December 25, 2006
Holiday Meal Delivery
There were 123 volunteers for the holiday meal delivery representing 17 different faith groups.  There were 350 meals delivered for the seventh year in a row from Five Star Older Adults Center (formerly Five Church). For some this is the only hot meal they have for the day, and they got to spend some time with our volunteers engaging in special conversations.  Special thanks to Mike Howard and Judy Metlach. 

Top of Page

December 2, 2006
Food Bank
Faith Beyond Walls had 41 volunteers representing 4 different faith groups.  This group worked together to package food to be given to food pantries around the St. Louis area.  The volunteers processed 18,076 pounds of food to provide 14,756 meals for one day. The St. Louis are Foodbank will feed hungry people by distributing food through its member agencies, and will educate the public about the nature of and the solutions to the problems of hunger. The Foodbank receives a variety of products from community food drives, local and national food manufacturers, and the United States Dept.Of Agriculture (USDA).

November 11, 2006
Food Bank St. Louis
Faith Beyond Walls had 28 volunteers representing 3 different faith groups.  This group worked together to package food to be given to food pantries around the St. Louis area.  The volunteers processed 18,694 pounds of food feeding 5,087 people for one day.  The Foodbank receives a variety of products from community food drives, local and national food manufacturers, and the United States Dept.Of Agriculture (USDA).

Top of Page

November 4, 2006
Lydia’s House
There were 9 volunteers representing 3 different faith groups St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints and St. Margaret Mary Alogne.  The volunteers work together to assist Lydia’s House with assorting donations and preparing apartments for women who are adjusting to life without domestic violence.

Top of Page

October 29, 2006
Beautifying Fairgrounds Park
For the tree planting at Fairgrounds Park we Faith Beyond Walls had 52 volunteers representing six different faith groups.  We held a special dedication for Alfred Kahn.  The tress that were planted will be a great addition to the park in the spring to beautify the area. We would like to give a special thank you to, Marcie Mayer Eisen at JCRC/JEI and Chris McCarthy from the Forest Tree Division.

Top of Page

October 8, 2006
DISC Day: Launched in October 2003, DISC are service days in which young adults complete a community improvement project and engage in various activities that promote dialogue and understanding.
There were 10 college student volunteers who came out to Kinloch to assist on community improvement projects.  There were various tasks involved to spruce up the outside of the Kinloch Learning Center.  Special thanks to the City of Kinloch and Steve DiSalvo.

Top of Page

September 17 and 23, 2007
Poverty Simulation:
What is a Poverty Simulation?  The simulation is a learning tool used to help people understand the realities of poverty.  Participants role-play the lives of low-income families through the course of four 15-minute “weeks.” The simulation enables participants, ages 12 and up, to look at poverty from a variety of angles followed by exploring the potential for change within undeserved communities and how faith communities can assist in that change.  The simulation is made possible through the Missouri Association for Community Action.
There were over 50 volunteers combined who participated in the Poverty Simulations that were held in September. We would like to send a special thank you to The Ethical Society of St. Louis and 1st Unitarian Church for the use of their space.  We would also like to thank all of our community resource volunteers who truly put their faith into action over the two days of poverty simulations. After the Poverty Simulation volunteers had a chance to discuss with the community partners about how to make changes in their community.

Top of page

September 16, 2007
FBW Helps Metro-East Youth Connect Through Service.
FBW, the Metro-East Interfaith Partnership and Neighbors for Renewal partnered together for an interfaith service project on Saturday, September 16, 2006. Twenty-three volunteers of youth and adults from Metro-East faith groups such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, St. Marks Lutheran, St. George’s Episcopal, Crossroads Disciples of Christ, and Holy Child Catholic Church worked hard together. Volunteers moved bricks, blocks and cleaned out the inside of a house to prepare for the next crew of professionals to install drywall in a house being rehabbed by Neighbors for Renewal. When completed, this home will be sold to a family in need, who might otherwise not be able to acquire affordable housing. After the work was completed volunteers gathered over pizza to have an interfaith discussion that focused on how their individual faith calls them to serve. Special thanks to Rev. Drew Kramer with Neighbors for Renewal and Rev. Doug Cripe with Metro East Interfaith Partnership. Click on the link to see the article written in the Belleville News, way to go! http://webpages.charter.net/dcripe4/bndyouth.htm

Top of Page

September 10, 2006
FBW and Nishmah Launch Unique Interfaith Girls Discussion Group
Imagine a service project that focused on the issues around girls supporting girls. That was the theme of the first collaboration between Nishmah, the St. Louis Jewish Women’s Project, and FBW on September 10, 2006. Eleven girls of high school age, representing six faith communities came together to explore and have a better understanding of each other’s experience within their own faith. While the girls gathered together to create individual photo albums for new mothers in need, their interfaith dialogue addressed issues that included, the role of women in their faith, celebratory events in each faith group, and how women show support of each other within each faith community. In total, the girls created 20 small photo albums that Lutheran Family and Children’s Services will share with new mothers who seek assistance. Special thanks to Ronit Sherwin of Nishmah and Nikki Vines of Lutheran Family and Children’s Services.

Top of Page