Among the most pressing problems in our community this year is hunger, and Esperanza has a plan to tackle it through our Hunger Ministry. But we need your help!
Upcoming are two opportunities for our community to help make a difference in the lives of those in need:
- On May 1, we will participate in the weekly pancake breakfast for the homeless at Grace Lutheran Church in downtown Phoenix. On this date, Esperanza will prepare and serve the breakfast.
- On May 14, Esperanza will assist the Kyrene Family Resource Center in separating food donations and stocking shelves.
Help us serve breakfast at Grace Lutheran Church
We will need 12 to 15 volunteers and we prefer to have a mix of youth and adults. At least half of our volunteers must be 18 or older.
Volunteers must be onsite at Grace Lutheran, 1124 N. 3rd St. in Phoenix, 85004, from 6:30 a.m. to approximately 8:30 a.m. to prepare and serve pancakes and sausage, and then to clean up. We will arrange for carpooling for those interested.
A liaison from Grace Lutheran will be in attendance to provide guidance. Be prepared to serve 200 to 300 people. Grace Lutheran will provide the food supplies and equipment.
Volunteers are invited to attend Grace Lutheran’s 8:30 a.m. church service.
If more than 15 volunteer, we will explore participating in a second pancake breakfast with Grace Lutheran.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Larry or Peggy Hanson, or contact the church office by phone or email at [email protected] There also will be a sign-up sheet in the Narthex.
We must provide a $250 donation to Grace Lutheran to help cover the cost of breakfast supplies. If you can provide a small donation, please place it in a plain envelope labelled “Hunger Ministry” with your name on it and place the envelop in the offering or deliver to the church office.
Visit the recording of the March 20th Hunger Talk by Solveig Muus at Esperanza Lutheran Church. Solveig is the Director of the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Arizona, a ministry of the ELCA Grand Canyon Synod.
Questions? Please contact Peggy or Larry.
Community-service opportunity four youth at Kyrene resource center
The Kyrene Family Resource Center, 1330 E. Dava Drive in Tempe — just west of Kyrene de los Ninos, plans a work day May 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. This is a great opportunity for our youth to get involved in addressing a community need. Those 10 and older can participate with an adult.
Esperanza families have donated non-perishable food to the Kyrene center for many years. Now the center needs help separating donations and stocking food shelves.
According to the Kyrene School District website, the Kyrene Family Resource Center “supports basic needs in order for all Kyrene students to achieve their maximum potential. Kyrene families and employees are welcome to receive support with immediate needs, including: food, gently used school clothing, hygiene supplies, school supplies and connections to outside agencies and resources.”
In 2021, Esperanza donated 711 pounds of food to the center, surpassing the 425 pounds we donated in 2020.
If you are interested in participating in the work day, please contact Larry or Peggy Hanson or the church office at 480-759-1515. A sign-up sheet will be posted in the Narthex.
Donations of food and other needed items may be dropped off in the Fellowship Hall, Monday through Friday during office hours or on Sunday morning.