Serve Our Community
Our vision statement compels us to "build a strong community and make the world a better place." Our focus is on our neighbors in need, often addressing hunger and homelessness as well as the needs of the elderly and disenfranchised. To this end, we do several congregational collections and special projects throughout the year, including collections of food, clothing, money, and more. In addition, groups within the congregation (e.g., Dorcas Rachel Women’s Group, Lutheran Youth Organization, aka LYO) facilitate many of their own special projects, for example assembling hygiene kits, or assisting in person at Loop Ministries.
View current volunteer and collection opportunities with our ministry partners below:
Volunteer Opportunities
* = Youth volunteers welcome
Bella’s Bumbas: Provides small wheelchairs for kids. They are located in Webster and are looking for volunteers to help with assembly & packing of chairs, fundraising, & general office help. Contact bellasbumbas@gmail.com.
Catholic Charities: Together we walk with those who need us the most on their path to living with independence and dignity. For details, visit https://ww2.fcscharities.org/helping/ or email riesvolunteers@fcscharities.org.
Opportunities available:
- Drive clients to appointments
- Clerical support (assist refugees with paperwork, applications, etc.)
- Help refugees navigate technology
- Language partner (work with clients to practice English).
Elderberry Express: Provides free rides for Pittsford seniors to appointments. Needs volunteer drivers to help elderly people get to appointments. Contact: 585-248-6237 or elderberryexpress@gmail.com.
*Mothers in Need of Others needs volunteers MWF, 10am-12pm to sort donations of baby items for mothers in need. Contact: MothersInNeedOfOthers@gmail.com.
*Mustard Seed Kitchen: Looking for volunteers to help serve hot meals to those who attend. Meals served the last Saturday of the month at 5pm. Located at Incarnate Word Lutheran Church (597 East Ave.) #585-244-6065.
*Open Door Mission: Help in the clothing room or help serve breakfast at the emergency shelter. For details, please email volunteer@opendoormission.com
Pittsford Food Cupboard: Looking for food assistants, interviewers, and back room sorters. Must be able to work 2 three hour shifts/month. Open every Tue. and Fri. 9:00am-2:00pm and the 1st and 3rd Sat. each month. Sign up at PittsfordFoodCupboard.net or call 585-264-9860.
Refugees Helping Refugees: A community-based, refugee-led organization that provides education, training, and support to help refugees build on their strengths and thrive. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact volunteers@rhrroc.org.
*Rochester Hope: Saturdays from 9:30am-3:30pm. If you are not with a group, you can just show up to help! Or, you can RSVP HERE. More information: rochesterhope.org.
St. John's Home is seeking volunteers for their ecumenical worship service on Mondays at 11AM. Contact: (585) 760-2634 or email sculp@stjohnsliving.org.
St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center: Provides medical and mental health care for the uninsured and underinsured in our community. Opportunities include: MD’s, DO’s, Internal Medicine, and Primary Care Providers, Advanced Practice Providers, Nursing and Medical Assistants, Mental Health Counselors, Data Entry & Clerical Tasks. For information, visit sjncenter.org/volunteer or 585-325-5260.
Collections
Pittsford Food Cupboard provides food for individuals and families in Pittsford, Mendon, Honeoye Falls, Brighton, East Rochester and some areas in the city of Rochester. Established in 1998, the Pittsford Food Cupboard is supported largely by the Pittsford Community.
A collection box is in the Grand Foyer for non-perishable donations.
ELCA Ministry addresses disaster relief, world hunger, refugee services and poverty. Further details: Relief and Development.
LOOP Ministries is committed to serving people who struggle with food insecurity, who live in and around the Rochester city center.
