Camelot Community Partners
Volunteers assist families in the immediate neighborhood of our church in partnership with other churches and organizations in our area. Summer 2020 activities are tentative because of COVID-19
Meet up – Eat up: free lunch distribution at Camelot Community Center.
Camelot Block Party, including backpack distribution: Sat. August 15? 11:30am-2:30pm
Community garden
We could use some compost heroes who want to take charge of putting compostables from church (e.g. coffee grounds, tea bags, fruit and vegetable scraps, shredded paper) in the two compost bins after church events.
English as a Second Language
The ESL program will start again in September. Teachers and other helpers will be needed. Contact Mark Fackler (pmfackler@gmail.com).
Mentoring at Ridge Park Charter Academy
Mentors help elementary and middle school children socially and academically. We are down to 5 mentors, and at least one is thinking is retiring, so we could definitely use more next year. Contact Pam Plantinga, pplantin@calvin.edu.
Mobile food pantry
Members of COS and friends can also access two other resources. The Mobile Food Pantry (food truck) distribution took place this Saturday, May 2 in the COS parking lot from 10 am -12 noon. We were thankful for the warmer temps and the sunshine on Saturday, and for Dan Voetberg’s leadership for the success of April and May Mobile Food distributions. We plan to have another Food Truck Drive-Thru on Saturday, June 6 from 10 am-noon.
Prisoners in Christ
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to reimagine prison ministry – and we are thankful for leadership from Nation Outside. Contact: Troy Rienstra (616) 448-8605 or troy@safeandjustmi.org. The Handlon book group, Calvin Prison Initiative and Celebration Fellowship prison congregation are continuing with “inside” leadership. Angel Tree ministry to families of prisoners will not be sending children to camp in the summer of 2020, but we stay in contact and plan to support these families in creative ways. Contact Lucie Marsden. (616)481-1425 (texts preferred.)
Formerly-incarcerated people receive housing and mentoring support through our CONTACT work with Living Water Ministry Network and 70X7 Life Recovery. Contact Pastor Rich Rienstra, (616)304-0187 or Carol Rienstra (616) 724-6772.
Refugee Support Team
There are many ways COS members and friends can help with refugees. These include household moves, child care, meals and food assistance, transportation, home visits, simple home repairs, help with vehicles, educational assistance for both kids and adults, youth mentoring, help with financial, medical, tax, and immigration problems, job seeking, professional referrals, prayer, faith formation, and more. Contact Nita Vander Berg, nitavanderberg@gmail.com.