Community Outreach Team
The Community Outreach Team is part of the Social Justice Ministry. The team meets about 3 times a year to coordinate fundraisers and collections to address the needs in our community and world. The work is shared with members of the team picking 1-2 activities close to their hearts to focus on.
We invite everyone to come to our meetings and/or watch the weekly news for details about the current collections and related activities.
The team promotes ongoing collections for St. Stephen's Food Pantry, The Road Home and Circles of Support which the team delivers to on a regular basis. See collection lists in a tab below.
There are collections that occur at designated times of the year such as for Mountain of Food, Backpacks and Christmas collections.
Members of the team also are involved in various ongoing activities such as making prayer shawls, the dignity project and various meal ministries.
A highlight of the team is hosting the annual Fall Craft & Bake Sale with proceeds donated to local charities.
The team also supports SAM and the Family Ministry team in their collections and occasionally lets the community know about requests from the ELCA for nationwide disasters.
Christmas Collections
Boxes for all of these collections will be located in the Collection Area between the Gathering Space and the Community Room.
Bath Towel and Wash Cloth Collection
for Triangle Ministry
Items being collected for residents are:
Bath towels, hand towels & wash cloths
(light weight and dark colors)
hand towels needed
Waterproof Glove and Mitten Collection
The Community Outreach Team will be collecting ONLY waterproof gloves and mittens for several elementary schools in Madison.
If you would prefer, you could make a donation to "Mitten Collection" and we will shop for the gloves and mittens.
Pudding Collection
The Community Outreach Team will be collecting LARGE boxes of INSTANT pudding (all flavors) to be included in the Christmas food boxes for the East Madison Community Center.
We collected more than our goal this year!
200 boxes will go to EMCC
and the remainder will go to St. Stephen's Food Pantry.
On December 3, Karen Verhagen delivered a check in the amount of $1,950 to Angela Smith, Fundraising & Community Engagement Manager for The Road Home.
These funds were collected for their Holiday Sponsorship Program (we called it the Christmas Fund).
Your donations will provide gift cards for 26 individuals to be used at the store of their choice for Christmas gifts, food or other necessities.
Thank you to all who donated to make Christmas a little brighter for these individuals! If anyone would still like to donate directly to The Road Home for this program, here is the link: https://trhome.networkforgood.com/projects/264736-2025-giving-tuesday-holiday-sponsorships-for-families
Adopt a School Program - Kennedy Elementary School
Messiah and Kennedy Elementary School have an Adopt a School Partnership through the Madison Public Schools Foundation.
Messiah members are invited to become volunteers in the school by serving in the lunchroom or on the playground, or reading with students. Get started at https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/partnerships/volunteering.
You can be a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County and spend one hour each week during lunch or after school with a student. Click here for more details. Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Opportunities to volunteer for single events such as family fun night or the annual fun run will be listed in the Weekly News as they come up.
We hold a special place in our hearts for families who are in need, especially those in transition who are living in the family shelter on Milwaukee Street.
- We provide transportation from the shelter to school through our Give Kids a Lift Campaign. Stay tuned for 2026 plans.
- We provide gift cards for families to purchase food and other household essentials.
- We have an on-going collection for socks, underwear, sweatpants, leggings, t-shirts and sweatshirts in youth sizes XS-XL for the health office.
- We also collect adult and little kid clothing to send home to families in need.
- We collect items for backpacks and winter gear at certain times of the year. Watch the Weekly News for specific information about these collections.
We also provide treats for teachers on professional development days a few times a year.
Clothes for Kennedy
Message from Bridget
the social worker
We are in desperate need of clothing for kiddos, both to stock our health office as well as to have clothing to send home to families in need. Items we are most in need of:
Underwear--Youth size XS-XL
Socks--Youth size XS-XL
Sweatpants--Youth size XS-XL
Leggings--Youth size XS-XL
T-Shirts--Youth size XS-XL
Sweatshirts--Youth size XS-XL
We will also take adult and little kid clothing as well as we have families reaching out for those sizes as well.
Kennedy Winter Clothes Collection
Help keep kids warm and dry at our Adopt a School partner Kennedy Elementary School.
You can order and have snow pants, mittens and hats delivered directly to the school following the link below to a curated list from the school’s community resource coordinator. You can also sign up to help distribute the items at community events.
1. Winter Gear Donation List-here is the list of items we’re collecting for individuals and families in need this winter.
2. Volunteer Sign-Up Sheets-If you would like to volunteer at the events, we would love to have you.
Community Meals
Messiah members provide meals for Healing House and The Triangle Community Ministry.
Healing House is the first shelter of its kind in our community to provide a safe place when someone needs to prepare for or recover from a medical procedure, childbirth, hospitalization or something similar. More than just a shelter, Healing House offers care by medically trained staff and volunteers for up to 28 days. The eight-bed facility provides clients with three meals a day, child care assistance and case management.
Messiah members prepare a meal for 12 people including a main course, side dishes and dessert and bring it to Messiah. Scott DeBroux delivers the meals.
Our next dates for preparing meals for Healing House are:
December 14-20, 2025.
February 1-7, 2026
March 1-7, 2026
Check the Kiosk for Sign Ups when the date gets closer.
Triangle Community Ministry serves over 300 residents living in the Triangle Neighborhood of Madison, WI, most of whom are challenged by chronic mental, emotional, physical, and/or developmental disabilities. TCM is dedicated to the development of personal dignity, self-empowerment, and community building among its residents.
Please contact Elizabeth to be added to the groups in REALM to receive updates and to sign you up if you cannot make it in to sign up on the Kiosk in the Gathering Space.
