Outreach
Community Partner: St. Andrew works with other local churches, religious organizations, businesses, and individuals to serve the larger Vancouver and Clark County community. There are many ways to plug in throughout the year.
Winter Hospitality Overflow (WHO): The WHO is a winter overflow shelter providing additional capacity for individuals in our community who are currently houseless and need to get in from the outside on any given night during the coldest months of the year, from November 1 to March 31. St. Andrew hosts women, children, and families up to fifty per night. Shelter lodging at the WHO is coordinated through the Council for the Homeless Housing Hotline: 360-695-9677. Please note all volunteers must complete a background check & any required training.
Learn more about this vital ecumenical ministry that serves Clark County, WA.
Orchards Elementary: St. Andrew Lutheran Church is a community partner with Orchards Elementary in the Evergreen School District. We work with the Family & Community Resource Center to help families with basic needs and provide support, including school supplies, clothing, toiletries, fresh and non-perishable food, and other resources.
Regular Intentional Service Projects: We welcome new partnerships and projects that align with our mission and vision statements. We host clean-up projects, food drives, and more. We are always looking for new ways to offer God’s love to the world around us.
Offering of Letters: Bread for the World, Better Nutrition, Better Tomorrow. We answer God’s call to publicly support those made vulnerable by the inequities that drive hunger and poverty in the US and worldwide each year with a letter-writing campaign sent to our local and state government officials.
Food Pantry: Each Wednesday from 1 - 3 pm, St. Andrew offers a food pantry that provides non-perishable food items and some toiletries. No documentation is required to receive this service.
Equity, Inclusion, & Justice (EIJ): The mission of the EIJ Team is to facilitate St. Andrew living more fully into our welcome statement (below), including examining the face that we present both internally within the congregation and externally to the community and world. The EIJ task force has assembled a repository of information, including books, podcasts, and movies related to racial, gender/sexuality, and disability-related equity. View this resource here: EIJ Resources.
Caring Ministries: A comprehensive net-of-care for persons who are experiencing challenges. The Caring Ministries oversee hospital and rehab visitations, home communion and pastoral visitations, distribution of prayer requests, Care Cards and correspondence, meals, and special projects.
Prayer Shawls: In 2006, St. Andrew formed an intergenerational outreach program called the Prayer Shawl ministry. The group provides handmade gifts for special events: to comfort a person suffering pain or grief, to offer a blessing of joy to a graduate or new mother, and to bring hope and support at other important life events.
Quilters: Since 2006, the quilters have distributed well over 2000 quilts to local homeless shelters, mission trips, graduating confirmands and seniors of St. Andrew, and other ministries. The group meets weekly and welcomes all, regardless of prior experience.
Serving in Worship: Your gift of time and service can impact and support this community. From worship assistants, friendship ministers, and participating in youth events, learn more about assisting in worship here.
Community Garden: You are invited to adopt a plot in our garden to grow food for your table or share it with fresh food pantries. Our preschool utilizes plots to aid in their nature education program, and a garden crew helps maintain the overall garden area. Tools are available to borrow, or you can bring your own. A small annual fee helps offset the upkeep cost, but scholarships are available.
*Worship services, events, and gatherings are subject to change in response to local Covid restrictions based on the Clark County Health Department and the CDC. For the most current information, please call the office at 360-892-7160 or check the announcements on the home page.
Reflecting Jesus’ calling, we, the community of St. Andrew, proclaim that the gifts of God are for all, so we welcome and advocate for equity and justice for… All abilities and disabilities, All believers and unbelievers, All races and ethnicities, All religions and creeds, All gender identities and expressions, All countries of origin, All sexual orientations, All immigrants and refugees, All economic levels, All spoken and signed languages, All…no exceptions!
