The community of St. Paul Lutheran participates in several ministries throughout Reading and the greater Cincinnati community. These ministries are always evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of our community.
Valley Interfaith Community Resource Center
Valley Interfaith Community Resource Center serves the residents of Reading, Lockland, Wyoming and surrounding communities. Supporting this community-driven mission through various food drives and individual donations of clothing, blankets and other goods helps our neighbors when they are most in need. We partner with other members of the Reading Church Council and others in supporting this valuable mission.
Throughout the year, St. Paul usually collects one designated item per month for donation to Valley Interfaith such as shampoo, toothpaste, laundry detergent, etc. We also collect school supplies for the Back-to-School backpack program and food items for the Christmas food baskets.
Through their partnerships with local businesses and organizations, Valley Interfaith is able to turn each dollar of donation into $13 of food for the pantry to help our needy neighbors.
Heifer International
We collect change for Heifer Project International in the “quarter tube” in the narthex. Once a year the money is donated to Heifer, who purchase animals to support farming families and invest in sustainable agriculture. In recent years we have donated a sheep, 3 goats, 2 alpacas, a share in a heifer and a share in a stove.
Operation Christmas Child
Each year in the fall we collect small toys and hygiene items to fill shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. These shoeboxes are sent as Christmas gifts to children in developing countries. We are usually able to donate between 60 and 90 shoeboxes for children around the world.