Thrivent generosity programs help clients make a difference
MAD Men take action
Hatton, North Dakota
The Making a Difference (MAD) Men of St. John Lutheran Church are living up to their group name with the help of Thrivent Action Teams.
About 15 men meet twice a month, excluding the summer, for a simple meal and time of fellowship. Afterward, they go into the community to do projects, such as assembling furniture, doing home repairs or moving someone to a new apartment.
The MAD Men also do organized activities, such as sponsoring a benefit for someone hit with a catastrophic medical expense, volunteering for workdays at Red Willow Bible Camp and distributing holiday gift baskets. Thrivent clients lead
A few years ago, the MAD Men shared their ministry with a group from Salem Evangelical Free Church in Fargo-Moorhead. That led to the two groups working side by side on a Habitat for Humanity project.
On a mission to Chile
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Thrivent clients Laura Ferree and Ric Simon led a Thrivent Action Team to support a mission team that traveled to Valparaiso, Chile, recently. The group, commissioned by the Glacial Community YMCA in Oconomowoc, painted six classrooms and cleaned up at a local grade school. They served meals to the homeless and organized activities at an indoor summer camp.
Lap quilts for children
Elkhart, Indiana
The Trinity OWLS from Trinity Lutheran Church formed a Thrivent Action Team to make 21 lap quilts to provide comfort for children with court-appointed special advocates (CASA) as they navigate the court system. The Trinity Owls donated 45 quilts to CASA in 2023. They’ve also donated more than 400 lap quilts to hospice patients.
Joy comes with the cross
Palm Harbor, Florida
Douglas Simpson led a Thrivent Action Team of 10 volunteers to cut more than 500 small handheld crosses for homebound and hospitalized people, including members of his church, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection. The crosses are being distributed by chaplains in local hospitals and nursing homes, who cited the joy of the receivers. Larger versions of the crosses also were created for distribution.
Sundresses for Easter
Coolidge, Arizona
Sandra Devine’s Thrivent Action Team made 122 sundresses for little girls at Child Crisis Arizona, a local agency that provides safety and security to children in foster care and resources for families in need. Sandra used the seed money to purchase fabric, lace, bias tape and thread for the dresses that arrived in time for Easter.
