Our Local Missions

Trinity's mission and presence has been felt by people in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and the surrounding communities. The Social Concerns committee at Trinity oversees many of these local ministries including the following:

Serving the Hungry

Food Pantry

Our in-house pantry serves walk-in clients on an unrestricted basis. We typically provide food for 400-500 families each month. We also provide information about other resources available in our community to meet the needs of families in financial distress. Read more about our food pantry.

Friends of Flynn

Over the past few years, the financial need has grown among many students throughout Eau Claire. A substantial number of children receive free or reduced lunch and are unable to afford some of the basic items needed on a daily basis. Because of this need, Trinity has formed a partnership with Flynn Elementary School in Eau Claire to support students and teachers. Read more about Friends of Flynn.

The Community Table

Trinity helped establish The Community Table, our local soup kitchen, located at 320 Putnam Street. Volunteers serve a hot lunch the second Monday of each month to area families. For more information or to volunteer contact Dave or Sonia Becker at 833-1453 or by email.

In addition Trinity's Youth and Families serve at the Community several times a year. Additional opportunities to serve are also available.

Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Trinity hosts a community-wide Thanksgiving meal. This meal is open to anyone who might find themselves without any community on Thanksgiving Day. Trinity volunteers provide the food and serve the meal.

Serving the Homeless

Sojourner House

The Sojourner house is Eau Claire's shelter for single adult men and women. Offering a safe, clean place, regardless of what their ambitions or hopes are, to sleep overnight; shower, clean their clothing, and have breakfast while ensuring our guest's personal dignity, respect and safety. Trinity supports the Sojourner House in our community. In addition, our quilters have donated many beautiful quilts as a special gift for the homeless.

View more information on the Sojourner House.

Interfaith Hospitality Network - Beacon House

With the incredible volunteer efforts of over 20 area faith based organizations, the Beacon House in downtown Eau Claire provides emergency shelter, meals, and hospitality to families and single pregnant women for up to 30 days. In 2010, 57 families received shelter including 101 children. 90% of these families left the Beacon house with stable housing. 72% left with stable employment. Trinity is proud to be a supporter of the Beacon House. Four times a year we serve by providing meals and acting as hosts to the guests. It’s a wonderful, rewarding opportunity to serve those in need in our community. If you would like more information, or would like to volunteer, please contact Roman or Diane Fritz at 715-835-5021 or dsfritz@charter.net.

Additional Outreach Opportunities

Soles for Special Souls

Soles for Special Souls is our mission project that reaches out to provide shoes for children in our community for back-to-school. K-mart in Eau Claire has partnered with us in this endeavor. We collect donations distribute vouchers for children’s shoes and boots to families in need. These children will be able to select their shoes at Kmart, and the discounted cost will be billed back to Trinity. An average pair of children’s shoes costs $20.

Trinity has also partnered with the Bolton Refuge House to provide shoe vouchers to be used at the staff's discretion when the need arises.

Chippewa Valley Clinic

The mission of the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic is to provide healthcare to and advocacy for the people of the Chippewa Valley who have no health care alternative. The clinic is a safety net that provides much needed healthcare support to our community, filling a gap for the uninsured, the under insured, the unemployed, and the underemployed. Trinity is proud to partner with the clinic financially, and by meals and volunteers. See the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic website for more information.

Blood Drive

Trinity hosts the Red Cross Bloodmobile semi-annually in early May and the Monday of Thanksgiving week in November. Anyone who is 17 years of age or older, in good health, and weighs over 110 pounds may be eligible to donate blood. Other opportunities to volunteer for bloodmobile include working as a reception host, a canteen host, or providing baked goods.

Quilting

This ministry of caring creates quilts that are distributed at local hospitals and globally through Lutheran World Relief. Trinity quilters invite you to join them as they quilt and assemble health, sewing, and school kits for Lutheran World Relief. Contact Annice Reiman 832-2605 for more information.

Prayer Shawls

The gift of many people who knit is employed to make Prayer Shawls for people who are experiencing transitions in life from giving birth, facing serious illness, or grieving. If you knit, join this ministry. Contact Cindy Beck for more information

Nursing Home Birthday Parties

Trinity volunteers host birthday parties at some of our area nursing homes in January, February and April. Volunteers are needed to provide snacks and friendship for the parties, bring residents from their room and sit with them at the party. Contact Ellen Dovre, Coordinator, at 831.6030 for more information.

Adopt-a-Highway

Every spring and fall Trinity has adopted the two mile stretch of Highway 37 south east of the city. Join adults and kids 6th grade and older clean twice a year.