Our Redeemer Lutheran Church

We have about 50 in our all volunteer staff at the Pantry. The volunteers work some 1,000 hours a month and serve about 800 people monthly with food, clothing, showers, hot meals and the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Please remember this ministry with your monetary gifts - put “Pantry” in the memo space on your checks.

Pastor Barth

We are soliciting part-time and full-time volunteers who are greatly needed. Relief for the front desk shifts, kitchen and clothing room are needed. The clothing room can’t be open unless someone is in there to assist clients with locating and handing out the clothes and shoes. A few hours a week will go a long way. We also need assistance with food pickup from the stores. Please call Ed at (818)341-1629 for information or to volunteer.

The newly elected Human Care Ministry (Pantry Board) members are Wayne Thiele, Pam Schmidt, Pam Pires, Karen Russell, Pik Sughanda, and John Horn. The basic functions of the board are to oversee the operation, funding, volunteer staffing, determining and monitoring services, reviewing the operational scope and procedures on an on-going basis and trying to raise funds. The day-to-day management of the Pantry is the responsibility of Ed Worlund, the Pantry Manager.

Thank you for your support and may God bless you all -

Pantry needs donations of the following items: Jam, tuna, canned pasta, canned fruit, canned meat (Spam, Vienna sausages, etc.), inexpensive can openers. Please help. These items are for our homeless.

A grant was received from LWML Mite Box for $10,000 over the next two to four years. The funds will be used for tracts and Bibles in English and Spanish, children's materials, hot lunches, hygiene items and basic clothing items.

The Pantry received a grant from the Thrivent "Nourish the Needy" program, thanks to Roy Surrey who wrote the request. Roy is our congregation's Thrivent Financial Representative. Over $350 in food was purchased from this grant.

Your donations of time, fellowship and goods are always appreciated. Please keep all of our volunteers in your prayers and the people in need who come to them for help. The Lord is witnessed in the outreach ministry.

A fruit tree orchard has been planted along the fence in the open land east of the Pantry building. We planted 5 apple trees, 4 apricots, 5 nectarines 7 peaches 4 pears and 5 plums. Last year we followed the recommended backyard orchard culture plan as presented by the Tree People organization who donated the trees to us. We thank the Tree People organization. As the fruit ripens it will be shared with our clients.

Grocery bags are always urgently needed by the pantry. Please bring your plastic bags to the box in the narthex of the church or to the pantry on Wednesday through Friday from 10:00 am to 3:00 PM. Thanks for your help.

What is the purpose of Our Redeemer Lutheran Outreach?

Our mission is to provide an emergency support delivery System of services to those in need, whose resources are unable to carry them through the month or until additional resources are found.
We put our Faith into action, in the spirit of Christ who directs us to care for those in need. (Matthew 26:31-46)
We are the largest food pantry in the West San Fernando Valley. It is accomplished with the hard work of volunteers and donations, to which we give our many thanks and appreciation.

What services does the center offer?

We provide donated food to the homeless on a biweekly basis.
Low-income families and seniors are provided donated food and U.S. Government food on a monthly basis.
Shower facilities are available on a biweekly basis to the homeless, and they are provided with new socks and underwear once a month.
Clothing, bus tokens, and personal hygiene items are also available for those in need.
We collaborate with other agencies to assist our clients with job placement, shelter, medical treatment legal assistance and substance abuse issue's.
Hot lunches are served on Thursday's. Free haircuts are also available after lunch on Thursdays to anyone that would like one.
Bibles are provided on request, and Pastoral services are available to all clients.
We share some of our food with Lutheran Social Services in Van Nuys and the Salvation Army in Canoga Park.

How do we achieve our goal of helping others?

The staff of Our Redeemer Lutheran Outreach works hard to help the Clients within our community help themselves. We strive to treat each person with dignity, love and a caring attitude. The staff is empathetic to the plight of the homeless, individuals and families that are in the below poverty level income bracket. We attend seminars and training classes that help us to better serve the clients. The Outreach is a proud member of the San Fernando Valley Inter-Faith Council who along with other Religious organizations in the Valley participates in the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.

Donations of Pastries, Bread, Dairy, Deli and prepared foods are received from Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs and Whole Foods Markets.
Food drives are conducted by the Boy Scouts of America along with food drives by the United States Postal workers, area high schools and other Churches in the area.
The United Way and local Valley corporations along with the Kiwanis Club of Northridge also provide us with a great deal of support.
We also purchase variable food items from the Los Angeles Regional Food bank at a cost of 18 cents per pound. This purchasing power allows us to make the most of dollars donated to the Outreach

How can you help?

In kind donations:

We can always use your support with donations of food items such as:
Macaroni & cheese, canned fruit, canned vegetables, refried beans, Baby food, cereals, Tuna Fish, Peanut butter and Jelly, canned juices, Raman noodles, canned soups, Vienna sausages, canned meats , etc...
Personal hygiene articles are also in need:
Shampoos & conditioners of all sizes, bars of hand soap, toilet paper, combs and brushes, tooth brushes, tooth paste, face cloths, socks & underwear, etc...

Financial donations:

We are always thankful for any financial donations made to the Human Care Ministry. Financial donations allow us to purchase frequently needed, high turn over items. Please contact the pantry or the church office (818) 341-3460 for further information.

Estate planning:

Estate planning and working with a financial planner offers a number of ways that you can contribute to the Human Care Ministry both now and in the future. Wills, trusts, bequests, Charitable Trusts, Memorial Gifts, Gifts of Life Insurance are some of the vehicles that will allow you tax: benefits both now and in the future.

Your financial advisor would be happy to discuss the options that would be most advantages to you. 100% of every dollar donated to the Human Care Ministry is used to support, care, feed and clothe the less fortunate in our community.

We could not continue Gods work of caring and providing for the less fortunate without your financial gifts and support. Thank You!