The Jubilee Ministry of Prosser and St. Luke’s Jubilee Center, Coeur d’Alene, are the recipients of the 2008 Volunteer Encouragement Grants in the amount of $500 each. The announcement was made by the Rev. Christopher Johnson of the Domestic Justice and Jubilee Ministries, Episcopal Church Advocacy Center.
The Rev. Debora Jennings, contact person for the Prosser group, stated: The Jubilee Ministry of Prosser has answered the call of Jesus to “Feed my sheep” for almost 30 years now. Working with other faith communities as well as other groups in our community, volunteers have not only served the needs of our community, they have worked hard to ‘respect the dignity of every human being. These funds will assist in meeting those needs as we seek and serve Christ in the young people in our community.”
Helen Lewerenz, representative for the St. Luke’s Jubilee Center, noted that this award will “permit our volunteers who frequently are asked by staff and case managers at St. Vincent’s [de Paul] for some unusual help … to respond to needs that might otherwise go unanswered. These might address: personal hygiene items; cash for vending laundry machines; new school clothes; healthy snacks for the children; a new book that a volunteer tutor can give to a young person struggling with reading skills; money to buy water balloons for summer play; new “double-dutch” ropes; a bike helmet for a child, etc. These funds will help in implementing our baptismal covenant which is the driving force behind our ministry.”
Ms. Lewerenz also noted that the Jubilee Ministry grant together with a recent $2,000 grant from Kootenai Electric Trust will supplement the congregation’s budgeted and donated funds, allowing continued and expanded efforts to address chronic homelessness in Kootenai County.