An organized kitchen and plenty of storage space are essential elements of any kitchen. This is also true for Loaves &Fishes, an organization that for 41 years has provided meals, comfort, and kindness to Minnesotans. Chelsey Shoup, Advent’s liaison for Loaves & Fishes, knew that they needed to better organize their pantry storage area, so she reached out to Advent’s Endowment Fund.
Every year our Endowment Fund’s first priority is to sponsor scholarships for Advent high school graduates, but it supports much more than that. Last year the Endowment Fund distributed gifts totaling over $8,300! These gifts included: Community Outreach for Advent Quilters, Canyon Scholars scholarships for Mexican Tarahumara students, mission trip support, hiring musicians for several Advent community celebrations, matching funds for Advent’s Gift of Love and more. Advent’s Endowment Fund’s bylaws state that its purpose is to be a charitable arm of Advent where gifts help spread the Word of God and enrich lives apart from the general operating of the congregation. No portion of the fund shall be used for Advent’s annual operating budget
Chelsey’s grant application was approved by the Endowment Board and Loaves & Fishes received funds to fix and improve their food pantry. The funding purchased mores helving to optimize their space, provided containers to organize their food, and created a system for utilizing donations in a timely manner so less food goes to waste. Advent’s Endowment Fund helped Loaves & Fishes make their wishes for a more organized pantry come true.
Funding for the Endowment Fund comes mainly from memorial gifts, bequests in wills and other long-term legacy gifts. When you request memorial gifts be given to our Endowment Fund or include Advent in your will, you help carry out Advent’s mission to celebrate God’s kingdom through witness and service by sharing God’s love and grace with others.
BEFORE
AFTER
If you have questions about the Endowment Fund, the board members include:
Tonya Halpern (chair), Betty Reiman (secretary), Jackie Larson (treasurer), Maryann Haigh, Jim Mikolai and Pastor Elizabeth.
