Eastside Neighborhood Volunteer Program 

    

      The Eastside Neighborhood Volunteers program is a non-profit organization whose mission is to keep our older neighbors living independently in their homes for as long as possible. 

     They serve the 85710, 85711, 85730, 85747, and 85748 zip codes.  While they have some funding from various small businesses and churches on the eastside, what they really need is the manpower to implement their vision. 

     Many of their 75 volunteers are snowbirds who leave in the summer for cooler climates.  ENVP is desperately seeking volunteers of all ages to give 5 minutes or more of their time to help our seniors. 
 
The services they provide are:   
  -friendly phone calls to say hello
  -home visits
  -minor home repairs
  -meal preparation
  -reading assistance
  -light housecleaning
  -transportation to grocery shopping and medical appointments on the eastside

     They especially need volunteers to help with transportation.  They do offer reimbursement of mileage paid at the federal government rate of 50.5 cents per mile (paid on a monthly basis).   If you are interested in helping with this important mission, please pick up a brochure in the Narthex or call John Miller, ENVP Executive Director, at 245-4729.  

 

Habitat for Humanity & Thrivent Builds

 

The temperatures are rising, but so is the Thrivent Builds enthusiasm.  We are seeking friends to work one Saturday morning between now and August 1. Many thanks to Lutheran Church of the Foothills,   Ascension Lutheran Church , and Lord of Grace Lutheran Church who have volunteered to host each 2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturday of the month.  
 
If you are  older than 16, and interested in learning new   construction skills or sharing  the ones you already have, please contact Jo Riester 742-2882 to say,  "I'll be there!"  The construction site is at Corrazon del Pueblo, I-10 and Craycroft.  Work hours are 6:30 am till 1:30 pm or whatever you can spare. 
 The seven homes begun on September 11, 2007 were dedicated on June 24TH.
 
Numerous volunteer positions are also available on Tuesdays,  Wednesdays, and Thursdays each week.  Call 326-1217 to let them know you are coming! 

 

 

New Health & Wholeness Program Beginning

 

      Many NSLC parishioners feel there is a need to provide our congregation and neighborhood with the information and resources to help them live lives that are healthy spiritually, physically, and mentally. 

     To this end, Nan Smith invited Rev. Karen MacDonald and Maricela Reynaert, RN  from Interfaith Community Services to meet with some NSLC members  to discuss a pilot program they are initiating - Health and Wholeness Program for Congregations.   The program will assist faith communities who want to start or expand their own health programs,   thereby increasing peoples' access to health advocacy and education and to community resources.
 
     NSLC will need to research the ministries we already have in effect and determine what other programs we want and can reasonably add. At our next meeting, ICS will provide more information on their Nurse & Health Ministries Network program which serves as a resource and provides ongoing   consultation, education and peer support throughout AZ to promote health in mind, body and spirit..
 
     Some additional ideas that were tossed around last Wednesday night:
- home visitations to our shut-ins and those having temporary health problems to see if their needs are being met. 
- "hand" delivering the newsletter to those who can't or don't want to get it by snail mail to insure that they are staying in contact with the congregation as a whole.
- a Eucharistic ministry.
- a monthly Health Education/Information Lecture Series 
 
     We know there are more needs to be addressed.  But, to accomplish even the most modest goals, we need the help of the entire congregation.  What topics would you like included in the Health Lecture Series?  Are you willing to be a servant to your brothers and sisters; to help bring communion and fellowship to those unable to come to church, to serve as a telephone contact directing them to the appropriate agency or service?  We hope the answer is yes.
 
     This group is having another meeting on July 2nd. Be there at 5 o'clock for dinner and bring a salad to share, the meeting itself will begin at 5:30.  Why don't you join us?  

 

 

Feed My Starving Children 

    

    At the Synod Assembly a representative of the organization "Feed My Starving Children" presented their ministry and opportunity to serve.  

    "Feed My Starving Children" is an organization that puts together "ready to eat meals" that are nutritionally balanced, medically beneficial, and fairly simple to assemble.  They rely on church groups to combine the ingredients, assembly line fashion, for bagging and boxing.  

    All materials are provided by "Feed My Starving Children."  Their expectation is that during the weekend, the host church will fill 100,000 meal bags!   Although that sounds like a lot, the  YouthQuake 2005 section our youth worked in for two hours filled 8,000 meal bags. 
 
     We would like to investigate hosting a "Feed My Starving Children" event here on the eastside of Tucson next Spring.   To educate members of New Spirit, we would like you to "experience" the process. 
     
     Desert Cross Lutheran Church, in Tempe is hosting a "Feed My Starving Children" event  on August 21-24.  If you would be interested in a trip to Desert Cross on Saturday, August 23rd, to work a 2-hour shift, please see the sign-up sheet in the Narthex. 
 
     The Youth Group is planning on participating in this trip, so how about joining us?  Children as young as 8 years can take part in the "assembly line."
 
     This is an amazing ministry that lets local congregations and members have a hands-on opportunity to feed starving children in dozens of countries around the world.