The grant will enable the church to provide 40 sack lunches two times each month for the rest of the year, according to Myrna Marseille, a member of the congregation. Dates and distribution points will vary.
Sheboygan County is to receive $34,180 in federal funds to provide funding for food and shelter to those in need. Grant funds are being apportioned and will be disbursed by the Sheboygan Emergency Food and Shelter Grant (EFSG) program, a local board of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Zion is one of a number of local agencies that will receive grant money from the program. Others include the Sheboygan Food Bank, Sheboygan Food Pantries, Safe Harbor, and The Salvation Army.
“Zion requested only the minimum grant of $500 because this is its first endeavor in reaching out to feed the homeless and needy in the downtown area of Sheboygan,” said Marseille.
“We feel very fortunate to receive this grant which will help us to expand this much needed ministry in our city,” says Pastor Steve Pederson. The grant money will be used to purchase food for the lunches. Zion volunteers (accompanying photos) will provide the bags, assemble and distribute the lunches.
Marseille credited church member Randy Ragaisis with inspiring the program after he returned from a men’s retreat where he was encouraged to put the Bible’s message into practice.
