Feed the Need – Student Edition

Feed the Need – Student Edition
Food Pantry Drive for Middle and High School Students

Child hunger remains a serious issue in our area. While many of us support the SnackPack Program for elementary students, the need continues beyond elementary school. To help meet this need, the Service Committee is collecting donations for SnackPack Pantries at Anderson County Middle and High Schools.

We can support the SnackPack Food Pantries by donating the following items:
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Cereal
Toaster Pastries
Macaroni and Cheese
Ramen Noodles
Granola Bars

Donations will be accepted on Sundays, September 7 and 14, and during the weeks leading up to those dates. Please place items in the gray bin on the table in the room off the narthex. Donations will be delivered on Tuesday, September 16.
If you have any questions about this project or suggestions for future “Gathering and Giving” projects, please contact Jamie Corrigan at (864) 224-8070 or Leslie Cox at (301) 788-9035.

Cassderoles for Calvary Home for Children Update

Dinner is Served!
(By Holy Trinity Lutheran Church)
On the first day of school in Anderson County, twenty-seven casseroles were delivered to the
Calvary Home for Children. Thanks to your generous support, we were able to provide nourishing
food for foster families and bring smiles to the staff who received them.
During this busy back-to-school season, your kindness offered more than food – you gave foster
parents the gift of extra time with their children.
Thank you Holy Trinity!

Thank You Saturday Servants!

Thank You Saturday Servants!
A huge “Thank You” to all who supported our Saturday Servants effort! You donated peanut butter, jelly,
mayonnaise, chips, and cookies. You showed up to do prep work and clean up in the kitchen, make the
sandwiches and place food items into the bags, break down boxes and even take those boxes to the
recycling center. Many of you showed up at the Anderson Emergency Soup Kitchen to serve our neighbors
in need, sharing not only food, but also a smile, handshake, and at times, a short conversation.
In total, you made 495 lunches which included 990 sandwiches. You also made additional peanut butter
and jelly sandwiches with our remaining ingredients.
While the Service Committee may be “in charge” of this project, YOU are the ones who make it happen.
Many, many thanks Holy Trinity!

Casseroles for Calvary Home for Children

Sunday, we will begin a different outreach project for the community. We are gathering frozen casseroles for Calvary Home for Children, as the kids get ready to return to school. You may choose to purchase or prepare a casserole dinner but please refer to the bulletin or the last newsletter for all the details. Casseroles are to be placed in the freezer in Fellowship Hall. We will be doing this on July 27 and August 3.

7/27/25 Weekly Congregational Update

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

Here are this week’s updates to pass along to you:

• We had a good turnout this past Saturday with 24 volunteers who helped make sandwiches and bagged lunches for those hungry in the Anderson area. We will do this again, one more time, this Saturday at 9:45 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. It is very typical that the need for food increases later in the month so we are planning on making 187 bagged lunches on Saturday, which is quite an endeavor. Come join us!

• Sunday, I will be preaching on prayer based on our First Reading (Genesis 18:20-32) and our Gospel Reading (Luke 11:1-13). Thoughts to ponder:
• Who taught you how to pray?
• Why is it that some folks believe in the power of prayer while others do not?
• What exactly should we be praying for?
• What does it mean to be persistent in prayer?

• Sunday, we will begin a different outreach project for the community. We are gathering frozen casseroles for Calvary Home for Children, as the kids get ready to return to school. You may choose to purchase or prepare a casserole dinner but please refer to the bulletin or the last newsletter for all the details. Casseroles are to be placed in the freezer in Fellowship Hall. We will be doing this on July 27 and August 3.

• I am happy to report an improvement in health with two of our members:
• Joby Hefner returned home last week, following her rehab stay at NHC.
• Ernie Thoms is expected to return home on Saturday of this week.

• During these very hot days, please be aware that Pat and I often park our vehicles in the back parking lot, under a shade tree. The front parking lot may appear to be empty but the office may be full!

In Christ,
Pastor Fischer

7/20/25 Weekly Congregational Update

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

Here are this week’s updates to pass along to you:

  • I thought I would send out these updates a day early to share the latest with you concerning Ernie Thoms.  Ernie was released from the hospital yesterday (Tuesday) and was moved to Encompass Health and Rehab (Room 110), 3372 Laurens Road, in Greenville, as he continues to recover from his recent stroke.

  • We will gather again in Fellowship Hall this Saturday to make sandwiches and bagged lunches for those hungry in the Anderson area.  Please note the new time: 9:45 a.m.

  • On Sunday July 27 and August 3, the Service Committee will sponsor another outreach project for us.  We will receive frozen casseroles for Calvary Home for Children, as they get ready for a new school year.  We have supported this ministry for the last several years and our congregation has been very generous each time. See a bulletin or newsletter for all the details.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

7/13/25 Weekly Congregational Update and week 1 Saturday Servants

Dear Members and Friends of Holy Trinity,

Here are this week’s updates to pass along to you:

• Pat will be taking some time off next week and will not be in the office. We are thankful to Diane Richardson who will be answering the phone and assembling our next bulletin, among other things.

• We keep in our prayers:
o Ernie Thoms – who is at AnMed following a stroke
o Jan House and family – upon the death of her mother, Myrtle McLain
o Dave Korn – who is currently having severe back pain

• Be aware that fake emails are going around again, in my name. These current emails are asking for help in taking care of a request. I ask you to always think about how well you know me and what I normally do or don’t do. For instance, this email is signed, “Reverend J. Chris Fischer.” You have never seen me sign my name this formally before in previous correspondences with you. Also, always check the email address they give. If you are still in doubt, contact me by another means, never sending a REPLY to the person who sent it to you.

