Community Outreach

The Daily Bread Ministry is a grass-roots outreach, started by an individual at LCGS who seeks the heart of Jesus. A need was seen and now, through collective efforts, that need is being met. You are invited to meet at the church by 8:00 am each Tuesday to share in the community work of this ministry. Please join us, it is a blessing.

Lunches, boxes of groceries and hygiene kits are delivered to people in Douglasville who reside in the woods. To keep our ministry going, we need one item or can of food per week from each congregant. Items needed are: drinks, small canned meals with pop-tops, fruit cups, pudding cups, crackers, pop-tarts, Little Debbie cakes, raisins, or anything that you would like to have in a lunch.

Thank you to the many volunteers who made our
2011 Thanksgiving meal meaningful and successful.
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did
for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:39-41

Praise the Lord! More and more are serving our people in need in Douglasville.

Monday night - Heritage Baptist Church delivers hot meal to the camps on Hospital Drive.

Tuesday morning – Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd delivers lunches.

Tuesday night - Country Line Baptist delivers hot meals to the camps on Hospital Drive.

Thursday morning - Make a Change delivers lunches. (They pack their lunches here at Good Shepherd)

Friday - The Presbyterian Church will begin delivering lunches in September.

Sunday - A church in our community delivers hot meal to the camps on Hospital Drive.

There may be more that we are not aware of. Soon there will be meals delivered every day!

Daily Bread Ministry Log
Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Jimmy was not feeling well today, he could not walk across the street to see us. Jerry was there and was so glad to get his and Jimmy’s new clothes. Thomas heard Jimmy mention last week that he would sure love to have some new clothes to wear to the Thanksgiving dinner, and bless his heart, Thomas brought both of them clothes. Jimmy was also very excited to get the pan of Ham and baked potatoes … you would have thought we had given him $100.00.

There were so many at McDonalds, there were 25 in our circle (that includes our volunteers) Jimmy Carter was not there this week, (business to take care of) but Robert was and hopefully, his foot is getting better. I don’t know how he stands it … his broken foot can’t be healed. Robert took his own cast off a couple of weeks ago.

Chris was having real struggles today. I so worry about him. Steve rode his bicycle from Greystone, just to get a tent for his friend. Steve is the only one in their camp with transportation. They are always so excited to get the food. They all line up to pick out their pie, cake or cookies, bread, and get their roll of toilet paper, all the time hoping they get theirs, before we run out. It was raining a little today, but they all come anyway. It is very hard for me to explain how overwhelming it is to share the elements with our friends, to stand in the rain, and share … What special moments.

We delivered two boxes of food to Sun Suites Inn today. So many, many needs. The manager and the house keeper began telling us, " this room needs food, that room needs food, they have no food." Then they would go to others, knock on the door and say “Do you need food, they are here with food”. I have to admit, I at first I was afraid and thought to myself, "oh no, we will run out" but then the words came to me. Jesus says feed my people … he didn’t tell us how many there would be to feed.

There were only a couple of people at Cooper Street. But we sure had a big praise …Kenny joined our circle.

Jeffery was there and as always, we were so glad to see him. He is such a troubled young man. (I made sure he got all of his lunches). Everyone one is so welcoming and so full of love and joy. We reminded everyone about the Thanksgiving dinner next week and that we will pick everyone up. James asked if we could come to his house and pick up him and his neighbor Eddie. Eddie is not able to walk. Every week James takes a lunch back to Eddie.

Today, we gave out 100 sack lunches, 127 sandwiches, sausage biscuits, bread, sweets, coffee, lemonade, cans of sausage and gravy, 3 trays, of food from the Douglas Senior Center, hygiene kits, toilet paper, pull-ups, a tarp, and a coat.

Churches represented: Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church, Mount Nebo United Methodist Church, Bright Star United Methodist Church, Southern Hills Christian Church, The Pavilion, Kingdom Dominion and The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.

Volunteers this week:
Making lunches:
Hugh, Lacey, and Kevin
Making Sandwiches:
Pastor Paul, Lil, John, Bob, Barbara, Molly, Melody and Pastor Glen
Deliver Lunches:
Kim, Melody, Pastor Paul, Lil, Sandra, Pamela, Jeanette, Gloria, Thomas, Pastor Glen and Leila
Helping to Load Cars:
Ronnie, Parrot and John

It was a truly a great day! So many lessons we learn every week.
By the way…. We had enough lunches for all.

Thanks be to God.

