Grace Lutheran in Phoenix is gearing up for their summer heat respite program, which will run 6/13 – 8/26/2022, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-4:30 pm. This will be their 17th summer of providing heat respite!

Their mission during the summer months is to provide a space for heat relief while building community through the sharing of community resources, meals, water, and ourselves in a place of being, belonging, and becoming. Volunteers and donations of food and items requested.

Pastor Sarah Stadler writes…

We are in need of:

• Kitchen Hosts who will welcome and orient volunteer groups to the kitchen, organize/serve breakfast and afternoon snack, and oversee the kitchen on their scheduled days.

• Kitchen Cooks who will create meal plans, grocery lists, cook, and oversee the serving of lunch on their scheduled days.

• Kitchen Helpers who will assist hosts, cooks, and volunteer groups in the kitchen.

• Welcome Volunteers who will greet guests, assist with sign in, answer questions, receive donations, and tend to various and sundry tasks at the Welcome Table.

• Room Volunteers who will help with set up and clean up, take out trash and recycling, assist with receiving donations, and various and sundry tasks in Hope Hall.

We are also in need of:

• Grace Room Donations: blankets, backpacks, shoes, small size hygiene products, men’s shorts (30, 32, 34), men’s tee shirts (L, XL).

• 100 sack lunches, packaged snacks, fresh fruit, or bottled water. To schedule a day to provide sack lunches, please contact our outreach coordinator Ksea at outreach@graceinthecity.com.

• 100 hot lunches. You and a group of friends, family, or church family are welcome to cook and serve a hot lunch for 100 people for the summer heat respite program! To schedule a day to provide a hot meal, please contact our outreach coordinator Ksea at outreach@graceinthecity.com.

Donations are gratefully received Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm throughout the program—June 13-August 26.

If you are interested in volunteering or have questions, please be in touch with our outreach coordinator Ksea (outreach@graceinthecity.com).

For those who plan to volunteer with the summer heat respite program, please join us for the heat respite volunteer orientation on Sunday, June 12 at 11:30 am-1:00 pm in the North Room of Hope Hall at Grace Lutheran Church, 1124 N 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004. Lunch will be provided. Come to learn how the program will work this year. Thank you for helping provide space for heat relief and building community at Grace!