Serving Others Updates
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE RELIEF EFFORTS: Thank you to the congregation for your generosity in raising funds for the California wildfires. To date, we have received $700. Emmanuel has sent this money to the FL-Bahama Synod for the California Wildfire relief. Your kindness and support are truly appreciated!
MEALS OF HOPE AT EMMANUEL PARK:
Our numbers have skyrocketed! We have been serving record numbers of families each week. We need volunteers to help!
Meals of Hope food pantry distribution site at Emmanuel Park is from 12:30 - 4:00 pm each Wednesday. Volunteer shifts: First shift will be from 12:00pm - 2:00pm, and second shift will be from 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Meals of Hope and Emmanuel Park are looking for 10 - 12 volunteers to assist with registration, parking, and distributing food. If you are interested in volunteering, please click the link below. Volunteers are requested to arrive at 12:00 pm. Students are eligible for service hours through Meals of Hope.
CASSEROLES FOR ST MATTHEW’S HOUSE:
Our Serving Others Ministry Team provides casseroles prepared by Church members to the St. Matthew’s House Shelter for the benefit of those sheltered. Please consider helping this outreach program as the need is huge!
You may pick up casserole pans, lids (and recipes if needed) and bring back a prepared casseroles to store in the stand - alone freezer in the kitchen. This outreach is still much needed and greatly appreciated by all of those housed in the shelter.
Please consider picking up a casserole container, or two, preparing one of the easy casserole dishes, and delivering the cooked casserole back to the Church. Our goal is to prepare 50 casseroles per month. Thank you!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP WITH PANERA BREAD PICK UP FOR ST MATTHEW’S HOUSE:
Twice a week, team members pick up unsold baked goods from Panera Bread in the Gateway Mall (across from Emmanuel) for delivery to St Matthew’s House on Airport Road. We need additional volunteers for the pick up on Friday evenings and Saturday morning delivery. If you are interested in joining the team or would like to learn more about this opportunity, please contact Jan Gazdic. Her email address is jhgazdic@comcast.net.
CAN YOU HELP? The Food Pantry will begin a new process of using a new refrigerated van to pick up food from 5 assigned grocery stores. The pick up must be done early each Friday morning in order to be distributed in the pantry that day. If you or someone you know, would like to volunteer to drive and assist with these pick ups, please contact Melisa at melisa.mast@graceplaceplacenaples.org for more information!
If you aren’t available to help drive the new van, please remember to sign up to volunteer for shifts in the Food Pantry! Click on the button below to choose your shift. The first shift helps with sorting and setting up. The second shift volunteers distribute the food and assist with clean up. Click on either shift to sign up: FRIDAY Morning Shift 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM or FRIDAY Afternoon Shift 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM.
Grace Place students receive breakfast and snacks on a daily basis! We need volunteers to help with prepping, packaging and organizing snacks for the week! If you can help weekly, that would be great! Monday or Tuesday 8 AM - 10:30 AM OR 1 PM - 2 PM. Click on either shift to sign up: Morning Shift or Afternoon Shift
ST. MATTHEW’S HOUSE: St. Matthew’s House relies on countless volunteers and the thousands of hours they give every year to make our mission a success. St. Matthew’s House couldn’t do what they do in support of our programs without these amazing people. Our volunteers unselfishly come together for a great cause to support those we serve in a faith-based environment.
Be part of an amazing volunteer team! There are many ways to Volunteer!
Distribute food
Pack groceries and organize shelves in our food pantry and warehouse
Support café and cashier operations
Help retail staff & stock merchandise at our eight thrift store locations
Support fundraising and special events
Give administrative support
Hold a fundraising event and/or conduct a donation drive
And much, much, more!