Thrivent clients put generosity in action

Southeast Region

Last fall, Thrivent clients in the Southeast Thrivent Member Network built water filters in a regional initiative to provide people in 15 countries access to clean water.

Serving Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, the Southeast Thrivent Member Network sponsored the Virtual Filter Build with the nonprofit Wine To Water.

Clients applied for a special Thrivent Action Team, and kits included three unassembled water filters, says Keri Taylor, Thrivent engagement specialist in the Southeast Region. Clients viewed a recorded video or participated online during a live educational event the last Tuesday of September, October or November.

“We wanted to educate them about the impact the water filters have,” Taylor says. “They then assembled the filters and shipped them to Wine To Water.”

In all, 154 Thrivent Action Teams built 462 filters. The event concluded on Giving Tuesday, when online donations to Wine To Water totaled more than $40,500. The Thrivent Member Network matched with $20,000.

Fraser, Michigan

Jeffrey Davis and his ceramics class at Lutheran High Northwest raised $1,833 when they created bowls and hosted an Empty Bowls dinner at St. John Lutheran Church. The money supported the church’s MCREST program, which helps people experiencing homelessness. The Thrivent Action Team provided the food. Those participating could then purchase the unique bowls.

Lakehills, Texas

More than 750 pairs of socks were given to students at Hill Country Elementary School by members of Lakehills United Methodist Church in October, also known as Socktober. Walter Roach created a Thrivent Action Team to help collect the socks. A local discount store donated 425 string backpacks for the socks.

Caldwell, Idaho

Steve and Sandy Jones saw a need at the Boise Rescue Mission, gathered their children and grandchildren, and took action to fill it. Their Thrivent Action Team collected pain medications, cough drops, lozenges, bandages, tissues and more and packaged them into 48 cold/flu kits. Each kit also contained a hand-written note of encouragement.

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Kristen Wilde’s Thrivent Action Team hosted an open house at Love in Action, a culturally diverse faith-based nonprofit offering education and outreach in their community. More than 60 people participated in random acts of kindness activities, including bubbles for children to share and flower seeds to plant. The cause card was used to purchase food, decorations, bubbles and seeds.