140 Santa Sacks delivered December 9, 2009 to the F.I.S.H. warehouse in Broomfield by Social Committee members Jill and Kelly Head, Vicki Bender and Marty Covey. There will be quite a few families this Christmas enjoying the gift of joy from those who can afford a little extra this year at Lutheran Church of Hope.

Merry Christmas
Social Concerns Committee

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At Lutheran Church of Hope, our Social Concerns Committee is charged with overseeing the ministry of reaching out to those in need in our community and world. This committee provides many opportunities for our entire congregation – from young to old – to be involved in this ministry. Listed below are the programs LCH currently participates in and the time of year they generally happen, starting with our fall activities.

September-May

Feed the Homeless

LCH feeds the homeless twice a month, September through May, at Holy Ghost Church in downtown Denver. LCH has done this mission work for the past 19 years. It involves making lunches and distributing them downtown.

October

The Crop Walk

Started by the Lutheran Church at the end of WWII, the Crop Walk was originally a fundraiser to send food and supplies to those suffering in Europe. Today, it has become a more general fundraiser, collecting donations that are put towards world hunger. Here in Broomfield it is a community-wide event, and Lutheran Church of Hope always sends a team. Members of LCH walk or pledge walkers to raise donations for world hunger & Broomfield Fish. Broomfield Fish is our local food pantry. They distribute tons of food every year to those in need in the Broomfield community. LCH supports Fish in a variety of ways.

November

Food for Fish

LCH collects non-perishable food items during the month of November to help fill the Broomfield Food Pantry. In addition to meeting the everyday needs of Broomfield residents who may be struggling, Broomfield Fish also distributes Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets to those in need, and our food drive helps fill those baskets.

Kaps for Kids

Talented folks in our church and community knit or sew winter hats for needy kids. These are distributed by WIC (Women, Infants & Children – see February activity for more info about WIC) in Broomfield County.

December

Santa Sacks

The members of LCH fill over 100 Santa Sacks with gifts for families who may not have a very Merry Christmas. Names of children, along with senior citizens are provided by Broomfield Fish.

The Mitten Tree

LCH also collects mittens & hats that are delivered to Broomfield WIC (Women, Infants, Children). Other winter clothing such as coats, jackets, sweaters, and socks are also collected and given to the homeless in downtown Denver.

February

Hugs for Kids

Stuffed animals and books are collected in February to be given to WIC in Broomfield. WIC stands for “Womens, Infants, & Children, and is an organization that provides a variety of programs and support for new mothers, infants, and children.

June

Step 13

For the past 19 years, LCH has provided dinners 4-5 times a year to the Step 13 shelter in downtown Denver for recovering drug addicts and alcoholics. This typically happens during the summer months.

August

School Supply Drive

School supplies are collected during the month and distributed by Lutheran Family Services to children who have been placed in foster care.