Sweetening Adoption in Michigan with Support from Hope Lutheran Church's Confirmation Class
The confirmation girls at Hope Lutheran Church in Farmington Hills, Michigan, bake and sell cinnamon rolls Jan. 19 and 26 to raise money for Lutheran Adoption Service, raise awareness with a nationally submitted video to Super Service Challenge.
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – While they didn’t win the $1 Million prize, the confirmation girls who created Hope Lutheran Church’s video submission to the Super Service Challenge did net a small monetary amount to add to the monies they will raise this weekend and next for Lutheran Adoption Service, a subsidiary of Lutheran Social Services of Michigan (LSSM).
The less-than-2-minute video by the 7th and 8th graders expressed the reason they wanted to win the Super Service Challenge, sponsored by Companies With a Mission (CWAM), Drew Brees and the Brees Dream Foundation.
The Hope Lutheran video (view it here) – and a subsequent cinnamon roll fundraiser led by the girls’ confirmation class – were inspired by a quote in James 1:27, which directs people to “care for the widow and orphan in distress.” The students’ motto is “Get your roll on.” They are baking cinnamon rolls for sale at the church this weekend and next weekend as a way to raise more money for Lutheran Adoption Service.
Last year was the first cinnamon roll fundraiser, which raised more than $500 in one day. This year’s sales are spread over two days, Jan. 19th and Jan. 26th.
The confirmation class seeks service projects to help connect the girls with the community, says Joel Rinkel, 7th grade girls confirmation guide. “We chose to focus on the meaning of true religion, which in James 1:27, provides that for widows and orphans in distress. We want to follow that message, so we came up with raising money for adoptive services.
In 2013, Lutheran Adoption Service finalized 464 adoptions in the Lower Peninsula, resulting in 300 forever families, according to Lena Wilson, director, Lutheran Adoption Service, which is based in Troy. LAS is one of the five largest organizations in Michigan which handle half of all adoptions in the state. Another 20+ organizations handle the other half. There are about 2,300 children in Michigan waiting to be adopted from the foster care system, Wilson says.
“LAS is completely overwhelmed and so thankful for the efforts of Hope Lutheran Church to support our mission of achieving permanency for children in the foster care system that need a secure, loving forever families,” Wilson says.
Lutheran Social Services of Michigan is dedicated to creating communities of service that meet the needs of people, promoting human dignity, advocating equality and justice. Established in 1934, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan serves the Lower Peninsula of Michigan with more than 80 programs in 44 cities. Lutheran Social Services provides a wide variety of services for children and families, senior adults, refugees and persons with disabilities. Lutheran Social Services of Michigan serves all persons, regardless of race, religion or national origin, as an expression of the love of Christ.
For information, visit www.lssm.org.
For information or interviews, please contact Lynne Golodner's personal cell phone at (248) 376-0406 or lynne@yourppl.com.
Lutheran Social Services of Michigan is dedicated to creating communities of service that meet the needs of people, promoting human dignity, advocating equality and justice. Established in 1934, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan serves the Lower Peninsula of Michigan with more than 80 programs in 44 cities. Lutheran Social Services provides a wide variety of services for children and families, senior adults, refugees and persons with disabilities. Lutheran Social Services of Michigan serves all persons, regardless of race, religion or national origin, as an expression of the love of Christ.
For information, visit www.lssm.org.
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