Wellington Food Bank receives Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grant

The Wellington Food Bank recently received a combined grant totaling $25,000. The award was part of the “Lutheran Community Economic Outreach Bridge Grant” from the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. The funding was awarded to the Wellington Food Bank and to Zion Lutheran Church based on their mission, financial stability, effectiveness in addressing basic needs such as food, clothing or shelter, use of volunteers and creativity. The grant will be used exclusively to support the food bank ministry.

Zion Lutheran Church was one of 81 Lutheran organizations and congregations selected to receive funding as part of the final phase of this pilot program. Organizations receiving the grant were also eligible to participate in an additional $10,000 challenge grant in which funds raised by the organization would be matched by the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation dollar for dollar. To date, the Economic Outreach Bridge Grant pilot has provided support to 217 ministries resulting in approximately 2.9 million dollars in grants and funds raised.

“Our team is very proud and honored to be able to give such an award to the ministries of Zion with the support of the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation,” said Ryan Behm, Financial Representative.

Mark Gabbert, Zion’s pastor and the director of the Wellington Food Bank, believes that this ministry is a “shining light in the wonderful community of Wellington.” Pastor Gabbert points to the fact that five of Wellington’s churches, all three schools, the Boys Scouts, 4-H, Main Street Market, First National Bank, and many community residents all pitched in to help raise funds for this matching grant and to bring in food donations. “It really shows what a unique community we have here,” Gabbert said. “People are really committed to caring for one another. Together we are providing substantial boxes of food to an average of 80 families twice each month.”

The Food Bank is open on the second and fourth Tuesdays from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Wellington Community Church, 8445 Third Street in Wellington. For more information, contact Mark at 970-568-9301.