Special Projects

Other Trinity Sponsored or Co-Sponsored Service Projects

 

Firewood Ministry

For the past ten years, about a dozen volunteers at Trinity Lutheran Church have been carrying on a quiet ministry of collecting, splitting, storing and then delivering firewood for people in the community and congregation in need of the wood to heat their homes.

About 30 cords of wood are donated every year; with about a half cord delivered to nearly 60 individuals or families.

Most recipients have either lost their jobs, are considered the working poor, are seniors on limited income, are disabled, or who have fallen on hard times.

The volunteers (all men in their 70s, plus one 80 year old) meet once a week on Wednesdays year round for an hour to work on the woodpile, and then have coffee together afterward. This is a great ministry for active retirees.

If you are interested in volunteering, making a donation to the ministry, or have wood to donate, please contact the church office.

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Thanksgiving Eve address about the Woodcutters by Craig Reide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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His Hands Extended

(An Inter-Denominational Ministry to the Homeless in Seattle)

Submitted by Bill Cotterell

This past year your generous donations of food and clothes were distributed to the homeless outside of the Compass Center in downtown Seattle, as well as, to Tent City or “Nicholsville”.

Over 100 lunches were served on each trip, including soup, bottled water and hot cocoa.

The lobby in Trinity’s office was filled each week with clothes, hygiene items, sleeping bags, blankets, shoes, socks, and Bibles.  This enabled us to fill hygiene bags with toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, razors, Kleenex, and combs.  And as the weather grew colder, a pair of socks and gloves were added to these bags.

We were blessed to receive the donation of a refrigerator, which was delivered to the new Nicholsville location …. this is in the old Seattle Fire Station. With approximately 100 people living here, 70 inside the building and 30 outside in tents behind the building.  This is an improvement to their previous 4 locations, as now not all live outside in tents.  As they had no means to keep food fresh, this refrigerator was quite a blessing.

The donated quilts were thankfully received by the Compass Center and those living on the streets nearby.

Unfortunately, there are so many homeless men, women and families in Seattle, but thanks to the Trinity Lutheran and the South Whidbey Assembly of God congregation, 200 or more per month enjoy some hot and nutritious food, much needed clothing and spiritual food in Bibles and prayer.

The volunteers with His Hands Extended pray for continued support in 2011 with donations.

 The following items are needed:

  • men’s clothing items including underwear, socks, coats, gloves, hats, scarves, shoes
  • women’s clothing items including underwear, socks, coats, gloves, hats, scarves, shoes
  • bottled water
  • sleeping bags, tents, tarps, blankets, towels, washcloths,
  • backpacks are in great need
  • 10 lunches including sandwich, piece of fruit, and goodie (ready for pick up the day before or morning of trip)
  • Bibles
  • VOLUNTEERS, join us for a trip to serve by calling Bill Cotterell or email him at Sobico@whidbey.com.

Mark your calendar…..we will be leaving the island approximately 8:30 am and returning approximately 2:30 pm on Thursdays, as follows:  December 8 and 22.

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Thanksgiving Eve address about His Hands Extended by Mark Winslow.

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Trinity Computer Ed. Classes

When Trinity switched to an online church newsletter last year, we realized that some of our members needed some help getting online to view it, so several Trinity member volunteers began to offer basic computer classes to Trinity members free of charge. The church even purchased a few laptops for the classes. The small, friendly classes have been well-received, and coordinator Anne Dotson, is in the process of organizing a few more.

In addition to teaching a ‘Getting to Know the Computer” and “Finding Your Way Around the Internet” classes, there has also been a “Setting Up an Email Account” class.

Anne Dotson has organized another set of some very in-demand computer education classes which are FREE for TLC members.

  • Customizing, Maintaining, and Securing Windows 7 and Solving Problems – an Intermediate Windows 7 class held over 4 weeks
  • Basic Computing – 3 week Beginner series
  • MS Word
  • Excel
  • Digital Photography
  • Facebook

If you are interested in these or additional classes, please email or call Anne Dotson using the church directory.  Class signups are usually in the lobby or the gym, or you can stop by the church office.

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TLC Fishinistas

In late July and August, 25 women of Trinity Lutheran Church attended a Fishing 101 workshop to learn how to fish for salmon, and then pledged to donate every second salmon they caught to the local food bank, or to TLC’s freezer for people in need within the congregation.

The TLC Fishinistas, as they are known, also learned how to fillet and then package 18 salmon donated by participants in a Pink Salmon Derby and then delivered the next day to Good Cheer Food Bank. Special thanks to local fishing instructor Jerry Shimek and to TLC member and The Fishin’ Club Vice President Kevin Lungren for sharing their expertise and time.

 

There was a feature article in The South Whidbey Record at this link:  http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/swr/news/127907423.html

The group was also featured on Good Cheer Food Bank’s blog at: http://www.goodcheerblogspot.com/2011/08/22/gone-fishin-for-good-cheer/

The Fishinista’s also have a blog, coordinated by the group’s organizer, Laura Canby, at: http: https://tlcfishinistas.wordpress.com/

This ‘learn-and-serve’ project was so successful that it may be repeated next summer. Even though the pink salmon will not be running then, the Kings and Silvers will be.

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Baby Dresser Project

Every Spring, several TLC women organize a baby clothing and newborn supplies donation for two layettes which are given to mothers-to-be in need through Pregnancy Aid of Whidbey Island.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Wednesday Prayer Group at Maple Ridge

Our Trinity Prayer Group meets on Wednesday mornings at Maple Ridge Assisted Living, 1767 Alliance Avenue in Freeland, at 9:00 am. You are welcome to join us anytime. Talk to Linda Plitkins, Prayer Group Coordinator, if you have questions or call the church office.

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Trinity’s WELCA Holiday Bazaar

Many in our community eagerly look forward to TLC’s Annual Holiday Bazaar, put on by the Women of the Evangelical Church in America. It is nearly an around the year task of collecting donations, pricing them, and then transforing Trinity’s gym into a Bazaar wonderland. The proceeds are donated to several local charities.