Social Concerns
The Social Concerns Team plays a special part in reaching out to our local, national and global communities. Our mission is to love and serve God by praying for and opening our hearts and hands to our neighbors.
We have focused on providing food, clothing, shelter, and support for education, finding new jobs, and disaster response both locally and globally. We have many opportunities for short term support of events as well as ongoing needs.
Food & Clothing
North Fulton Community Charities (NFCC) - Weekly donations of food & clothing received by COL members are brought to NFCC for Roswell & Alpharetta residents in need within Fulton County.
MUST Ministries - Donations of food by COL members in periodic food drives are picked up & distributed by MUST to residents in need within Cherokee & Cobb counties (Marietta & Smyrna).
7 Bridges - Participating with The River in praying & handing out food, hygiene kits, and blankets to people living under 7 bridges in downtown Atlanta.
Hunger Walk - Annual walk to collect monies for LSG & the Atlanta Community Food Bank to feed the poor.
World Hunger - Loose change from the 1st Sunday of each month are contributed to the ELCA World Hunger fund to feed the poor.
Shelter
LSG - COL donates furniture, bedding, towels, and other items for refugee resettlement by LSG in the Atlanta area.
Quilting - Thursday evening quilters will begin quilting for widows in Malawi, Africa who use the quilts for warmth & shelter. COL Women make 100+ quilts annually for Lutheran World Relief which distributes them across the globe.
Habitat for Humanity - Cross of Life is a member of the Thrivent Coalition which jointly builds homes in the Canton, Alpharetta, Roswell, & Marietta areas for the working poor.
The Drake House - COL High School Youth purchased gift certificates & COL partipicated with The River in making icecream for the annual Ice Cream Social. The Drake House provides emergency housing for women & children.
Education
Padhar Mission School - COL sends monetary donations to this Christian mission school in India.
Philippines Ministry - COL partnered with the Galing Foundation which sends boxes of books & school supplies to 5 schools of indigent children.
COL Christian Montessori School - COL supports our school which serves pre-school & kindergartners in Roswell.
Scouts - Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts learn life skills and more about how to be a better leader in their communities.
Camp Sunshine - COL supports camping education and experiences for children with cancer & cancer survivors.
Jobs
JAWS - COL provides support for job seekers in transition in the greater Atlanta area.
LSG - Provides support for refugees seeking jobs in the greater Atlanta area.
Disaster Response
ELCA - COL supports the ELCA response to national & global disasters.
LSG - COL supports LSG in responding to GA disasters including the flooding in metro Atlanta in September.
Hurricane Katrina Relief - COL delivered initial relief supplies & served as a distribution center for additional disaster response supplies. COL has supported subsequent clean up efforts.
Tsunami Relief - COL raised funds to aid Christian efforts to build a new Christian church in Nias, Indonesia.