Started off with making a decision if we should take out 2 containers of coffee or 3 and again I was wrong. We only took two. After the second stop, we were out of coffee! Well then what do we do? Go back to church or tell them sorry we are out? Well since we were at McDonalds, it was decided we would go and see how much it would cost to fill up our containers. As we walking through McDonalds, more than one head turned to read the labels on our containers which reads, "Lutheran Holy Water". As we were waiting at the counter to talk to a manager, a man who was waiting for his food asked what we doing out in the parking lot? We explained. He asked, “are you going to ask McDonald’s to donate coffee?” (We weren’t, but that was a good idea) He then said, " if they don’t, then I will pay for the coffee." McDonalds donated one pot and Gerry paid to have the other filled. Before we left, we again thanked him and he said if there was anything we needed please let him know as he owns the General Store in Austell. We told him we needed blankets. He then called his mother at the store and told her to gather all the blankets in the store and give them to us.

By the way …. Our people said McDonald’s coffee was better than our Lutheran Holy Water.

What a day! So many people in need. We gave out 99 lunches, 126 sandwiches. Bread, cakes and cookies, candy, lots of coffee, lemonade, 3 tents, 3 tarps, 3 sleeping bags, 2 air mattresses, clothes, shoes, socks, pull-ups, and one box of food. So many who are so hungry. Cynthia begged for a can of sausage and gravy. And another man drove up and wanted food as he said he had nothing to eat.

Each week there are more and more moving into the woods. We have one family which has a 15 year old special needs child with them. We have two families living in motel suites . One family of 7 and the other one 6. Two of the little boys are sleeping on the floor but this week Faith in Action is going to deliver a bed to them.

We are so blessed to see more and more organizations coming together to help those in need in Douglasville. Faith in Action gave us our new freezer, chips, sleeping bags, air mattresses, and access to use their storage building if needed. The pantry gave us 10 boxes of Vienna sausages and individual packages of pretzels. Saddle Creek continues to bless us with so many items … most recently; 2 tents, 6 tarps, pull-ups, lemon juice, olives, corn and the list goes on and on. The Douglasville Senior Center now gives Daily Bread the food they can’t use, and we then pass on to those in the woods. This week we received chicken fingers, black-eyed peas and brussel sprouts. We receive a lot of bread from Aldi’s, and we continue to pick up bread and desserts at Publix every Monday and Wednesday. The First United Methodist church is going to have a food drive for Daily Bread this month.

At this time I believe everyone has a tent and a tarp for the winter. We still need sleeping bags and/or blankets. Tony Ritchie gave us a lot of pallets which all but two have been delivered. They use the pallets to get their tents off the ground. We delivered 4 this past Tuesday only to get a call the next day that they had been stolen.

Our biggest needs continue to be: food, blankets, coats and men’s shoes… size 9-1/2 to 10-1/2. We also have need for a small used Christmas tree and a few decorations, for one of our families who live in the motel suite.

Churches represented: Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church, Nebo United Methodist Church, Bright Star United Methodist Church, The Christian Church, and Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.

Making Sandwiches: Pastor Paul, Lil, John, Bob, Barbara, Virginia, Molly, Parrot and Ronnie.

Deliver Lunches: Pastor Paul, Lil, Sandra, Pamela, Nancy, Bethany, Matt, Lucy (Mascot) and myself.

Daily Bread Ministry Log
Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Who could have ever imagined? Not Me. It is incredible what we are able to share with those in need.

This past week, again we had no idea what God had in store for us to share. Since it was Halloween, thought it would be nice to give out a little candy, so I purchased a big bag of DumDum suckers. Monday morning we received a call from Tropical Foods. They wanted to donate items to help feed those in need. Dave Ghrist picked up over 500 candy bars, a box of candy, trail mix, nuts, raisins and so much more. Praise be to God! Everyone and all their family members received a wonderful, white chocolate candy bar. As soon as we repackage the bulk items, we will be able to share items that we could not afford to put in our lunches. So many times when there is a need, the thought comes to my mind, "how can we do this? We can’t afford it." Well it happens! God always provides! Don’t set your goals too low!

While we were giving out lunches last week, the owner of Williams’ PO-Boys & Snowballs’ shop came to us and said they wanted to help. They delivered to Good Shepherd, lunch meat, bread and water. We served turkey sandwiches this week instead of bologna!

All 1 Services, in Winston, donated and will continue to donate drinks, towels, wash clothes and clothes . We have picked up over 60 cases of drinks and over 100 towels and washcloths. Ephesus Baptist church gave us more than 100 pairs of socks. Saddle Creek has given us over 70 boxes of cereal and bread from Aldi Grocery. Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church’s youth make 500 sandwiches every month and deliver them to Good Shepherd. What a blessing to share all this and more with our people in need.

