Outreach Ministry is a group that reaches out to serve the needs of others with emphasis on the local community. This ministry achieves its goals through the efforts of volunteers who give of their time and talent along with the generosity of the congregation. This group is responsible for monthly collection of donations to help those in need.
2024 Desert Cross Outreach Ministry Calendar
(This information may be updated throughout the year as information is available.)
- January - Blood Drive on Saturday, January 27 in the Tempe Community Center. Registration is required. Special Hunger Jar for the month designated to the Desert Cross Serves Project on Sunday, January 28 where the congregation will be putting together toiletry bags for those experiencing homelessness.
- February - Souper Bowl Food Drive from through February with donations going to Grace Lutheran Church and Kyrene Resource Center.
- March - Safe Sleep Program for Babies with collection throughout the month of March.
- April - Collecting purses, personal gifts, and toiletries for mothers in shelters through April. Items to be distributed by Shoebox Ministry. Blood Drive on Saturday, April 27 in the Community Center at our Tempe campus. Registration required.
- May - Special Hunger Jar to support Grace Lutheran Church's Heat Respite Program for the homeless and water for Kyrene Resource Center.
- June - Collection of undies. Please bring NEW children's underwear in all sizes to worship or you can send in donations to be used to purchase new underwear. These donations will be going to Kyrene Resource Center. We're also beginning the collection of School Supplies because Kyrene Resource Center does their "Stuff the Bus" at the end of June. Blood Drive on Saturday, June 29 in the Tempe Community Center. Registration required.
- July - Back to School Drive from July 1-30 with the collections going to Step Up School, Kyrene Resource Center, and Concordia Charter School.
- August - Special Hunger Jar Collection for Women 4 Women from August 1-31. This collection will be used to get feminine hygiene products. Blood Drive on Saturday, August 31 in the Tempe Community Center. Registration required.
- September - Winter Blanket and Jacket collection with items being donated to Kyrene Resource Center.
- October - Blood Drive on Saturday, October 26 in the Tempe Community Center. Registration required. The Be Thankful Food Drive collection begins on October 1.
- November - Be Thankful Food Drive with donations going to Kyrene Resource Center and Matthew's Crossing. Turkey Sunday on November 17 with turkeys going to Chandler Salvation Army. Angel Tree goes up November 16.
- December - Angel Tree will be up until December 22. On December 22, the items will be packed up and dropped off at Kyrene Resource Center for families who utilize the resource center.
The Tempe campus is always accepting toiletries for several homeless programs. We also accept eyeglasses for Lion's Club, pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House, gently used shoes for Kyrene Resource Center, coupons, and Campbell's Soup labels for Step Up School. Please place these items in the appropriate box or opening in the Outreach Cabinet in the corner of the narthex. If your donation is too large, please place it behind the doors in front of the cabinet. *Please note: Do not place perishable items in the large collection bins.
The Gilbert campus has an ongoing collection of Box Tops (each one earns 10 cents), empty ink cartridges (each one earns a $2 credit), gently used tennis shoes, used school uniforms (blue or khaki bottoms and red or blue polo shirts), and used sweatshirts or sweaters for Concordia Charter School. We are also collecting travel toiletries for I-HELP. The Gilbert campus is also collecting medical supplies (children's Tylenol, ibuprofen, cough drops, cough syrup, bandaids, lice kits, chapstick, hydrogen peroxide, antiseptic wipes, and Neosporin) as well as children's books (for grades K-6th) for Concordia Charter School.
