St. James receives $5K Thrivent grant

St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano recently received a $5,000 “Lutheran Community Matthew 25: Neighbors in Need” grant from the Thrivent Financial Foundation. The grant was awarded to St. James Food Ministries based on its effectiveness in addressing physical, emotional and spiritual needs in the local community, including food, clothing, shelter, fellowship and care for the sick, based on Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:35-36. St James Food Ministries has also elected to participate in a complementary 2:1 challenge grant program sponsored by the foundation. For every dollar raised by St James Food Ministries from donors through February, the Thrivent Financial Foundation provide an additional 50 cents — up to $5,000. “We are delighted to assist St. James Food Ministries through this grant,” said Richard Kleven, vice president of the Thrivent Financial Foundation. “We trust that this support will strengthen St. James Food Ministries to those it serves.” “This $5,000 grant from Thrivent Financial Foundation will enable St. James Food Ministries ongoing participation in such communitywide outreach as the community dinner held on the fourth Tuesday at the Presbyterian Church and sponsored by a different group each month,” said Daniel Braun, director of the St. James Board of Christian Services, which is charged with oversight of the Thrivent grant. “We will also continue to serve different types of meals and Christian entertainment at St. James at no charge for the purposes of fellowship and outreach.” Founded in 1982, the Thrivent Financial Foundation is a private foundation that operates exclusively for charitable, educational and religious purposes. It supports the health and vitality of the Lutheran community, the Fox Cities of Wisconsin and the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Grants are provided for projects and missions that reflect Thrivent Financial’s charitable interests. The primary charitable interest of the foundation is assisting nonprofit organizations and those they serve in achieving economic security and sustainability. To learn more about the foundation and its programs, visit www.thrivent.com/foundations.