ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 9, 2005

Women Of The ELCA Reach Out In San Antonio
05-122-KB*

     SAN ANTONIO (ELCA) - - Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) took part in 15 different servant events throughout the San
Antonio area.  The projects took place July 7-9.
        Women of the ELCA's Sixth Triennial Gathering is meeting here July
5-10 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.  The organization's
three-year theme, "Act Boldly," is being unveiled at the convention amid
Bible study, keynote presentations, workshops, community service, business
sessions and elections.  More than 2,100 women from across the United
States and around the world are participating.
        About 15 women volunteered each of the three days at Woman of the
Well House, a home for formerly incarcerated women that promotes
emotional, spiritual and intellectual growth for a second chance in life.
        "We try to implement leadership skills like communication,
community and teamwork," said Priscilla Murguia, executive director, Woman
at the Well House.  These skills help the women prepare for life after
they leave the home, she said.
        "The women get along extremely well," said Michelle Hockett,
program coordinator and counselor of the House.  "They are a core group,
(that is) cooperative, helpful and positive."
        After meeting the residents, hearing some of their life
experiences and taking a tour of the home, the volunteers and residents
worked alongside each other while "gardening, (doing) minor indoor house
painting and some major cleaning," Murguia said.
        At the San Antonio Food Bank, about 25 ELCA women volunteered each
day to help package lunches for children.  Volunteers on July 8 packed
more than 6,000 nutritional lunches at the Food Bank’s "Peanut Butter and
Jelly Deli."
        "The lunches go to agencies that help children," said Marty
Mueller, an ELCA volunteer, who is also the coordinator of the hunger task
force in her congregation, so she is "very interested" in the Food Bank's
goals.  "I know children get fed during the school year, but not always
during the summer," Mueller said.
        The children's lunches will be sent to about 60 different sites,
said Mario Perez, operations production manager at the Food Bank.  "Over
2,400 children will be fed on Monday" with the packed lunches, he said.
        The Food Bank tries "to fill the nutrition gap for kids," said
Steve Elliot, public relations, special events manager at the Food Bank.
"Volunteers help pack these lunches everyday," he said.
        At St. Vincent de Paul, a San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries
Shelter, volunteers helped prepare meals and serve homeless families, men
and women.
        After taking a tour of the shelter and learning about the homeless
situation in the area, the ELCA volunteers washed dishes, prepared food
and organized things before serving the homeless, said Edith Reinke, an
ELCA volunteer.  "They depend on volunteers here," she said.  "Over 200
churches volunteer here."
        While serving homeless families, elderly and disabled people,
among other homeless men and women, Reinke said, "It’s hard to believe
that this happens every day and it’s only one place here."
        "We have so much to be thankful for and [the experience] really
humbles you," added Reinke.
        Twelve other locations were greeted and helped by Women of the
ELCA volunteers during the week.  Among them were an Alzheimer’s activity
center, a children’s shelter, a Habitat for Humanity project, and several
churches and schools.
- - -
        Information about the Women of the ELCA's Sixth Triennial
Gathering is at http://www.womenoftheELCA.org on the Web.

* Kirsten H. Boettner is a senior communication major at Luther College,
Decorah, Iowa.  This summer she is an intern with the ELCA News Service.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news