We received frozen food from the Douglas County Senior Center, and shared with an individual at Sun Western suites. She returned from her room and was so excited as she said, “the raviolis are in the oven and the green beans are on the stove … we have dinner tonight." She hugged me and with tears in her eyes said how much she appreciates us and so looks forward to our visit every week.

Every Monday, we also pick up100 lunches and sandwiches which New Life Christian church prepares. Each lunch includes a piece of fresh fruit, cookies and chips.

This past Tuesday, we served over 121 people, which included 40 children and 40 senior citizens. We gave out towels, washcloths, clothes, from All 1 Services, 100 lunches from New Life Christian Church, biscuits from Chick-fil-A, candy from Tropical Foods, turkey sandwiches from Williams’ PO-Boys Sandwich shop, food from Douglas County Senior Center, bread and sweets from Publix, 126 lunches and 3 boxes of food from Daily Bread.

One young mom shared with us that it took all of their money to move here and that her husband is working, but there was no money for food.

John Warren is in an apartment in Atlanta and the United Way is helping him find work.

William is signed up to receive VA benefits.

A few weeks ago, I was asked the question, “Did you ever think when this ministry began over six years ago, that it would be what it is today?" My answer, NEVER! God’s vision is so much bigger. We had no idea all those who come together every week would be the hands and feet of Jesus, to serve His children.

There are so many who work so hard and give so much of their time and money to make this ministry possible. Thank you so much!

Those who make 100 lunches before Sunday school: Christina, Russel, Hugh, Lacey, Skip, George, John, & Ray.

Those who make sandwiches, coffee, lemonade, sort clothes, package biscuits and load up on Tuesday Mornings: Pastor Paul, John, Bob, Barbara, Molly, Kim, Lil, Skip, George, Parrot, and Virginia.

Those who pick up and/or unload food: Butch, George, Hugh, Dave and Pastor Mike.

Those who deliver all the items to those in need: Pastor Paul, Lil, Hugh, Kim, Pam, Nikki, Tabatha, Shawn, Gloria, Jeanette, Loretta, Bill, Nancy, Bethany, Parrot (Don Allen), Madison and Ramona.

We also give thanks to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and all who give monetary gifts which allow us to purchase food from the Atlanta Community Food Bank, buy tents and other needed items.

Churches represented on Tuesday Mornings:
Bright Star United Methodist, Southern Hills Christian Church, Kingdom Dominion, Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, First Baptist Church, & County Line Baptist Church

A bigger vision, larger than I could ever imagine!
Love and Blessings,

The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd’s Daily Bread Ministry

The needs continue to grow each week, however; God, with his perfect timing, always provides the means for us to help those in need.


A. Food Pantries:
1. Total number of households served during the past month 11
2. Total number of persons served during the past month 706
3. Total number of children served during the past month 84
4. Total number of senior citizens served during the past month 53
5. Total number of pounds of food distributed in the past month 2065
B-1. On Premise/Congregate Feeding Programs:*
1. Total number of individuals fed during the past month
B-2. On Premise/Congregate Feeding Programs:
1. Total number of breakfasts served
2. Total number of lunches served 250
3. Total number of dinners served
4. Total number of snacks served
5. Total number of brown-bag meals provided 420
6. Total number of home delivered meals provided
C-1 capacity
1. Did you turn anyone away this month? No

Stephen's Ministry

The Stephen Minister's role is to bring God's love into the lives of people who are going through a difficult time or experiencing a crisis.
What do Stephen Ministers do? They listen to you, care for you, support and encourage you, and pray with and for you.
And in the midst of this confidential, one-to-one, caring relationship, God's healing love comes pouring through.

If you or someone you know is facing a crisis, large or small, and could benefit from the caring presence of a Stephen Minister,
talk to one of ours:
Pastor Mike Bovingdon, Rick Detraz, Holly Liersch, Ray Kutzner, Steve Pulver, Doris Boylen, Paulette Bovingdon and Leila Myers.

Our Stephen Ministers are ready to care for you!

Thrivent Financial members invited to join in a $3 million Helping Haiti effort!

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members, who want to make a financial contribution to support disaster response efforts in Haiti, can have their donations to one of four Lutheran relief agencies multiplied by the fraternal benefit society. To participate, visit www.thrivent.com/helpinghaiti and make a contribution to one of the following:

Thrivent Financial will add $1 to every $2 its members donate, up to a total contribution of $1 million. That means a potential of $3 million or more to support relief efforts. For questions or alternative ways to donate through this program, please call 800-236-3736. When prompted, say “directory” and enter ext. 83003.