Mount Olive Neighborhood Action Committee - MONAC

Mount Olive's Neighborhood Action Committee leads our congregation's members to be active in advocating for the neighborhoods surrounding the church and the neighborhoods wherever we live. We write to and talk with our local, state and national legislators to advocate for policies that will reduce poverty, crime and hunger.

Get involved!

Get involved with advocating for just policies in our government! The MONAC bulletin board in the church's main hallway displays information about such opportunities. The following organizations also keep updated postings on the status of legislation and ways you can advocate for economic justice and peace:

State of Minnesota

• Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing
• Minnesota Without Poverty
• Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy
• Joint Religious Legislative Coalition

Federal

• Bread for the World
• Lutheran Office of Governmental Affairs

Community meal

Since 1999, MONAC has served a community meal once a month, usually on the first Saturday, free of charge to anyone who comes to our table. Volunteers purchase foods, gather donations from local grocery stores, prepare the meal and serve it to a hungry crowd of anywhere from 80 to 150 people.

It's an opportunity for Mount Olive members and friends to serve those in need, as well as an opportunity for committee members to hear the concerns and needs of those who live near us in this challenging urban area. A number of neighborhood action projects have arisen from our discovery of people's needs while engaging them during this monthly repast.

Ministry to Neighborhood Children

Since many people who come to the community meals have young families, MONAC also looks for ways to minister to the children while they are amongst us. The meals are an opportunity for games and crafts, puppet shows and other special activities.

Through generous donations from local bookstores, MONAC is able to give books to neighborhood children. Community meal volunteers often read to the children in small groups, and help them select books appropriate to their reading level.

Before the start of each school year, MONAC raises money to purchase school supplies. At our August community meal, all children are given a generous supply of pencils, pens, notepaper, rulers, glue, tape and other items they will need to be ready for the new school year.