Called to do GOD’S work with OUR hands, Silverdale Lutheran Church’s mission is to love Kitsap and the world! Through the years SLC has developed community connections and partnerships which truly make a difference within our community and change lives. Explore below the many and varied places SLC has chosen to connect. We are grateful for the generous donations of time and resources to these outreach efforts. For more information, please click on the pre-pandemic Love in Action link (if available) at the end of the ministry description. **As you read through the list, please recognize that the COVID pandemic has temporarily changed some of our interactions with these ministries.
Al-Anon An Al-Anon group meets weekly in the Gathering Place of SLC to provide supportive conversation for folks dealing with alcoholism within their families.
For more information on Al-Anon please visit: https://al-anon.org/
Alzheimer’s Support SLC provides a gathering space for an Alzheimer’s Support Group to meet. In the fall of 2021, SLC joined the “Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Kitsap Peninsula” as a walking team and fundraiser for the cause. In 2022, the Kitsap walk will be held on September 10th.
Benedict House Catholic Community Services opened Benedict House in 2006 as an emergency shelter with transitional housing for single homeless men or men with children. SLC prepares and serves dinner meals, donates hygiene kits/quilts and new/gently used clothing.
Love in Action – Benedict House
For more information visit: https://ccsww.org/get-help/shelter-homeless-services/benedict-house/
Bremerton Foodline Serving the Bremerton School District area, Bremerton Foodline is a source of emergency food assistance USDA Commodities distribution, a supplemental food program, and holiday baskets. SLC contributes financially to this organization. For more information please visit: https://www.bremertonfoodline.org/
Love in Action – Bremerton Foodline
Birkenfeld Stella Maris House The Society of St. Vincent de Paul opened this 21-bed shelter for women and women with children whose lives have been compromised. The shelter provides housing, food, and a safe, supportive environment. SLC supports this ministry with benevolence dollars. For more information please visit: https://www.svdpbremerton.com/
Boy Scouts of America Silverdale Lutheran sponsors Boy Scout Troop 1541, Cub Scouts Pack 4544, and Crew 1548. The groups use the Gathering Place for their meetings. Numerous SLC folks volunteer and provide leadership and role models for these young boys/men in our community.
For more information on Boy Scouts visit: https://www.scouting.org/
Central Kitsap Food Backpacks 4 Kids Started in 2013, Backpacks 4 Kids provides weekend supplemental meals to those children and their families who are at risk of weekend hunger during the school year. SLC collects food donations in the Fellowship Hall and supports this ministry with benevolence dollars. SLC volunteers have served on the board and given time preparing the food items for distribution.
Love in Action – CKB4K
For more information visit: https://www.ckfoodbackpacks4kids.com/
Central Kitsap Food Bank Our local food bank networks with businesses and non-profits to help meet the needs of those dealing with food insecurity. SLC collects ongoing food donations in the Fellowship Hall. Volunteers share their time at the food bank and serve on the board. The food bank supports our Hearty Meals ministry.
Love in Action – CK Foodbank
For More information visit: https://ckfoodbank.org/
Coffee Oasis In operation since 1997, Coffee Oasis is a faith based, non-profit organization that supports several coffee businesses and youth programs for homeless and street-oriented youth (ages 15-25). SLC shares financial support, volunteer time and at times quilts for the shelter. For more information visit: https://thecoffeeoasis.com/
Love in Action – Coffee Oasis
Cottage Bay Apartments The Bremerton Cottage Bay Apartment complex is one of SLC’s community partnerships that provides low-income individuals and families with an affordable community in which to live. The children attend Esquire Hills Elementary School, which SLC is invested in also as a partner. SLC volunteers have created a summer lunch program with activities; provided homework support; helped with monthly Kids Club activities; partnered with the Trunk or Treat event; provided homemade quilts, hats, scarves, pillowcases for their Christmas Stocking sharing with 80 children along with support for the dinner for 80 families; and provided new school backpacks and supplies for the children and youth. We are partnering with Esquire Hills to support a monthly gathering for families at Cottage Bay and nearby Kariotis mobile home park.
