OUTREACH

Current Projects

EL CAMINO HOMELESS ORGANIZATION (ECHO)

ECHO is a grassroots, volunteer-based organization providing meals, shelter and other basic necessities to the homeless of northern San Luis Obispo County.  Bethel Lutheran Church provides regular support for this organization.  Our responsibility to ECHO includes providing the meals on the 5th Thursday of a month.  For more information about this project, contact the Outreach Chairperson, Bev Alderson.

El Camino Homeless Organization
P.O. Box 2070
Atascadero, CA 93422
(805) 462-3663

LOAVES & FISHES

Bethel Lutheran Church provides support for Loaves and Fishes of North San Luis Obispo County in the way of fund-raising and food donations.

ELCA WORLD HUNGER RELIEF

Congregation members of Bethel Lutheran Church make regular contributions to ELCA World Hunger.

IGLESIA LUTERANA DE SANTA CRUZ

This mission is a grass-roots effort, started in 2001 by nine ELCA congregations in the region, supported by the Southwest California Synod and the ELCA. The people have roots in Oaxaca, Mexico, and many are second generation in the U.S. But most have little education, none beyond the sixth grade. Many among the 65 regular worshipers now also come to the literacy center to study English.

EQUAL EXCHANGE - FAIRLY TRADED

Equal Exchange, founded in 1986, is the oldest and largest for-profit Fair Trade company in the US. They offer organic, gourmet coffee, tea, sugar, cocoa, and chocolate bars produced by democratically run farmer co-ops in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Equal Exchange's mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through their success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.

Proceeds from the sale of Equal Exchange products benefit Loaves & Fishes.

GOD'S GLOBAL BARNYARD

Bethel Lutheran Church is actively raising funds for this worthwhile effort.  You may learn more about this program at the ELCA web site.

 

Past Projects

GOATS FOR AFRICA

Bethel Lutheran Church conducted a fund-raising effort during 2006 to provide goats to needy families in Africa.  We were successful in raising more than $750 for this cause. 

SOMONGA VILLAGE IN ZAMBIA

Bethel Lutheran Church conducted a fund raising effort to help this impoverished village in Africa.  During 2006, we raised more than $1,500 to provided essentials for the people of this village.

MARATHON FOR LEUKEMIA/LYMPHOMA RESEARCH

In 2006, Christine Miller, a congregation member, ran a marathon in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  We raised over $600 for this effort.