The 500th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation worship service is fast approaching. Fourteen thousand Lutherans from all over the state of Michigan and beyond will gather to celebrate and glorify God. As part of the celebration, there will be an ingathering to support local charities as they serve people in the Lansing area. Here are some interesting facts about each of the organizations.
City Rescue Mission of Lansing
The City Rescue Mission of Lansing was founded in 1911. As the largest shelter in Michigan’s capital area, they provide shelter to about 150 women, children, and men every night and serve over 100,000 meals every year. This is a Christian ministry which exists for the sole purpose of meeting physical and spiritual needs in its community. Beginning as a kitchen to provide meals for the hungry, the mission initially also provided shelter on an “as-needed” basis, but in the 1950s it grew to become a permanent homeless shelter. They now occupy four buildings on Main Street in Lansing.
Congregations from the North & East Region will be collecting pillows, new men’s socks, and new men’s underwear for City Rescue Mission of Lansing.
Hannah’s House
Hannah’s House goes far beyond providing homeless, expectant mothers with food and shelter. They provide these women an opportunity to gain the emotional, physical, and spiritual strength to raise children in a loving, supportive, and positive way, or to follow an adoption plan if they so choose. Women live free of charge at Hannah’s House through pregnancy and up to six months following the birth of their baby. They leave with a promising new life ahead of them. The goal is that every mother who leaves Hannah’s House has a home, as well as the parenting and life skills necessary to be a contributing member of the community.
Congregations from the Metro East Region will be collecting household cleaning supplies, baby formula, and diapers and baby wipes for Hannah’s House.
Women’s Center of Greater Lansing
The Women’s Center is dedicated to helping women realize their potential, support each other, achieve economic self-sufficiency, and develop emotional and physical well-being, regardless of income level.
Their services include career counseling and resume preparation, individual counseling, and a wide variety of support groups. They also offer a clothes closet for interview apparel , and a computer lab that clients can use to prepare resumes and do job searches. To date, they have served over 5,000 women.
Congregations from the Metro West Region will be collecting travel-size hygiene items (especially feminine products), new women’s socks, and new women’s underwear for Women’s Center of Greater Lansing.
Greater Lansing Food Bank
The GLFB is a non-profit organization that provides emergency food to individuals and families in seven counties. They make certain that everyone in their community has access to nutritious food, providing food from all of the food groups, including: meat & proteins; fresh produce; dairy; and bread, pasta & grains.
The food bank gets food from retailers, the USDA, food producers, purchased goods, and from food drive donations. Through pantries, community gardens, community kitchens, shelters, and mobile food pantries, they provide emergency food to families and children and retirees and veterans who have served our country. They help people to perform better at work and school and at home, because food is a basic need. Remember—no one ever plans to be hungry. They can only meet this need because of the continuing support of the caring people and businesses in the community.
Congregations from the West Region will be collecting canned and boxed food items for the Greater Lansing Food Bank.
What Region is my Church in?
To see what region your church is in, click here, then scroll down to find “Ingathering” and find your church in the drop-down menu. Once you find your region, you will be able to download bulletin inserts and posters specific to the charity your region is serving with your donations.
