Hope regularly supports the Samaritan House in San Mateo both by donations and also participating in events. Hope donates to Samaritan House as part of its planned annual benevolences, but monetary donations have also included combined gifts from members and the church, for special needs such as food supplies.    The church has supported events including back pack drives, toys for their Christmas event and cookouts at their shelter.  Hope is always enthusiastic to contribute to the Samaritan House’s programs.

CALL Primrose is a small food pantry based in Burlingame. Our congregation generously donates to CALL Primrose as part of their annual benevolences, but has participated in special events as well.

Hope provides financial support to many non-profit organizations each year.  This includes worldwide organizations such as Lutheran World Relief, organizations supporting specific disasters, such as Lutheran Disaster Relief nad many different local agencies, as well.  Local agencies include LifeMoves, which provides local housing for clients, and CORA, which supports Women in need.

Hope organizes specific outreach events for disasters, reaching out to members for their personal support, in addition to extra funds from the church.   Examples of this include the Maui Fire and help to Ukraine via Unicef.

Every year, the ELCA designates a “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday as a day of service to the local community, an “opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.” We choose a service activity which both benefits our community and offers us an opportunity to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ – every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life – flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.

We provided and served a barbecue dinner at Samaritan House’s 90 bed homeless shelter for several years.  The clients really enjoyed the special dinner.