About Us Local & Global Mission Opportunities
In addition to the orginizations listed below we offer Mission trips for both youth and adults. This year the youth are going to Farmington, New Mexico. We also hope to send a group of adults to Haiti.
Global Mission Opportunities :
HTF - Haitian Timoun Foundation
Many children and families are being sponsered by our congregational members in Haiti for more information about this wonderful orginization please contact Gail Serram at gailseeram@lawyer.com
The Resurrection Dance Theatre of Haiti visited St. Stephen on March 28, 2010. Click here to see news coverage of event
Companion Synod Haiti projects
Pig and Pastor - Funds are collected to support the education of Haitian Pastors in Lutheran Theology and to supply veterinary care and supplemental food for pigs. Contact: Karen Solberg
Good Samaritan Foundation Inc .
P.O. Box 5778 Lake Worth , Fl 33466
A 501c charity building a school in Beaufort , Haiti and supporting children in the school for $100 a year
Contact person: Karen Solberg
ELCA World Hunger Appeal
contact person: Karen Solberg
1-800-248-1930
Contact persons: Lucy Hammer- quilts and kits
Karen Solberg Fair Trade Hand Crafted Merchandise
Wycliffe Bible Translators
Needed are prayers, volunteers, donations and advocates
www.wycliffe.org and www.wycliffe.net
Church World Service
Programs include CROP Walk contact person Nancy Nolt,
407-774-0974 and nnolt04@embarqmail.com
Tool and blanket program, Refugee resettlement
Thrivent Builds Worldwide
Join Thrivent Financial members and other Lutherans and volunteers to help build a home with a partner family in need of simple, decent, affordable housing. This is an opportunity to learn new skills, experience a new culture, meet other Lutherans who share your passion to make a difference, and do something really amazing—help give a family a chance at economic independence.
If you're a benefit member of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, you'll receive a discount on trip costs. A donation also will be made to the Habitat for Humanity host program on behalf of members who participate in the volunteer work trip. It's a life-changing opportunity to see the world and feel the power of your Thrivent membership in action!
For more information visit lutheransonline.com/rfo190 or thriventbuilds.com/worldwide or contact John Schultz at john.schultz@thrivent.com or 877-682-0370.
Opportunities to serve locally:
St. Stephen community outreach includes these local non-profits, serving a variety of needs in Seminole and Orange Counties . You are encouraged to contact these agencies and/or the agencies listed in our brochure, Missional Living & Giving, for information on volunteering in a wide variety of skilled and unskilled positions. When you have volunteered or helped in some way, please remember to log in your hours served on your con-X-ion card on Sunday or go to the link on our website to do so, under "Get Involved".
The Christian Sharing Center, Inc.
600 N. Hwy. 17-92, Ste. 158
Longwood , Florida 32750-3638
Phone: 407.260.9155
www.thesharingcenter.org
The Sharing Center changes despair into hope for working people who have nowhere else to turn in a financial crisis. Formed in1986 by local churches working together to help with basic needs of food, shelter, clothing, and compassion, The Sharing Center also assists with essential needs for transportation, heat, lights, AC and medical costs. A Disabilities Caseworker helps disabled persons to get training in new areas of work and find a place to live. A MedNet Navigator assists patients with long-term health issues to find help with prescription costs. A Health Navigator helps patients find a family physician or specialist to care for on-going health problems. Clients may apply for food stamps on premises.
Locations for walk-in client assistance, 9 am-1 pm Monday-Friday, are at two locations:
600 N. Hwy. 17-92, Longwood and 515 E. 25 th Street , Sanford . A thrift store, the center's largest fund-raiser, also is located at the Longwood site and welcomes volunteers. The store is open to the public 9:30 am-5 pm Monday-Saturday. To volunteer to help call 407-260-9155 or email: Michaelkenyon@thesharingcenter.org.
Habitat for Humanity in Seminole County
1548 Seminola Blvd, Ste. 141
Casselberry , Florida 32707
Phone: 407.696.5855
www.habitatseminole.org
The Seminole County affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, an ecumenical Christian housing ministry, was started by St. Stephen Lutheran Church in 1990. HFH builds simple, decent, affordable housing in partnership with low-income families around the world. Homeowners are chosen through a careful selection process based on applicant's level of need, willingness to become partners in the program, and ability to repay the no-interest loan that makes the home affordable. Habitat works to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Extra hands are always needed. Call to find out when a project will start and how to help.