Dignity Project
The Dignity Project Group
will meet Saturday, January 10th at 9:30 am
We will meet in the last education room on the right. Anyone is welcome to come to see how easy it is to help. You do not need to own a sewing machine or be able to use one to help with the project. Enter on the lower level of church at door C and follow the sign upon entering the building.
We have been able to send 17,529 pads - 3,638 panties
to Little Dresses For Africa since the group started. These pads and panties are distributed to help girls remain in school to finish their education. Thank you for your part in providing these girls with dignity.
Anyone seeking information on the project contact June.
What does the Dignity Project Group Do?
The Dignity Project group makes sani-panties (washable menstrual pads) for Little Dresses for Africa so that young girls can still go to school.
The group holds a workshop once a month to get together and sew, but some people sew at home and those who do not sew can help by cutting material or donating items.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
The Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet
Monday, December 15th at 1:00 pm
in the Meeting Room
The Prayer Shawl Ministry group meets once a month to make prayer shawls.
Shawls are provided to the Messiah community for the newly baptized, high school seniors, and for the visitation ministry to bring to homebound and hospitalized members.
The ministry extends its reach outside Messiah to those experiencing challenging situations to know that our community cares and prays for them. Recent recipients include Elizabeth House, Triangle Community Ministry, Breast Cancer Recovery Retreats and Agrace Hospice.
Habitat for Humanity Volunteers
We recently were contacted by Habitat for Humanity with these opportunities:
Donation Processing
Help out at our ReStores, which are critical to raising funds that allow Habitat to build affordable housing. This work includes unloading the donation truck, sorting through donated items, assembling/repairing small items, and merchandising the store floor.
- Location: 4207 Monona Dr
- Time: Opportunities are available Tues-Sat, with either an AM shift (9am-1pm) or a PM shift (1-5pm).
- Age 16 and up
- If folks are interested in scheduling as a group, group sizes (up to): 8 at ReStore East, 12 at ReStore West
Construction:
Help to build habitat houses that our homeowners will live in! This can include any number of tasks, including interior work, and can vary depending on duplex progress and other conditions. Prior building/construction experience is not required, so it’s a great way to learn new skills while helping out.
- Location: 1149 Kamperschroer Wy, Sun Prairie
- Time: Construction opportunities are available Thurs-Sat, and go from 8:15am-3:30pm.
- Age 18 and up
If you are interested in either opportunity, please contact
Shai Ben-Dror (He/Him)
Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
Habitat for Humanity of Dane County
sben-dror@habitatdane.org
(608) 618-9399
Red Cross Holiday Blood Drive
40th Annual Holiday Blood Drive on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center from 7am – 1 pm.
The American Red Cross is inviting the community to give the gift of blood at Wisconsin’s largest one-day blood drive.It’s an easy way for people to give back ensuring a safe and reliable blood supply during the holidays. Many donors have made it a long-standing tradition to donate at the Holiday Blood Drive contributing to its success each year. Our commitment is to collect 630 units of blood this year.
Blood donation appointments can be made here:
https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=hbdmadison
Or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or online at redcrossblood.org. Enter sponsor code: HBDMadison.
DONOR PROMOTION:
Come give blood Dec. 19-Jan. 4 and get an exclusive LONG-SLEEVED RED CROSS T-SHIRT. Donors at this drive will also be treated to special snacks and refreshments, free parking and entertainment! In addition, all presenting donors at this drive will have a chance to enter to win 1 of 10 pairs of tickets to THE JOEY'S SONG FREEZING MAN CONCERT AT THE SYLVEE ON JANUARY 10TH. See Joeyssong.org for a full line-up.
Messiah/Gunderson Funeral Home Annual Blood Drive - May 6, 2025 (notice the date change)
Each year Messiah and Gunderson Funeral Home sponsor a Red Cross blood drive at Messiah Lutheran Church. Members volunteer to greet and visit with people as they donate, as well as host the snack area.
The 2026 Blood Drive will be held on Tuesday, May 6th from 1:00 - 6:00 pm.
2025 Craft & Bake Sale Totaled $5,606.75
The date for the 2026 Craft & Bake Sale will be Saturday, November 7.
Community Outreach Groups and Leaders
Adopt a School "Kennedy Elementary School" - Paula Darr
Blood Drive - Elizabeth Crummy
Community Meals - Scott DeBroux and Elizabeth Crummy
Craft & Bake Sale
Craft Sale - Dawn Olson
Bake Sale - Louise Fosdick
Kris Kringle Shoppe - Louise Uttech
Gift Baskets - Karen Verhagen
Dignity Project - June Nyhus
Habitat for Humanity - Jim Stolzenburg
Prayer Shawl Ministry - Maren Anderson and Paula Stadtmueller
St. Stephen's Food Pantry - Dee Schwoegler and Bonnie Eastman
Community Outreach Team Collections
February/March - Goodman Thanksgiving Baskets (foil pans) & Easter Baskets
May - Mountain of Food
June -
July - Backpacks for Schools
August -
September -
October/November - Virtual Pies for "Share Your Holidays" (Second Harvest Food Bank)
November - Craft/Bake Sale
November/December - Christmas Collections for: The Road Home, YWCA, Triangle Ministry, East Side Community/Truax, Madison Area Jail Ministry
The Community Outreach Team organizes collections for local organizations during the year.
Some collections are ongoing and some are held during specific months of the year.
Listed above are our monthly collections. For more information about these and our ongoing collections please click on the button below.
