On this page, you will find a summary of outreach ministries at First Lutheran Richmond Beach. Our outreach ministries include projects close to home and around the world.
Local community partners include: Hope Link Food Bank, Mary’s Place, Compass Center, Community Lunch Program on Capitol Hill and many more.
May-June Outreach Opportunities
We’re not convinced that the adage “cleanliness is next to godliness” is true, however, cleanliness is important for physical health, mental health, and a sense of well-being. We are collecting hygiene items to be shared with The Oaks enhanced homeless shelter, God’s Little Acre (a hygiene/laundry facility in Lake City operated by Lake City Partners. LCP also oversees The Oaks), Camp United We Stand, and Operation Nightwatch (a street mission in downtown Seattle). Listed below are the items needed. These can be hotel-sized, travel-sized, or full-sized. Items may be left in the Outreach bin located by the hospitality desk. Thank you for your continued support of FLRB’s outreach efforts!
- hand/body lotion
- toothbrushes
- toothpaste
- razors/shaving cream
- feminine hygiene products
- towels (gently used, okay)personal cleansing cloths (ex: Wet Ones)
- plastic toothbrush covers
- plastic soap holders
- unscented laundry detergent
- bar soap
- liquid soap
- deodorant
- body wash
- shampoo
- conditioner
Ronald Commons Cafe Volunteering
We have good news. Dine-in meal service has restarted at Ronald Methodist Church on Aurora in Shoreline. You may remember that we converted from dine-in to takeout meals in March 2020 due to covid restrictions. First Lutheran, in partnership with Richmond Beach Congregational Church, Ronald Methodist and the YMCA, has continued to provide 120 hot meals to the food insecure every Thursday for the last eight years.
First Lutheran is responsible for providing volunteers for planning, setup, cooking, serving, dishwashing and cleanup on the third and fifth Thursdays of each month. Many of you volunteered for this effort pre-covid. We have been coordinating meal planning and cooking all along.
An on-line signup is available. Please contact the church office ([email protected]) to get connected.
Backpacks for Kids
FLRB is continuing to partner with Syre Elementary, providing extra food support for children who receive free or reduced breakfasts and lunches. Each week a team from FLRB will pack and deliver bags of food which fit in the children’s backpacks, hence the name “Backpack Kids”. The food, which is sent home for their weekend meals, is greatly appreciated by these families.
You helped give the gift of fresh water!
Our December Outreach focused on the congregation providing a well through ELCA’s Good Gifts program.
Lack of access to fresh water is still one of the biggest challenges to overcoming poverty in developing countries. It’s also one of the most powerful opportunities to create change. With a simple well, as many as 500 families can gain access to clean, safe water.
Through your generosity we were able to fully fund two wells. Thank you for sharing the gift of safe, clean water with those in need!
Blessing Bags: Easter Outreach Update
In March, a group of energetic volunteers packed up Easter blessing bags and boxes. These were all delivered by another cheerful, enthusiastic group of volunteers! It was hard to tell who was enjoying this more—the recipients or the volunteers!
Of course, this was all made possible because of the generous support of the First Lutheran congregation. Please know that however you participated (praying over it, donating funds or items, packing bags and boxes, baking cookies, knitting prayer squares, or delivering bags and boxes) your efforts were GREATLY appreciated!