430 Plumosa Avenue
Casselberry , Florida 32707-2814
Phone: 407.388.0245
www.pathwaystocare.org
Pathways to Care is a 40-bed assisted living center dedicated to providing short-term recuperative care to poor, medically underserved adults who need a supportive environment where they can heal from an acute medical illness or injury or recuperate after hospitalization. Pathways accepts referrals from hospitals and emergency rooms. Here, patients without a caregiver or without a home find a place to rest and take their medications as they continue healing under supervision of a caring staff. Call to find out how you can lend a hand.
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 407.330.3933
Administration: 407.302.5220
www.safehouseofseminole.org
Safehouse is a coordinated response to prevent the epidemic of domestic violence. Services include: emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence and their children, 24-hour crisis hotline, counseling, court advocacy, and outreach programs, case management, early intervention and prevention, child assessments, support groups, and safety planning.
Sanford Crisis Pregnancy Center
1002 French Avenue
Sanford , Florida 32771
Phone: 407.323.3384
Option Line: 800.395.HELP (4357)
www.sanfordcpc.com
Sanford Crisis Pregnancy Center offers women alternatives to abortion, empowers them to make life-affirming decisions, and provides compassionate lay counseling. Among services provided are: care for any age woman; pre- and post-natal care education; information on pregnancy, adoption, and abortion alternatives; Earn While You Learn program; maternity and baby clothes and supplies.
Sanford CPC operates two additional centers: Life Choices for Women in Longwood and Apopka Pregnancy Care Center in Apopka.
Additional opportunities for local outreach:
State of Florida , Eighteenth Judicial Circuit
www.galseminolecounty.org
Children's voices often are unheard and their best interests overlooked in the complicated and overburdened adversarial process. The Guardian Ad Litem is a volunteer representative for an assigned child before the court, social service agencies and the community. He/she also protects the child during the family crisis and court proceedings. Every day, over 4,600 Floridians serve as Guardians ad Litem, but 20,000 children are still in need of representation, leaving many of Florida 's abused and neglected children to make their way through the child protection system without an advocate.
480 West Central Parkway
Altamonte Springs , Florida 32714
Phone: 407.682.0808
www.hospiceofthecomforter.org
Hospice of the Comforter is the only non-profit hospice in Seminole, Orange and Osceola Counties . Patients with a life-limiting illness and their families are assisted by Hospice with a family-centered program of care emphasizing pain control and palliative symptom management. Volunteers of all ages and skills may choose to work directly with patients and families or in other ways.
5467 N. Ronald Reagan Blvd.
Sanford , Florida 32773
Phone: 407.324.3036
www.kidshouse.org
Kids House is a children's advocacy center that seeks to provide all necessary services for children who are victims of abuse, from report and investigation through treatment and prosecution in a friendly, non-threatening environment. To reduce trauma and distress, Kids House takes a team approach in dealing with child abuse. This allows for all involved agencies and victims to come together at one single facility, working together on a complete investigation including case history, sharing information and ideas, carrying through to assist with prosecution and then determining the best course to provide mental health treatment and medical follow-up for the child and family. They frequently have special needs that we can help with. Just call.
Longwood Health Clinic
600 N. Hwy. 17-92, Suite 124
Longwood , Florida 32750
407.876.6699
www.shepherdshope.org
Shepherd's Hope provides basic, acute, non-emergency medical care, including some diagnostic testing, for men, women, and children who do not have a regular source of care. This clinic is staffed by volunteer healthcare providers and is a partnership with Seminole County churches, hospitals, and community agencies. Examples of illnesses commonly treated are upper respiratory infections, skin disorders, gynecological concerns, and urinary tract infections. Shepherd's Hope is not a permanent primary medical home and cannot handle emergencies, obstetrical, well baby care, and Workers Compensation cases. Patients who are Seminole County residents may be seen at the Longwood Health Clinic on a walk-in basis Monday-Thursday 6-8:30 pm (plan to arrive at 5:30 pm).
(Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
2800 County Home Road
Sanford , Florida 32773
407.323.8685
A non-profit agency dedicated to protecting and caring for companion animals, with shelters in Sanford and Orlando. A variety of programs include spay/neuter clinics, shelter and vet care for pets of families in crisis, education programs for children, food for pets of seniors on fixed incomes, adoption and referral services, public clinic, and much more. Shelters open Mon-Sat. 10 am-5 pm; Sundays noon-4pm.
