40 DAYS IN 40 WAYS:
LENTEN DEVOTIONS
AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLEDGE

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7

I hope you have been able to find a few minutes in your day to watch the OFH Lenten devotions. Throughout the season of Lent, forty of our leaders from Outreach for Hope ministries are reflecting on what it means to give in their own words and via video from their own ministry locations. The simple question, “what does it mean to give?”, has so many answers and so many examples of how giving can be lived out in our daily faith walk.

Giving is a faith expression for us as children of God because it represents our deep understanding that all we have and enjoy is a gift and expression of love from our benevolent God - a God who gave His life on a cross for all of us. Our giving becomes our response to that life-giving love.

Our Lenten journey is a time for self-reflection and a call for us to draw closer to our God as we move toward the pinnacle event of God’s gift to us. How you share your blessings with others through your time, talent and treasure becomes a response of thankfulness to all that God has done for you - our simple acts of kindness in building up the Kingdom of God for the sake of the world.

One year ago, life changed for so many of us as the pandemic began its terrible march across our world, and the effects of this pandemic are felt even more dreadfully in the heart of our city population.

As we move toward the conclusion of Lent, we know that the need for our Ministry partners’ efforts continues to grow. People still are struggling under the immense weight of poverty and our ministry partners work tirelessly to bring hope and relief.

I ask that you consider making a monthly pledge commitment to Outreach for Hope as we continue to support our ministry partners financially in the work that they do. Your gift to Outreach for Hope is shared with 15 central city ministries of our Greater Milwaukee Synod and becomes a tangible expression of how we walk together.

As we continue our Lenten journey toward our Easter celebration, may we remember how much we have been blessed with each new day, and may we respond to that goodness with faith expressions of love for our neighbor.

Lenten blessings be with you!
Pastor Chris Manke

Watch your mailbox in late March for a letter request 
to make a regular pledge commitment to OFH.

 

WELCOME TO THE OFH TEAM, EMILY!

The Outreach For Hope team is thrilled to welcome Emily Wanezek as our new 2021 Ride/Run/Walk event coordinator!

After college, Emily worked as a professional athletic trainer for Brookfield East High School until deciding to stay home to raise her three daughters. She has also managed and run large fundraisers for several organizations – including Brookfield Christian School, which her children attend – and is always looking for new and innovative ways to bring in donations for these causes.

Emily, her husband Tom (who runs his own family dentistry practice in East Troy), and their three kids are active and faithful members of St. Matthew’s in Wauwatosa. Some ten years ago, Emily served as the congregation’s Youth and Sunday School education assistant and was a welcome addition to the staff because of her organizational gifts, people skills and work ethic.

In addition to her position with OFH, Emily will continue to work part-time as a coordinator for her daughter’s traveling select swim team to fill out her full-time work schedule.

Even though Emily is new to the event and Outreach for Hope, we know she will do a great job and are thrilled she was willing to take on the challenge! We’re thankful for her years of experience that will help steer us toward a huge success!

Feel free to reach out to Emily to welcome her to the team at her new email, Emily@OutreachforHope.org.

 

COATS FOR THE COLD,
ROUND TWO (MORE LAYERS!)

Our second order of coats is shipped and on its way to Wisconsin!

Last November, we asked for your help to purchase winter coats for our siblings in need here in the Greater Milwaukee Synod. You embraced the Spirit's call, and we were blessed with overflowing generosity that well exceeded the number of coats we were initially able to purchase.

Now, we're excited to announce that we were able to use these excess funds and a special offer from our supplier to purchase a second round of 376 coats from Transforming A Life Ministry to distribute via our Ministry Partners!

A warm THANK YOU to everyone whose abundant giving made this project an overwhelming success!! And stay tuned for our next Coats for the Cold fundraiser in fall 2021.

 

DRUMROLL, PLEASE: OUR OFFICIAL SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY FOOD DRIVE TOTALS

On Sunday, February 7th, congregations across the Greater Milwaukee Synod participated in Outreach for Hope's first Souper Bowl Sunday food drive. We're excited to share that with your help, we collected and distributed around 3,000 food items to our Ministry Partner food pantries, and raised more than $9,400, with 50% going to Outreach for Hope's work purchasing needed pantry items for our Ministry Partners and 50% going to the ELCA's World Hunger campaign! Read a nice note received from the ELCA World Hunger director Rev. Daniel Rift.

"Your generosity is getting at the root causes of hunger and poverty in over 60 countries including the United States. It is providing access to clean water, health care, agriculture, livestock, education, and peace and justice...Thank you for sharing the hope of new life and the fullness of Christ's joy." 
Rev. Daniel Rift, Director of ELCA World Hunger

To everyone who took part in this SUPER opportunity to help our neighbors in need, either through a virtual or traditional collection: THANK YOU!!

 

WAYS TO GIVE: THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS

Did you know that Thrivent members can designate Thrivent Choice Dollars to Outreach for Hope to help support our work?

Learn more and get started here, or call Thrivent at 1-800-THRIVENT or 1-800-847-4836, and say “Thrivent Choice.”

If you have any additional questions regarding the Thrivent Choice program, how to allocate your Thrivent Choice Dollars, or whether you are eligible, you are invited to contact your local Thrivent representative or call 1-800-847-4836.

 

FROM THE ELCA FOUNDATION:
UPDATES TO THE 2020 CARES ACT

Before leaving office, President Trump signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021, which extended, ended or modified some of the provisions of the expiring 2020 CARES Act. Your philanthropic intent may be impacted by some of these changes.

  • Your ability to deduct up to 100% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) through a cash contribution to charity is extended through the end of 2021.
  • Nonitemizers (married filing jointly) may deduct up to $600 in charitable deductions. The deduction in 2021 is to taxable income, not AGI.
  • Corporations may contribute 25% of their taxable income in the form of cash and food inventory to public charities through the end of 2021.
  • The 2020 CARES Act suspended Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from qualified accounts such as IRAs. This suspension was not mentioned in the CAA, and thus it is understood that for 2021, RMDs are reinstated for those over age 70½.

How are donors employing these changes?
These changes allow donors to benefit their beloved charities through expanded tax benefits. The reinstatement of RMDs reminds us that the Qualified Charitable Distribution might be used to benefit charity while satisfying the RMD and earning us tax benefits. Donors might also consider making larger gifts of stock or opening named endowments while these extensions are in place. This type of giving fulfills our charitable hearts — and our strategic, tax-savvy heads!

You can learn more about the Consolidation Appropriations Act of 2021 by reviewing this helpful resource provided by our trusted partner PG Calc. Each individual’s situation is unique and should be explored with their professional charitable team. The ELCA Foundation’s regional gift planners are available to meet with you to discuss how to support both your family and your charitable goals.

 

SAVE THE DATE!

2021 Family Ride/Run/Walk

 Saturday, September 25

 

Outreach for Hope
PO Box 341695  | Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53234
414-671-1212 | ofhinfo@outreachforhope.org

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