Lutheran Disaster Support
Lutheran Disaster Response brings God’s hope, healing and renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters in the United States and around the world. Currently, the focus is on providing help to those impacted by the fires in the western part of the US and the hurricanes in the gulf region. Donations can be made by a check to Ascension and putting Lutheran Disaster Response in the notes. 100% of donations goes to those in need.

Food Pantry
We will continue to collect donations for the Food Pantry of Waukesha each Sunday during outdoor worship. You may also drop off donations at church during the regular office hours by placing them in the bins in the donation center in West Hall. Thank you to all of you who have donated items and cash to keep up with the needs to feed our neighbors in the community.

Tutoring
Tutoring leadership is reaching out to tutors and students to link them up via Zoom or limited face to face rather than our group classes. Priority will be given to those working towards learning enough English to prepare for citizenship and school age students who need extra help with virtual learning. Hopefully, we will be able to gradually add more tutors and students as time goes on. Three students passed their citizenship tests this summer with the help of tutors who worked remotely with them!

Blessing Box
The Blessing Box has had heavy use in these challenging times. We continue to see neighbors stop by to benefit from your generous donations. We also are noticing that members of the community are dropping off donations to share! We will continue to have the bins out on Sunday morning services. You may also drop off donations at church during the regular office hours by placing them in the bins in the Donation Center in West Hall.

Community Partners
Ascension’s Mission Outreach Community Partners are agencies in the community that provide support to the people in our area who are most in need. While Ascension has been a part of the founding of many of these agencies (Hope Center, SOPHIA, Healing Hearts), we look to support a variety of agencies where we can provide support through volunteering, education, financial and donations of things they need. Since the pandemic began, our partners have been challenged in many ways. The need for food, housing, mental health and social justice has increased dramatically. Services have had to be offered in new ways which has challenged staff and volunteers. Major fund raisers have had to be cancelled, re-scheduled and re-designed often being virtual rather than in person. As individuals have had hours reduced at work or even lost their jobs, personal donations have decreased. Through our Mission Outreach Wing, we keep you informed of the needs of our partners and opportunities to serve or donate. We regularly post updates on our MO Facebook page. Please like or follow this page to stay informed of how you can be part of the solution to the challenges faced by our partners.

NAMI
NAMI Waukesha joins groups from around the country in a National Day of Hope on October 10th. Supporters from around the country will walk in person or virtually to support mental health and help NAMI achieve the goals to end the stigma toward mental health, increase awareness and provide advocacy for individuals and families impacted by mental health here in our own community. Things will look different than previous years due to the pandemic. Instead of large, in-person walk, we will “Walk YOUR WAY” and have a combination of virtual and responsible in-person connections. On the morning of October 10th attendees can pick up their t-shirt and suggested walk route via drive through, take photos and get signs to display while they walk. Donations will also be accepted at this time. Meet at Fox River Christian Church, S46W24130 Lawnsdale Rd. in person 9:00 to 12:00 and virtual all day. For more information or to register, go to: https://www.namiwaukesha.org/walks.

SOPHIA
Coming soon to a parking lot near you! Please join SOPHIA on October 3 at 10:00 at Church of the Resurrection in Pewaukee for the annual fundraiser and hear more about the past, present, and future of this organization, as well as a call-to-action for racial justice. This year, attendees will gather in their cars to listen live to speakers from SOPHIA or watch virtually from the comfort of their own home. Additionally, SOPHIA will host the silent auction completely online, starting September 28. More information can be found at www.sophiawaukesha.org and on the SOPHIA Facebook page.

Food Pantry
We will continue to collect donations for the Food Pantry of Waukesha each Sunday during outdoor worship. You may also drop off donations at church during the regular office hours by placing them in the bins in the donation center in West Hall. Thank you to all of you who have donated items and cash to keep up with the needs to feed our neighbors in the community.

Tutoring
Tutoring leadership is reaching out to tutors and students to link them up via Zoom or limited face to face rather than our group classes. Priority will be given to those working towards learning enough English to prepare for citizenship and school age students who need extra help with virtual learning. Hopefully, we will be able to gradually add more tutors and students as time goes on. Three students passed their citizenship tests this summer with the help of tutors who worked remotely with them!

Blessing Box
The Blessing Box has had heavy use in these challenging times. We continue to see neighbors stop by to benefit from your generous donations. We also are noticing that members of the community are dropping off donations to share! We will continue to have the bins out on Sunday morning services. You may also drop off donations at church during the regular office hours by placing them in the bins in the Donation Center in West Hall.

(Reprinted from the October 2020 Newsletter)