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.
Christmas Outreach—Let’s give the gift of fresh water again this year!
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.
Again this year the December Outreach focus will be on the congregation providing a well through ELCA’s Good Gifts program. The cost of the well is $2,500.
If you would like to donate, give online (click here) or make checks payable to First Lutheran and mark them “Outreach: Well”. Last year the congregation was very generous in support of this project. We can help make a difference in the life of families by providing another well this Christmas.
Outreach: Blessing Bags
Recently, Sunday School children packed 30 Blessing Bags. We now invite you to take a bag or two (available in the Narthex) and put them in your car so that the next time you see a person in need on the side of the road, walking down the street, or at a parking lot exit, you can give them the Blessing Bag. Remembering Christ’s love for us, we know we can’t all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love!
The youth group also packed 15 Blessing Bags, which will be given to the men in an addiction recovery program at Immanuel Community Services. The FLRB youth are experiencing meaningful service and sharing Christ’s love.
Backpacks for Kids
Again this year, FLRB has been partnering with Syre Elementary school, providing extra food support for children who receive free or reduced breakfast and lunches. Each week a team from FLRB packs and delivers bags of food which fit in the children’s backpacks. This food, which is sent home for the children’s weekend meals, is greatly appreciated by their families.
Two ways to participate:
1. Purchase food from the list below and put it is the donation bin by the church office.
| Chocolate Milk (8 oz shelf stable) | Chewy Granola Bars |
| Belvita Breafast Biscuits | Creamy Peanut Butter (16 oz) |
| Fruit cups (4 oz.) | Mac and Cheese boxes or cups |
| Fruit Snack pkg | Small Juice Box or Pouch |
| Pasta or Rice Box | Tuna Fish |
| Instant Oatmeal packets | Applesauce Cups (4 oz) |
| Cracker Sleeves | Cheese and Cracker pkg |
| Hot Chocolate Packets | Chicken Ramen pkg |
| Healthy Choice Soup (15 oz) | Peanut Butter and Cracker pkg |
2. Click here to order items from Amazon to be shipped directly to FLRB.
Refugee Starter Kits – Thank you!
Thank you for your generous support for our summer outreach project of collecting household items for refugee families. First Lutheran sent 10 household starter kits to Lutheran Community Services Northwest. Not only is LCSNW very grateful for our support, but told us that the timing was perfect. They are going to be resettling 6 new refugee families, who have finally been granted Visas to enter the US.
Outreach Opportunity for August/September: School Supply Kits
Thank you for your support! With your generous donations, the Outreach Team, together with InAsMuch Quilters, fill school kits with school supplies. These school kits, along with quilts made by InAsMuch, will then be sent to Lutheran World Relief and distributed to areas in need.
Hygiene Drive – Thank you!
The Outreach Team echoes Paul‘s words in 1 Corinthians, “I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus” and again in Colossians I, “”We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints.” For weeks, the outreach bin was filled to overflowing with hygiene items that are so necessary and so appreciated by the unhoused and shelters in our community! Your generosity was phenomenal!
In June, lots of energetic volunteers organized, packed, and delivered many boxes full of soaps, shampoos, lotions, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, sunscreen, towels, razors and shaving cream, and some socks. These were delivered to Operation Nightwatch, Camp United We Stand, God’s Little Acre, Immanuel Community Services, and The Oaks enhanced homeless shelter. Their gratitude was expressed over and over again!
Ronald Commons Cafe Volunteering
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 at Ronald Methodist Church on Aurora in Shoreline.
First Lutheran is responsible for providing volunteers for planning, setup, cooking, serving, dishwashing and cleanup on the third and fifth Thursdays of each month.
An on-line signup is available. Please contact the church office (office@flrb.org) to get connected.