Decades of Kindness, One Casserole at a Time

CASSEROLES AND COMPASSION: A LONGSTANDING TRADITION

For more than three decades, Emmanuel Lutheran Church has partnered with St. Matthew’s House to help feed those in need throughout our community. What began as a shared commitment to serving others has become one of Emmanuel’s longest-running outreach ministries.

St. Matthew’s House was founded in 1987 by the Naples Ministerial Association to address the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Emmanuel members, alongside Pastor Michael Collins, were part of the original task force that helped launch this ministry of shelter, food, and hope.

The mission of St. Matthew’s House is rooted in Jesus’ words from Matthew 25:40: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Since opening its doors in a former fire station on Airport Road in 1989, St. Matthew’s House has grown from an 18-bed shelter serving three meals a day into a comprehensive ministry that provides housing, recovery programs, food assistance, thrift stores, and outreach services throughout Southwest Florida.

As part of Emmanuel’s Serving Others Ministry, congregation members prepare homemade casseroles that are delivered to St. Matthew’s House to help feed residents and guests. Some of our members have faithfully participated in this ministry for more than 30 years, demonstrating Christ’s love one casserole at a time.

Today, Emmanuel has committed to providing 50 casseroles each month, year-round. These casseroles help support the thousands of meals St. Matthew’s House serves each year. During the summer months, when many seasonal residents are away, donations often decline and the need becomes even greater.

We are grateful for everyone who has contributed to this ministry over the years, and we invite you to help continue this legacy of service. Whether you are making your first casserole or your hundredth, your gift makes a difference in the lives of those facing difficult circumstances.

The church provides aluminum pans, lids, and sample recipes. Completed casseroles may be dropped off during church office hours (summer hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM) or on Sunday mornings. A designated freezer is available in the church kitchen.

Please label each casserole with its contents and indicate whether it is fully cooked and needs reheating or requires baking. In accordance with Collier County Health Department requirements, all casseroles are weighed upon arrival at St. Matthew’s House.

Thank you for helping us continue this longstanding tradition of faith, service, and compassion. Together, we can continue to make a difference—one meal at a time.