• Sunday, I will be preaching from the Gospel text, Luke 10:25-37 as we focus on the story of the Good Samaritan, and take a deeper look at, “Who is my neighbor?” Even though all of us know this story, perhaps we know it too well. I encourage you to read it anew and look at it from the actions of the three different characters in this parable.

• Family Fun Night will take place on Wednesday, July 16 at 5:30 p.m.

• We had 28 volunteers come out this past Saturday to make sandwiches as part of our Saturday Servants. Please be reminded that we will NOT gather this Saturday, July 12, but will do so again the following week, Saturday, July 19 at 9:45 a.m. {Note our new time.) If you ever wonder what it is like to pass out food, as part of Saturday Servants, please read the following summary from Leslie Cox.

In Christ,
Pastor Fischer

Week #1 of Saturday Servants

What a wonderful morning! Although it was very hot, we were able to stand under the awning to distribute food. We gave away everything within 45 minutes! Even after the food was gone folks continued to arrive seeking food. As a result, we will increase the number of lunches we make at our next packing on Saturday, July 19th. We will meet at 9:45 a.m. (NOTE: new time) since we finished early today. We will continue to need your help as we will make 165 meat and cheese sandwiches and 165 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a total of 320 lunches. If we need to increase again for the fourth Saturday we will do so, as food is a critical need for many in our community.

Let me share with you stories of two individuals we served today.

One young man came walking up to the Soup Kitchen, obviously overheated. (I would suspect he was one of our homeless neighbors.) I was truly worried for his well-being and was afraid he was going to pass out. He had removed his shirt and was holding it in his hand. Amy called out to him and tried to give him water. He walked to the bus stop, sat down, and after a minute put on his shirt. He then came over to us. He asked for a lunch for himself and “his lady.” He told us his lady was at the library as she could not walk that far in the heat. He stated that he only had one bus ticket so he was going to use that to get back to the library. He took his food, thanked us, and went to sit at the bus stop, awaiting a bus.

I checked the mileage. He walked 1.4 miles in the sun on a 90 degree day to obtain lunch. It made me think about the lengths to which some people in our community have to go to obtain food. What a blessing it is for us that we can give it.

A young girl who appeared to be around 11 or 12 came by herself to get food. She is a child we have seen before as she also came last summer to get lunches. She asked for two lunches. We tried to get her to take additional fruit, but she was having none of that! All I could think is, she is a child after all.

Having a grandson around the same age, I thought what it would be like to be a child and have to find your own lunches. This young girl was “please” and “thank you” and appeared very grateful for her lunch. As a mom and grandmother, I just wish I could do more.

I left today feeling blessed, but wanting to do more. Truly, Jesus is working through us and walking with us as we feed our neighbors. I look forward to seeing all of you at our next Saturday Servants packing.
Leslie Cox

Frozen Casseroles for Calvary Home for Children July 27 & August 3

Frozen Casseroles for
Calvary Home for Children
July 27 & August 3

For many years, Holy Trinity has provided frozen casseroles for Calvary Home for Children (CHC). With school starting the first of August, now is the perfect time to continue the tradition. Stocking CHC’s freezer with casseroles allows more time for the house parents to focus on the needs of the children than on “what’s for dinner?”

So how can you help? Prepare and freeze or buy a frozen casserole dinner (size 9’ x 13”).

If you choose to make a homemade casserole, be sure to use a disposable container and label by type, such as chicken and broccoli or lasagna, etc. Also attach the recipe or a list of ingredients to help address any allergy concerns.

You may deliver your casserole directly to the freezer in the Fellowship Hall. The freezer is located in the coatroom in the hallway just outside the Fellowship Hall. Just use your key or the keypad to access the building. Casseroles will be delivered to Calvary Home for Children on Tuesday, August 5.


If you have any questions, please contact Leslie Cox at 301-788-9035 or Jamie Corrigan at 864-224-8070.

The Service Committee

Saturday Servants

Saturday Servants
As in prior years, HTLC will prepare bagged lunches for the Anderson Emergency Soup Kitchen through the Saturday Servants Program. Each Saturday in July (except the second Saturday) we will gather in the Fellowship Hall to prepare 150 peanut butter/jelly sandwiches and 150 bologna and cheese sandwiches, along with other food items. The dates are Saturday, July 5th, 19th, and 26h with another church taking care of the second Saturday of the month. We will begin to pack
at 9:30 a.m. (Note the new time.)

We are asking for the following donations. Donations can be placed in the designated box in the room off of the Narthex.
• 900 individual snack size bags of salty snacks (chips, pretzels, goldfish, etc.)
• 125 boxes of individually-wrapped Little Debbie Cakes (any type)
• 22 jars of smooth peanut butter (40 oz. Size)
• 22 jars of grape jelly (16 oz. Size)
• 8 jars of mayonnaise (32 oz. Size)

If you have questions, please contact Leslie Cox at 301-788-9035 or Jamie Corrigan at 864-224-
8070, our Service Committee Co-Chairs.

Special Father’s Day offering

FATHER’S DAY is Sunday, June 15th. A special offering, sponsored by Lutheran Men, is being received to be given to
the South Carolina Lutheran Men in Mission. If you would like to make a donation In Memory Of or In Honor Of your
father, please fill out the form below. The names will be listed in the bulletin on Father’s Day. Deadline is June 8.