Mount Olive sees its location in a diverse urban setting as a big advantage. We can see clearly the needs of our neighbors—and by extension, the needs of people around the world. The parish offers many opportunities to get involved in serving others and understanding the gifts that others present to us.

Mount Olive Neighborhood Action Committee (MONAC) is one of the parish’s most active organizations. Its focus is on becoming Christ’s body in the world—that is, living out our faith by actively working to bring justice and peace in our community. If you can contribute to any of the following services, we ask that you email neighborhood@mountolivechurch.org or contact the church office. Here are some of the ways Mount Olive serves its immediate neighbors.

Volunteers help neighborhood students in grades two through six with homework and other school projects. Sessions are held every Tuesday from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. and are followed by a half-hour activity and snack. The program runs October through May.

Diapers are among the most critical needs for low-income families but aren’t readily available from local food shelf programs. The depot offers diapers at low cost to Minneapolis residents. It is open on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. (except for the first Tuesday of the month), and on Thursdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., September through May. The depot is closed during the summer.

J.A.S. offers neighborhood kids aged nine through 14 a stipend for doing simple jobs under adult supervision for four to six hours per week in the summer, and for two hours per week after school during the academic year. J.A.S. not only provides neighborhood children constructive tasks, but teaches responsibility and good work habits aimed at serving them well into adult life.

Mount Olive provides volunteer drivers for one week every month to deliver hot noon meals to shut-ins. New drivers are always welcome.

MONAC serves a free, nutritious meal to between 80 and 150 people, usually on the first Saturday of each month beginning at noon. Members and friends of Mount Olive join with neighbors to purchase food, gather donations from local groceries, prepare the meal and serve it to the hungry crowd.

It’s one of the most popular serving experiences that the parish offers. Members, friends and neighbors get to know one another while serving those in greatest need. And they learn firsthand the concerns of those living close by, sometimes leading to new service projects.

Many people come to community meals with small children. Volunteers organize games, crafts, puppet shows and other activities. Local bookstores provide children’s books, and meal volunteers often read to children in small groups.

In addition, MONAC raises money for school supplies, which are distributed at the August meal.

Mount Olive members and friends serve a meal on the second Sunday of every month to guests of Our Saviour’s Housing Program, a ministry of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church at 24th Street and Chicago Avenue.

MONAC also works in the political arena to promote public policies that alleviate poverty and injustice. It lobbies for legislation to reduce hunger, poverty and crime, while providing jobs, health care and hope. It encourages members to write and visit local, state and national public officials.

The following websites often post updates on the status of legislation and suggest ways to become involved in issues of peace and economic justice:

Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing
A Minnesota Without Poverty
Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy
Joint Religious Legislative Coalition
Bread for the World
Lutheran Office of Governmental Affairs

          RIC