During this year’s Synod Assembly, Bishop deFreese asked mission centers/congregations to share what they do in ministry with and among the poor. Below is just one of the many responses the Bishop has received so far.

Last Thanksgiving we provided complete Thanksgiving meal gift boxes to 15 Saunders County families, which were delivered by our confirmation students, their parents and other volunteers.

In December we provided care packages for eight college students preparing for finals.

In January, donations in the amount of $200 each were sent to ELCA World Hunger appeal, Saunders County Emergency Food Pantry, the Open Door Mission in Omaha, the People’s City Mission in Lincoln and the Orphan Grain Train.

In February, we had an “Undie Sunday” and collected 85 pounds of new underwear for the Open Door Mission, which we presented to a representative of the mission who came and shared their message with us.

In March, we held joint Lenten Services with our brothers and sisters in Christ from Prague and Czech Presbyterian Churches, and two of the offerings collected that added up to $169.50 were given to the Saunders County Food Pantry.

We recently completed a food drive here in Malmo where volunteers distributed empty plastic grocery sacks with a list of needs and an invitation to share with others to every home in our village. A total of 25 filled grocery bags were picked up the following Saturday, again by volunteers, and all the items were turned over to the Saunders County Food Pantry. We will be doing a similar event in Prague and in Weston.

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