Church Ministry Banks are “owned” and housed by Churches within the network who have committed to meeting a specific need and are trained by and connected to the Christian Services Help Center.
Each individual church ministry bank relies on the support of the entire church network to supply resources to be able to help those in need. Using the Monthly Church Activities Calendar, churches can plug into these helping ministries and involve their congregations in helping others. Church names, addresses and phone numbers are provided for those who would like to contribute resources. In addition, there are several Church Ministries which are coordinated through Christian Services which are multi-church projects.
People needing assistance from these ministries must call Christian Services first to receive an appointment.
Items which cannot be purchased with food stamps (soap, shampoo, toilet paper, laundry soap, tooth care, etc) are provided. Donations can be dropped off at the churches. Call for hours.
Items provided are bed, bath, and kitchen linens, dishes, cookware, silverware, fans, small appliances, etc. Donations can be dropped off at the church, call for hours.
River Terrace maintains a closet of medical needs equipment (such as wheelchairs, crutches, shower seats, etc.) available to loan to people in need referred by Christian Services.
Food Pantry
Redeemer serves families in the DeWitt/St. Johns/N. Lansing area with food up to every 30 days. Families must call Christian Services for an appointment.
Holiday Food
Each Thanksgiving Christian Services connects over 2,000 needy families in greater Lansing with area churches and organizations to provide them Thanksgiving food baskets. The Clearinghouse utilizes approximately 50 office volunteers – double our usual number. Churches and other community organizations request names from Christian Services and coordinate their efforts to avoid duplication. To volunteer for thanksgiving intake, or to learn how your congregation can provide Thanksgiving food baskets, call Christian Services, 394-5413
GO! Ministry
Several Churches in the network participate in the Go! Ministry which assists people who are experiencing difficulties getting to work or to medical appointments. Requests for assistance must be made through the Christian Services office and allow at least 2 business days to verify need and arrange for the pick-up of tokens or gas cards. Contact the Christian Services Clearinghouse if you would like to be a GO! Ministry Church.
Love Clothing Center
The LOVE Clothing Center provides new and like new clothing for school age children, sizes 4 – teens. Clothe-A-Child-For-School begins in August and winter coats are given in October. Donations can be dropped off at the church, call for hours.
Small Children’s Closet
Donations of new and like new clothing sizes newborn to 3T, children’s furniture (highchairs, strollers, playpens, etc.) can be dropped off at the church, call for hours.
Adult Clothing Ministry
These ministries provide clothing for men and women by appointment through Christian Services. Contact the church for donation drop off information.
Pack N Play Ministry
Open by referral only through Christian Services. A home visit must be made by Ingham County Health Department or other agency after the baby is born, before the appointment for crib pick up can be made. Monetary donations can be given to River Terrace Church to purchase new cribs.
Emergency Diapers & Formula
When a mom has no diapers or formula left, Members of New Hope Church deliver the needed items along with a bible if the mom would like one. Monetary donations can be given to New Hope Church.
Diapers
Diapers and wipes available up to once every month by appointment. Donations can be dropped off at the church, call for hours.
Books for Babies
You can encourage young parents who may not have plentiful resources to read to their infants and children, resulting in increased development! This program provides the book “Good Night Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown to every parent who is referred for a crib, sends a quarterly newsletter with more ideas about how they can encourage brain and ability development in their babies, and encourages parents to attend a appropriate classes where they can receive support.
Layette Ministry
Social workers from area hospitals give low income families with newborns a voucher for a layette containing an undershirt, sleeper, socks, and a board book (anything but “Good Night Moon”) wrapped in a receiving blanket from Pilgrim UCC. Completed layettes or items are always needed. Contact for drop off times.
Pre-school Book Drive
Churches collect books for Head Start Pre-school children for use in the classroom and also for children to take home with them, to encourage reading at home! Head Start cannot accept books with violent or religious content. You can support a Head Start Classroom near you, or contact the Christian Services office for distribution information.
Hats & Mittens
Churches and individuals buy or hand knit mittens and hats for pre-school children (ages 3 to 5.) These are given to Head Start classrooms for their students who come to school without hats and mittens. You can support a Head Start Classroom near you, or contact the Christian Services office for distribution information.
Families or individuals with a request for assistance can contact the Christian Services Clearinghouse at 394-5411. The Clearinghouse is open Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 3 PM. If the need is verified and can be met within the existing help network, we will make the referral. If help is not available with this system, we will try to find appropriate assistance within the Christian Services church network.
Christian Services P.O. Box 22112, Lansing, MI 48909-2112