The Outreach Committee and members of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church believe that God calls us to assist those in need. We support local agencies as well as at the national and global level.
Urgent Need
We have all seen the devastation due to flash flooding in Central Texas. Lutheran World Relief, ELCA Disaster Response and the SWTexas Synod of the ELCA are there helping. They are our boots on the ground and were on the scene immediately. Here's how we've responded:
•Outreach is donating $500 on your behalf to the SW Texas Synod through Lutheran World Relief. That money is used to distribute Lutheran World Relief Quilts and Kits as well as emergency food, water, tarps, clean up kits, hygiene supplies and clothing to people whose homes were damaged or destroyed.
•IF you are moved to personally contribute, email us at stpetersholyoke@gmail.com to receive from ELCA Disaster Response the directions of how to donate. We will also have a free-will donation basket at this Sunday's luncheon and we will donate whatever we collect ASAP. No amount is too small. Thank you for your compassion.
MONTHLY FOOD COLLECTION
July 2025 - Westfield Food Pantry, Westfield, MA
This month’s food collection benefits the Westfield Food Pantry. Located right near downtown Westfield, this food pantry is a very active place helping many residents. If you can toss some extra items in your cart for them, that would be wonderful! Items they can always use include pasta and sauce, mac and cheese, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, coffee, tea and dry cat food. Thanks!
Types of Outreach
Christmas Collection for Families in Need
Education
Elderly & Homebound
Outreach for Homeless
Food Preparation
Immigrants and Refugees
Monetary Donations
What’s in a Blessing Bag?
Part 1
Part 2
Agencies & Causes That We Support:
Food Preparation: ● Prepare “take and go” hospitality meals for members or their friends who are ill, housebound,, feeling overwhelmed, or struggling financially. ● Create meals to collaborate with St. Paul’s Veteran’s Lunch ● Host Homecoming Brunch
Christmas Gift Collection: ● Collected Christmas gifts to donate to the families living at the Oak Street Homeless Shelter in Holyoke ● Collected toys for the Holyoke Police Department Christmas Toy Distribution ● Baked cookies and treats to fill Christmas tins to deliver to members of St. Peters who are away at college, serving in the military, and/or the elderly and housebound.
Education ● Annually award the Jonno Gray Memorial Scholarship to a deserving high school graduate or college student who is a member of St. Peters . ● Host events to raise money for Jonno Gray fund ● Send “Finals Survival Boxes” (filled with snacks and a prayer) to members away at college
Monthly Food Collections: ● Non-perishable food is collected and donated monthly on a rotating basis to the following food banks ○ Kate’s Kitchen, Holyoke ○ Western Mass Food Bank, Hatfield ○ The Amherst Survival Center ○ Family Readiness Center at Westover ○ Northampton Survival Center ○ Westfield Food Pantry ○ Parish Cupboard, W. Springfield ○ Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen, Chicopee ○ Neighbors Helping Neighbors, S. Hadley ○ Easthampton Food Pantry
Global Outreach: ● Collect vitamins annually to send with church member(s) who participate in a medical mission trip to Honduras. ● Sew dresses to donate to the village girls in Honduras on the aforementioned trip. ● During Lent each year, coin banks are distributed to members to fill and return. The money is used to purchase items through the ELCA Alternative Gift Campaign. In the past we have purchased piglets, fish, chickens, water purifiers, fruit and vegetable gardens. ● Monthly pledge to ELCA Global Giving Initiatives such as World Hunger and Disaster Responses.
Immigrants: ● Donate requested items (e.g. food, blankets, cleaning supplies, etc.) to CLASEF to go to Hurricane Victims from Puerto Rico who have relocated to the area. ● Donated money, Best Buy and Amazon Cards to Ascentria Care Alliance. These gift cards would be used by refugee immigrant students to buy computers, to help them complete schoolwork.
Elderly: ● Bake and fill cookie tins for members who are in nursing homes or housebound. ● Go Christmas caroling to the housebound members of our church.
Monetary Donations: ● Baystate Children’s Hospital ● Katelyn’s Ride, Alzheimer’s walk ● ELCA Disaster Response for floods, tornadoes, refugees, earthquakes ● EACH medical non-profit doing mission work in Honduras and Grenada
Outreach to the Homeless: ● Cook and serve food at the Interfaith Cot Shelter in Northampton 1-2x/year ● Cook and serve food at Cathedral in the Night in Northampton 1-2x/year ● Jenna’s Blessing Bags: bags filled with necessities to be given out to the homeless population in Holyoke ● Set up a playroom for the Oak Street Homeless Shelter in Holyoke ● Collected Christmas gifts to donate to the families living at the Oak Street Homeless Shelter in Holyoke ● Collected and donated toiletries to local shelters
God’s Work, Our Hands: Every September, we take the opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. Service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ – every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life – flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.
Veterans & Active Military ● Mail Christmas cards to active military members ● Bake and fill cookie tins for members who are actively serving in the military. ● Host an annual ice cream or pizza party at the Soldier’s Home in Holyoke ● Collaborate with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with their weekly Veteran’s lunch program ● Organized Homeward Vets Warehouse ● Served food for USO-Barnes and Westover ARBs ● Knitted hats for New England Seafarers Mission
Past “God’s Work / Our Hands” projects include: ● Work at a Habitat for Humanity work site ● Work at the Holyoke Rows Boathouse doing cleaning and repair projects ● Host an ice cream party at the Soldier’s Home ● Host pizza party at the Soldier’s Home ● Set up playroom for Horizons for Homeless Children ● Cook for Veterans Lunch ● Work in Homeward Vets warehouse