Love in Action – Cottage Bay
Eastside Baby Corner – West Sound Founded in 1990, this organization helps children reach their full potential by meeting basic needs today. A large partnership network collects community donations of new/gently used items or monetary donations which go to purchase needed items, all of which are then distributed to families. Eastside Baby Corner serves families with infants to 12-year-old children at no cost. SLC & the SLC Preschool contribute donations to this ministry. For more information visit: https://babycorner.org/
Love in Action – Eastside Baby Corner
ELCA Good Gifts SLC folks choose this opportunity to make a global impact with their giving. ELCA Good Gifts offers you the choice to give a gift in honor or celebration of someone…say for their birthday, Christmas, anniversary or graduation! For $10.00 or more you can purchase farm animals, school supplies, solar-powered lanterns, health clinic supplies, water filters, farming tools, small business loans, a fish farm…and the list goes on. Why not choose to make a real difference in our world? For more information visit: https://goodgifts.elca.org/
Love in Action – ELCA Good Gifts
Emerald Heights Elementary School SLC supports one of our neighborhood schools with classroom volunteers and tied fleece blankets for the calming comfort corners of the classroom. Throughout the school year, SLC shares appreciation gifts with the entire staff. For more information visit: https://emeraldheights.ckschools.org/
Empowering Life Prison Ministry A ministry of the Southwestern Washington Synod, Empowering Life serves women who are incarcerated at the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Purdy and at Mission Creek in Belfair. SLC supports Empowering Life through our benevolence dollars, attending their worship services, helping with fundraisers, donating clothing, and as mentors. Love in Action – Empowering Life Prison Ministry
Esquire Hills Elementary School SLC’s strong community partnership with Esquire Hills is visible in numerous ways. SLC volunteers help out at school family events, in the classroom and are instrumental in the STEM learning focus. When many students could not afford to purchase t-shirts, in the spirit of school unity SLC provided each student with a new EH school shirt at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. The second-grade students are recipients of the Bridging the Gap Summer Reading project. SLC supports the school’s efforts to connect with students and families living in the Cottage Bay Apartments and Kariotis Mobile home park. SLC affirms the faithful work of the Esquire Hills staff with appreciation gifts throughout the year. We are sponsoring a Family Fun event on April 30th for SLC and school families on the Esquire Hills outdoor campus. For more information please visit: https://esquirehills.ckschools.org/
Girl Scouts of America
Since 2018, the Girls Scouts have enjoyed using the Gathering Place for their meetings. SLC received the “Community Partner Award” for outstanding service to the Girl Scouts of Western Washington. SLC volunteers provide leadership and service as they nurture the character and strength of young women in our community. n For information on girl scouts please visit: https://www.girlscoutsww.org/ Love in Action – Girl Scouts
God’s work. Our hands. Servant Events Several times during the year, SLC hosts a God’s work. Our hands. Servant Event which highlights various outreach ministries. SLC folks gather and work together on special projects which then are shared throughout the community and around the world. We “love Kitsap” in unique ways and touch many lives with our efforts. The servant events for 2022 will happen on Sunday morning, May 22 and on Wednesday evening, November 30. Mark your calendar to use your hands to do God’s work! Love in Action – God’s Work May 22 Love in Action – God’s Work Sept 11
Hearty Meals For 27 years, a team of dedicated SLC volunteers has prepared and served a hearty meal every Wednesday at noon in SLC’s Fellowship Hall. Originally started as a ministry with the homeless, Hearty Meals has evolved into a ministry providing a nutritious meal where anyone in the community is welcome to come, be fed and enjoy friendly conversation with others. SLC financially supports this ministry.
John D. “Bud” Hawk Elementary School at Jackson Park Located in Bremerton between the Naval Hospital and The Landings military housing, Hawk Elementary serves a culturally, educationally, and economically diverse student population, always striving to empower them to become lifelong learners. The only K-5 Montessori program in the CKSD is located on the Hawk Elementary campus. SLC now partners with Hawk Elementary through our Bridging the Gap Summer Reading Project. We are sharing teacher appreciation gifts to support the entire staff. For more information please visit https://hawk.ckschools.org/
Hometown Band Founded in 1982, the Hometown Band is a community band of all volunteers of many ages, levels of experience and abilities. SLC supports the development of musicians and bringing music to the community by hosting the band each Tuesday evening in the Fellowship Hall. The Hometown Band performs an average of 30 concerts a year around Kitsap County, including at SLC.
Island Lake Cemetery For over 100 years, Island Lake Cemetery has been a final resting place for many of God’s faithful people. Owned by SLC, volunteers oversee and maintain the grounds and assist with each burial. All are welcome to purchase a gravesite within this cemetery.
Love in Action 10/23
Love in Action – Island Lake Cemetery
Kidstown International Caring for orphaned and neglected children, Kidstown International supports children’s homes that improve their quality of life and educational opportunities in a Christ-centered environment giving them hope for the future. Kidstown’s vision is where every child is loved and equipped to impact the world. As of 2020, Kidstown International is helping care for 1,000 children living in 49 orphanages in Romania, India and Nepal. SLC supports this ministry with benevolence dollars.
