Lehigh County Conference of Churches
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For more than 60 years, the Lehigh Conference of Churches has brought together area congregations in responding to the needs of “the least among us” while building ecumenical and interfaith partnerships and fostering unity within the body of Christ.
The Lehigh Conference of Churches is driven by faith to provide social services to our neighbors in need. Its history, which spans more than 60 years, demonstrates clearly how ecumenism has, does, and will continue to play a fundamental role in the shaping of faith. Pathways Housing Services offers a full spectrum of housing services designed for those who are homeless, about to be homeless, or in an unstable housing situation. The Lehigh Conference of Churches’ Ecumenical Soup Kitchen in center city Allentown serves more than 35,000 meals a year and provides access to medical care for those in need. Since 1982, they have partnered with Catholic Charities to ensure that the working poor, homeless, elderly, children, those between jobs, individuals on fixed incomes, and those who have nowhere else to turn receive at least one hot, nutritious meal every day of the week. The LCC’s kitchen operates three days a week; Catholic Charities’, four. Daybreak, a weekday drop-in center, gives people living with mental illness or physical disabilities and those struggling with addiction or HIV/AIDS, as well as the neighborhood’s elderly, a place to belong. Daybreak serves three balanced meals each weekday. Staff teach life skills and work with members to provide stability and help them reach their full potential. The Homeless Outreach and Positive-social Engagement (HOPE) Program provides a pathway to stability for homeless adults dealing with mental illness and substance abuse. |
Betty Lou’s Pantry
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Betty Lou's Pantry is a non-profit organization of participating churches in the Southern Lehigh area. People served by the Pantry must fill out an application and qualify. It is located in the basement of the Administrative Building at St. James Church, 333 Oxford St., Coopersburg, PA.
The Pantry provides special dinners for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. In 2016, the Pantry served 1,012 food requests to area families. The Letter Carriers hold a drive in May and the Boy Scouts in November to collect food for the Pantry. St. John's members support Betty Lou's with food and monetary donations. On the 2nd and 4th Saturday of one month a year, we have 10 members helping the people to shop and we carry their groceries to their cars. We also help out at the Letter Carriers' Food Drive. Last Christmas we provided gifts for children from one of the families. There is a committee composed of representatives from each of the 12 churches involved in the Pantry to effectively manage the ministry. This committee meets quarterly. |
Phoebe Ministries
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Phoebe Ministries is a non-profit, multi-facility organization specializing in health care, housing, and support services for seniors. Founded in 1903 and affiliated with the United Church of Christ, Phoebe Ministries offers a full continuum of care to suit the diverse needs of older adults.
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Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) serves veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound, co-incident to their military service on or after September 11, 2001 and their families. On that date, America watched in horror as approximately 3,000 people died including hundreds of firefighters and rescue workers. Many warriors note a sense of duty to volunteer for the military following these tragic events.
Sept. 11 also served as a stimulus for Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and New Dawn. Operation Iraqi Freedom refers to military operations in Iraq that began March 19, 2003 and officially ended August 31, 2010. Operation Enduring Freedom refers to combat operations in Afghanistan and other regions in support of the Global War on Terror. Operation New Dawn refers to the conclusion of operations in Iraq beginning September 1, 2010 and ending December 15, 2011. For WWP, there is a distinct difference between members and alumni; the term alumni indicates a mutual shared experience and denotes your place in an organization was earned. There are no dues here - those were paid by wearing the uniform and on the battlefield. Surviving the battlefield With advancements in battlefield medicine and body armor, an unprecedented percentage of service members are surviving severe wounds or injuries. For every US soldier killed in World Wars I and II, there were 1.7 soldiers wounded. In Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, for every US soldier killed, seven are wounded. Combined, over 48,000 servicemen and women have been physically injured in the recent military conflicts. In addition to the physical wounds, it is estimated as many as 400,000 service members live with the invisible wounds of war including combat-related stress, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Another 320,000 are believed to have experienced a traumatic brain injury while on deployment. A catalyst for change. With the mission to honor and empower Wounded Warriors, WWP is the hand extended to encourage warriors as they adjust to their new normal and achieve new triumphs. Offering a variety of programs and services, WWP is equipped to serve warriors with every type of injury – from the physical to the invisible wounds of war. |
