Faith Based Alliance Start-up
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
Milwaukee, WI
Greater Milwaukee Sponsors, Inc. (GMS) is an alliance of religious leaders seeking funds to build a broad-based citizen organization which will address critical social issues for those in great need. Seed money will be used to engage services of a professional community organizer to train GMS leaders to conduct meetings with congregations and community organizations to address issues such as affordable housing, job training, gun-violence, improved schools, health care and others.
Deaconess as House Parent
A Place of Refuge Ministries of South Wisconsin
Milwaukee, WI
A Place of Refuge provides assistance to expectant mothers and their babies in need. Many women calling their hotline are in desperate need of shelter. Most shelters in the area will only take pregnant women for a short time, if at all. Others will not take women with children and moms must relinquish their children to foster care for the duration of their stay. At Refuge House women and up to two additional children can stay throughout the pregnancy and up to nine months beyond. During this time, women can find employment, finish their education, receive counseling and decide whether to parent or make an adoption plan. Grant funds are requested to place a deaconess in the role of houseparent. By living at the shelter the deaconess can assist the women, physically, emotionally and spiritually.