount each congregation collects is reported that day to the national Souper Bowl office by phone or online, and the national total is posted online as it grows (visit the national Souper Bowl Website*).

Shepherd of the Valley J-Team youth collect donations after both worship services on Super Bowl Sunday.

SYNOD GLOBAL MISSION ADVOCATE
Sylvia Moris

The Global Mission Advocate is responsible for keeping the congregation aware of and excited about all the projects supported by the ELCA throughout the world. The Advocate encourages support of these projects by the congregation through finances, prayers, and personal service. More information is available from the Global Mission Annual and the ELCA Global Mission Webpage (click on the lamp and candle image).