WINTER SHELTER LUNCH PROJECT
As you might guess, due to the Corona virus, Laurel Winter Shelter is not operating as normal this year. There is no way to safely run the shelter in individual congregations. Under a county supported program with CCSI, our homeless friends are being housed at a hotel in Beltsville. There are over 200 participants in the shelter as it includes not just the men and women we normally serve, but families and other individuals in need as well. An entire hotel is being leased by the county, and participants are given a cold breakfast, bag lunch, and hot dinner each day. Various organizations are assisting with this endeavor by committing to a weekend of providing lunches and snacks to augment what the county provides. This is where we can help.
Our Savior Lutheran Church has committed to the February 13 & 14 weekend. I will be coordinating our effort, initiating a collection of needed items for the lunches, such as bread, cheese, meats, snacks and drinks. We are hoping to provide 100 lunches on both Saturday and Sunday. This is only half of the needed amount but will go a long way to helping fill the need.
OSLC has always responded generously to the needs of our Winter Shelter program, so I am hoping I can count on your support again this year under these unusual circumstances. Please feel free to contact me with any questions either by phone, text, or email. Click here for the list of needed items on our online signup page. If you are able to provide any items please indicate how much. Please understand that due to the large amounts needed, we are looking for the LONG loaves of bread that can make about 10 sandwiches each, and the large packs of meat(about 40 oz). Items may be dropped off in the designated bins in the Fellowship Hall between Feb 1-8. We will be shopping for still needed items on Feb 9-10th. If you are able/willing to purchase large packs of sandwich meats (such as the double packs at Sam’s) or large packs of sliced cheese please contact me directly (Mary @ 240-593-2689) as I have to ensure refrigerator space before dropoff.
If you prefer not to shop, but are willing to donate funds to help offset the cost, please contribute online to the “Caring and Action” line item with a designation of “Winter Shelter” .
Mary Farris