Every Meal (formerly the Sheridan Story)
Organized in 2010 - The Sheridan Story partners with churches, businesses, other faith communities and organizations to provide food for children in need. Over 200,000 children in Minnesota don’t always have access to the nutrition they need to learn and grow. This is a horrible reality for so many kids in our community. The Sheridan Story focuses on the weekend food gap, when children aren’t able to receive free and reduced meal programs at school. The Sheridan Story provides 4-5 lbs of substantive, nutritious food per child in need.
St. Mark’s partnered with The Sheridan Story and our local elementary school near the church in 2015. The Sheridan Story organization takes care of the purchasing, packing and delivering the bags of food to the schools. St. Mark’s then takes care of the distribution each week and the funding. We include supporting The Sheridan Story in our budget as well as individuals donate to sponsor a child in need.
Contact Pastor Jennifer if interested in learning more or if you are interested in sponsoring a child. We are always looking for volunteers on Friday mornings to distribute the food at Washburn Elementary. You can distribute food alone or pair up with a friend! It only takes about 20 minutes and is done before the school day begins. To learn more go to: www.everymeal.org
St. Mark’s partnered with The Sheridan Story and our local elementary school near the church in 2015. The Sheridan Story organization takes care of the purchasing, packing and delivering the bags of food to the schools. St. Mark’s then takes care of the distribution each week and the funding. We include supporting The Sheridan Story in our budget as well as individuals donate to sponsor a child in need.
Contact Pastor Jennifer if interested in learning more or if you are interested in sponsoring a child. We are always looking for volunteers on Friday mornings to distribute the food at Washburn Elementary. You can distribute food alone or pair up with a friend! It only takes about 20 minutes and is done before the school day begins. To learn more go to: www.everymeal.org
Loaves and fishes
The Loaves and Fishes program began in 1982. Its mission is to provide healthy meals to Minnesotans in areas where the need is greatest. For the past 15+ years - St. Mark’s has partnered with Loaves and Fishes to provide free meals to members of our community. Currently we purchase, prepare and serve meals at Christ the King Lutheran Church located in Bloomington. This is a fun and meaningful way to care for our neighbors in need. For more information on this fantastic organization go to: www.loavesandfishes.org.
If you are interested in volunteering with us - connect with us via email or phone.
veap
In the early 1970’s a small group of churches in Richfield and South Minneapolis became increasingly concerned about the poor and deteriorating living conditions of seniors in their community. In 1973, a group of 13 Bloomington and Richfield churches banded together to form VEAP. VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People) is a basic needs organization whose programs include access to healthy food, social services, housing stability and supportive services. VEAP’s programs are designed to address a particular need and when used together provide hope and can help avoid a financial crisis such as loss of housing, transportation or employment. Whether the hardship is from a disability, job transition, or the financial and physical stresses of aging, VEAP has been helping our neighbors in need for 45 years. Today VEAP operates one of the largest food pantries in the state of Minnesota. They provide access to programs for over 10,000 individuals each month through our Food & Basic Needs and Social Services programs.
St. Mark’s has supported VEAP in countless ways over the years - including hosting food drives, back to school supply programs, Birthday Kit collections, and including it in our annual budget. If you would like to learn more about VEAP or to volunteer - go to their website: www.veap.org
St. Mark’s has supported VEAP in countless ways over the years - including hosting food drives, back to school supply programs, Birthday Kit collections, and including it in our annual budget. If you would like to learn more about VEAP or to volunteer - go to their website: www.veap.org