The mission of HTLC’s Outreach Ministry is to reflect Christ beyond our own doors. In doing so, the Outreach Ministry Team seeks to raise awareness about the needs of others and provide opportunities for congregation members to do God’s work with their own hands. We also strive to be socially responsible in allocating our budget funds to support both local and global charities.
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Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day
We honor the extraordinary example of Dr. King by initiating a service project each January. In 2018 and 2017 the Outreach Ministry Team and Quilting Ministry sponsored “no-sew” blanket projects to benefit local refugee families and critically ill children. In 2016 Outreach joined with Womenship to collect four carloads of clothing for Dress For Success. Other past projects include a winter coat collection and the hosting of a Red Cross blood drive.
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CROP Hunger Walk
The Chapel Hill/Carrboro CROP Hunger Walk supports hunger relief efforts globally and locally. Holy Trinity has long been a sponsor of this event. In both 2017 and 2016, we fielded a team of 30+ people to walk four miles, raising $5,000+ each year to help stop hunger “one step at a time.”
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Project 5000
Project 5000 is inspired by the miracle in which Jesus fed 5,000 followers with five loaves and two fish. Every February, we fill 100 boxes with nonperishable food to benefit needy families through the Inter-Faith Council Food Pantry.
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Lenten & Advent Offerings
Each year, the Outreach Ministry chooses a charitable recipient for the Lenten and Advent service offerings. In 2018 our Lenten offering will go to Lutheran Services Carolinas. In 2016–17, the beneficiaries were Lutheran World Relief and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services.
Special Collections
The Outreach Ministry Team regularly appeals to the congregation for school supplies, gently used toys and and books, craft materials, and other supplies for local groups in need. Beneficiaries include local schools; community groups such as KidSCope, which uses our facility for childcare classes; pet shelters; and prison ministries.
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Giving Tree
The annual Giving Tree provides us with an opportunity to share the giving spirit of Christmas by fulfilling the wish lists of local needy children. In both 2017 and 2016 the congregation donated more than 150 gifts to benefit 10 Orange County families, in addition to 88 Food Lion/Wal-Mart gift cards to provide food over the holiday break.
Gods Work, Our Hands Sunday
The Ministry Team proudly leads projects each year to celebrate the ELCA’s God’s Work Our Hands Sunday. In 2017 one group of church volunteers worked at the Transplanting Traditions Community Farm, while another cleaned up Umstead Park. In 2016 we gathered approximately 100 volunteers to pack 17,712 meals with Stop Hunger Now (since renamed Rise Against Hunger) for global distribution. In 2015 we offered three opportunities: One group made casseroles to benefit the local community kitchen, another put together hygiene kits for a homeless shelter, and another cleaned up the trash-strewn park behind a public housing unit.
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Food for Schools & Grocery Cards
Through PORCH, we are sponsoring $500 worth of healthy snacks at Smith Middle School for the 2017–18 year. Through both the Outreach Ministry budget and direct appeals to the congregation, we annually collect grocery store gift cards for local families enrolled in the free lunch program at public schools. These cards help cover the cost of groceries during school breaks; we distribute them in May and in December with a value of $1,000+ each time.