Kidzz Helping Kidzz Started in 2016 by 9 year-old Zachary from Bremerton, Kidzz Helping Kidzz gathers toys to share with children at local St. Michael Hospital, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Seattle Children’s Hospital at Christmas and Easter. SLC folks contributed new toys during these collection times. In 2021, 9000 toys were distributed in Puget Sound area hospitals. The goal for 2022 is 5,000 lives touched by these gifts. Kidzz Helping Kidzz also hosts a weekly zoom “Kids Chat” to help children across the country dealing with social isolation connect during these pandemic years. For more information please visit: https://www.kidzzhelpingkidzz.org/ Love in Action – Kidzz Helping Kidz
Kitsap Community Resources A non-profit social service agency established in 1965, Kitsap Community Resources creates hope and opportunities for low-income Kitsap county residents by providing resources that promote self-sufficiency and stability. In 2021, SLC partnered with KCR to generously create 24 Thanksgiving and 32 Christmas baskets to share with families, including veterans, single moms and some women escaping domestic violence. For more information please visit: https://www.kcr.org/ Love in Action – KCR
Kitsap Rescue Mission Beginning 
ministry in 2009, Kitsap Rescue Mission provides welcoming shelter, meals, clothing, hygiene supplies and case management for those experiencing homelessness in Kitsap county. During the past two years, the shelter has moved to the Kitsap County Fairgrounds Pavilion and then to the Bremerton Quality Inn. In the spring of 2022, Kitsap Rescue Mission will move again and begin to manage a 75 bed shelter in Port Orchard. During their year at the fairgrounds, SLC volunteers prepared the Monday lunches for 80 shelter residents. SLC has supported them financially through the years. For more information please visit: https://kitsaprescue.org/ Love in Action – Kitsap Rescue Mission
Life Pax A non-profit organization, Life Pax’s mission is to feed the hungry and share the love of Christ one meal at a time. One Life Pax is a healthy, inexpensive, non-perishable meal that also includes practical social service resource information. The Life Pax ziploc meals are located in a wooden box just inside the church’s entrance doors. Pick up several to keep in your car to share with a neighbor or some on a street corner in need of a meal. SLC assists in the purchase of meal items and SLC volunteers put together the Life Pax.
Living Stones Prison Congregation A congregation of the Southwestern Washington Synod, Living Stones offers a word and sacrament ministry to incarcerated men at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton and the Washington State Reformatory in Monroe. SLC supports this ministry with benevolence dollars, participating in the yearly raffle fundraiser, worshipping with the congregation, creating Freedom backpacks, and sharing gently used clothing with their Clothing Locker. For more information please visit: https://livingstonespc.org/ Love in Action – Living Stones Prison Congregation
Lutheran Community Services Northwest
With roots dating back to 1921, Lutheran Community Services Northwest has partnered with individuals, families and communities for health, justice, and hope. LCSNW offers Behavioral Health Services, Family and Community Support, Refugee and Immigrant Services, Child Welfare Programs, Aging and Independent Living, and Crime Victim Services. SLC supports LCSNW with our benevolence dollars. SLC volunteers share their time and financial resources and also serve on the board. SLC is supporting their Afghan refugee efforts with donations and resettlement kits. Love in Action – Lutheran Community Services NW
Lutheran Disaster Response Reaching out to people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters, Lutheran Disaster Response brings hope, healing, and renewal to communities within the United States and around the world. SLC contributes financially to LDR by responding to specific disasters like floods, hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, and wildfires. For more information please visit:
https://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Relief-and-Development/Lutheran-Disaster-Response
Love in Action – Lutheran Disaster Response
Lutheran World Relief Founded in 1945, Lutheran World Relief is a non-governmental organization who works with worldwide partners to respond to emergencies, seek lasting solutions to rural poverty and work for peace and justice for all. In 2021, SLC supported the ministry of LWR through our gifts of 361 handmade quilts, 131 school kits and 56 personal care kits. For more information please visit: https://lwr.org/
Love in Action – Lutheran World Relief
Martha and Mary For over 130 years, Martha and Mary has served the Kitsap area by providing quality, compassionate care regardless of socio-economic status. Martha and Mary offers rehabilitation services, senior living housing, long-term care, memory care, palliative care, respite care, at-home care and child care centers. SLC is one of the 8 Lutheran Member Congregations that support Martha & Mary’s mission of care. Pastor Bill serves as a trustee on the board and SLC members volunteer their time with this incredible ministry. SLC supports Martha and Mary with benevolence dollars. SLC children/youth have created and shared “Welcome Gift Bags” for those new residents with limited income. Love in Action – Martha & Mary
Military Outreach SLC is deeply grateful for the sacrificial service of the sailors and their families who are stationed in our area. In the past year, we have reached out to support our military through 80 Welcome Home USS Nimitz gift bags; hosting Family Readiness events; sharing Christmas dinner bags/family activities bag/pizza dinner with 60 families; and invitations to connect at family events such as the Treat Trail, Ice Skating and Vacation Bible School. Our SLC preschool serves military families, providing faith centered early childhood education for their children. SLC partners with several area elementary schools who have a significant number of military students. SLC supports this outreach financially and with many volunteers.
