Outreach & Social Ministry Team minutes

Last meeting: Nov. 14, 2007

Attendees:

Nancy Allen

Elayne Lastofka

Staff:

Kathy Hoffman

Andy Moscinski

Excused:

Jeff Bemis

Jeff Cieslik

Important items of information:

• Presented program guide from Jan Sommerfeld for review. Team supports the guide and statements for OSM.

• ECHOES had one of its best weeks of sales in story history. There is a need for winter clothing and Christmas items as these have been moving quickly. In addition, ECHOES was recently mentioned in an article in The Post-Crescent regarding local thrift stores and where there monies go. The team, in conjunction with the advisory group for ECHOES, would like to look at new ways to promote the store and the Christian background to the community at large. Steps have been taken to produce new brochure.

• The Alternative Gifts Fair was announced to be the first three weeks in December. Diane Putzer has graciously chaired this event again this year. In addition to the gift fair, ECHOES and The Arthur Krempin School of Music & Art will be selling vouchers for the congregation and general public to purchase to help the less fortunate this holiday season. At ECHOES, a voucher can be purchased and donated to a local social service agency to be given to people in need and redeemed at the store. With AKSMA, vouchers can be purchased that will support an underprivileged youth with music lessons and/or instrument rentals.

• Andy Moscinski reported that the Annual “Fill the Trailer” food drive received more than 900 food items from the congregation. This was supplemented by food drives held in the Christian Cooperative Preschool, the confirmation program and the Second Saturday Service organization. This totaled more than 1,000 lbs. of food donated to the Salvation Army and St. Joseph food program.

Submitted by:

Andy Moscinski