SynodFest 2012

Service Project Descriptions

Matthew 25: Ministries
Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity
Vida Eterna-Iglesia Luterana (Eternal Life Lutheran Church) – Mother’s Ministry Project
Graceworks Lutheran Services – Flower Planting Project

Matthew 25: Ministries

Name and address of the ministry or work site

Matthew 25: Ministries
11060 Kenwood Road
Cincinnati,OH45242
(Five minutes from the Crowne Plaza Hotel)

Matthew 25: Ministries’ mission is to fulfill Matthew 25: 34-40 by providing nutritional food to the hungry, clean water to the thirsty, clothes to the naked, affordable shelter to the homeless, medical care to the ill and humanitarian supplies to the poorest of the poor. Matthew 25: Ministries was founded in 1991 and in October 2011, they shipped their 100 millionth pound of aid! In its existence, the organization has assisted more than 100 million people in need throughout the U.S and around the world.

This service project will include both learning and serving components. Volunteers will tour a replica developing-world village and receive a ten-minute orientation about how Matthew 25: Ministries is providing humanitarian assistance to some of the world’s poorest people. Following the orientation, volunteers will work in the warehouse sorting and packing donated goods into large containers in preparation for shipment around the world. This service project is available to all ages.

What to wear

Casual work clothing suitable for a warehouse environment. Volunteers are allowed to bring water, drinks or snacks to be consumed during the work session.

What to bring

Volunteers do not need to bring any tools or equipment.

Is there a financial cost to participate?

There is no cost to participate. Matthew 25: Ministries will accept donations of tangible offerings including any of the following: canned goods or nonperishable food such as crackers; personal care hygiene items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, skin care lotion; and paper goods including diapers and toilet paper.

Service project time slots:

Friday, June 8: 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 9: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Saturday, June 9: noon to 2:00 p.m.

Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity

Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity. There will be two work sites for both dates/times that can accommodate 15 volunteers per date per site. One site will be on the west side of Cincinnati on Boudinot Ave.The second site will be in the Evanston area. This means a potential service opportunity for up to 60 volunteers (15 at each site for Friday plus 15 for each site on Saturday). Specific addresses will be provided later.

1st Build Site Directions: http://mapq.st/Hihgre

Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate substandard housing by building and renovating simple, decent, affordable homes to sell to low-income families in need. Cincinnati Habitat works in equal partnership with families, volunteers and donors building a sense of community as well as affordable housing. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is sponsoring a "Lutheran" build in Cincinnati this year, so volunteers from SynodFest will help us build great houses for wonderful partner families and give us "Lutheran hours" to meet our commitment to Thrivent as part of their grant.

At this time, it is impossible to say exactly what phase of construction we will be in when SynodFest occurs in early June. However, the houses will be fairly early in the construction process and so it is likely that we will still be in the "carpentry phase" of building walls, putting up roof trusses on the houses and possibly even starting the siding. Volunteers do not need to have prior construction experience and there is work available for all skill levels. Anyone 18 or above is eligible to volunteer. Minors aged 16-17 are eligible with adult supervision. At this stage of construction, minors under age 16 are not able to volunteer at the work sites.

What to wear

Volunteers should come in "work clothes" appropriate to a construction site (jeans/shorts, T-shirt/sweatshirt, etc., closed toe shoes, work gloves, etc.)

What to bring

The only requirement is to bring a great attitude, willing heart and a smile. It is not required that you bring tools as there are tools on site. However, since there may be limited supply of tools, if available, volunteers should bring basic construction tools such as tool belt, hammer, tape measure, carpenter square, safety glasses, etc.

Is there a financial cost to participate?

There is no financial cost to participate although we do need to raise approximately $10,000 from the Lutheran community as part of the Thrivent Builds program. Any donations towards that fundraising goal would be gratefully accepted.

Service project time slots:

As stated above, we can accommodate a group of up to 15 volunteers at each site for each of the service project time slots (i.e. total of 60 potential volunteer slots). If someone wishes to only work 1/2 day on Saturday we can expand the number of volunteer slots by dividing Saturday into two time slots.

Forms to be completed by Habitat for Humanity Volunteers:

Construction Safety Guide-Habitat for Humanity

Volunteer Information Form-Habitat for Humanity

Release and Waiver of Liability Adults-Habitat for Humanity

Vida Eterna-Iglesia Luterana (Eternal Life Lutheran Church) – Mother’s Ministry Project

Name and address of the work site:

Ascension Lutheran Church
7333 Pfeiffer Rd.
Montgomery,OH45242

Name and address of the church (for those who would like to send donations):

Vida Eterna-Iglesia Luterana
5071 Winton Road
Fairfield, OH 45014
veil2010@ymail.com

Vida Eterna Iglesia Luterana (VEIL), the ELCA Latino Mission Church in Butler County, is beginning a new ministry to mothers. We hope to have gatherings with devotions, Bible Study, information shared, mutual support, meals and child care. In order to encourage participation in our new mother’s ministry, and to show hospitality, we are compiling totes for the mothers full of items that we believe would be helpful for them. We need help collecting donated goods and assembling the totes. Please join us for this servant event!

We will be assembling tote bags for our new Mother's Ministry while learning about the some of the issues facing Latinawomen and children.

What to wear

There are no special wardrobe requirements for this project.

What to bring

Donations being collected for tote bags include: diapers (size 1-4), wipes, baby wash, diaper ointment, onezies (small - 18 month), burp cloths (no bibs), pacifiers (any size), lotion (for baby and mother), washcloths, one piece pajamas (6-9 months - 2 years), $10 gift cards from Walgreens/Target/Kroger (for OTC medications for fever, colds, colic, and vitamins).

Volunteers for this service project are asked to bring at least one item for the totes and/or a free will donation to Vida Eterna Iglesia Luterana (VEIL).

Service project time slot:

Saturday, June 9, 2-3 pm

Graceworks Lutheran Services – Flower Planting Project

Name and address of the ministry or work site.

St. Mark’s Manor
5853 Buckwheat Road
Milford, OH 45150

Graceworks Lutheran Services offers programs and services in more than 50 locations throughout southwest Ohio, southeast Indiana and northern Kentucky. Programs include senior living, credit counseling, case management services, affordable housing for persons who are older or have disabilities, senior companion program, and housing and care for individuals with developmental disabilities.

A description of the work to be done

Volunteers will plant flowers at St. Mark's Manor.

What to wear

Casual work clothing suitable for outdoor gardening.

What to bring

Flowers and tools will be provided.

Is there a financial cost to participate?

There is no cost to participate.

Service project time slots:

Friday, June 8: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 9: 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

None at this time.