North Kitsap Fishline In operation since 1967 in Poulsbo, Fishline serves individuals and families residing within North Kitsap County. Fishline offers a Healthy Foods Market, Second Season Boutique, and a Second Season Home Store. Fishline’s mission is to provide food and access to resources that offer stability, improve health and well-being, and help people onto a path to self-sustainability. SLC provides financial support to Fishline.
For more information please visit: https://fishlinehelps.org/
Olympic Lutherhaven Camp Since 1955, this camp and picnic area on Wildcat Lake in Bremerton has been owned by SLC and 5 other Lutheran churches. SLC uses Lutherhaven for Family Camp, our church picnic, Middle camp, retreats, All Church Camp and summer youth nights. As an opportunity to share this beautiful camp setting with others, Lutherhaven is open to rental by other churches and non-profit organizations. SLC donates to the operation of Lutherhaven through our church budget. SLC volunteers give many hours to its maintenance and upgrades. SLC always has several members serving on the board. http://www.olympiclutherhaven.org/
Love in Action – OLC April 10 Love in Action – OLC Family Camp Love in Action – OLC middle camp
Pacific Lutheran University One of 26 ELCA Colleges and Universities, Pacific Lutheran University is located in Tacoma. PLU seeks to educate students for lives of thoughtful inquiry, service, leadership and care – for other people, for their communities and for the Earth. Numerous SLC members are attending or have attended PLU and continue to generously share their time and support. SLC supports PLU through benevolence dollars. https://www.plu.edu/
Love in Action – Pacific Lutheran University
Quilters A ministry started in 1969, SLC Quilters gathers every Monday morning in the Fellowship Hall to create quilts to share with those in need of warmth. During 2021, the quilters made 361 quilts that were shipped to Lutheran World Relief and additional quilts that were shared within our community. All are welcome to join in this creative work. SLC supports this ministry with monetary and in-kind donations and the helping hands of many volunteers. Love in Action – Quilters
Ride for Refugees SLC has a deep desire to impact the resettlement of refugees in the Pacific Northwest. On August 20, 2022, SLC will be again sponsoring the Ride for Refugees fundraising event. The event will begin and end on our campus, so many volunteers will be needed. All funds will support the Afghan resettlement efforts of Lutheran Community Services Northwest. https://lcsnw.org/kitsap-ride-for-refugees/
SERRV For over 70 years, SERRV has been fighting global poverty through fair and ethical trade. SERRV is now connected with 25 countries and over 8,000 artisans and farmers, selling their beautiful handcrafts and goods. SLC hosts a SERRV Fair Trade Market each Christmas season and you can also make purchases all year round online.
Servant Trips SLC’s youth have an opportunity during their high school years to participate in mission trips within the United States and internationally beyond our borders. SLC has also sponsored an intergenerational mission trip to Hoquiam to serve their community. During the summer of 2022, our high school youth will travel to the Blackfeet Nation in Idaho to learn and serve. SLC supports these trips financially through fundraising efforts.
Love in Action – Hoquiam Love in Action – Youth Servant Trip
Silver Ridge Elementary School of the Arts SLC sponsors a “Reading Buddies” programs for one of the second grade classes at our neighborhood school and has supported their gently used book drive. Silver Ridge is one the schools who benefits from our Bridging the Gap Summer Reading Project. SLC supports the entire staff with appreciation gifts throughout the school year. Love in Action – Silver Ridge School fo the Arts
SLC Bridging the Gap Summer Reading Project
The Bridging the Gap Summer Reading Project was created by Silverdale Lutheran Church to assist in preventing summer reading loss. Research shows that summer reading loss, particularly with low-income students, is directly related to the number of books in their homes. If students are given 10+ new books of their own choosing to take home at the beginning of the summer, those students will basically maintain their same level of reading into the fall.
In June 2022, this project provided 10 new books to every second-grade student at Silver Ridge, Esquire Hills, and Hawk Elementary Schools – a total of 214 students…so 2,140 new books! This was a community partnership. , the 2022 project was funded by Silverdale Lutheran Church, a Silverdale Rotary Club Duck Bucks grant, Walmart Community grants and Thrivent Financial Community grants.
- SLC volunteers coordinated the project, set up the books in each library and assisted the children as they chose their books.
- Books were recommended by the library staff of each school. Silverdale Lutheran is a Scholastic Literacy Partner with Scholastic Books.
- Each child received a backpack for their books and a handcrafted bookmark.
Silverdale Lutheran believes strongly in nurturing the education of our community’s children and making a difference in their futures!
Love in Action – Bridging the Gap
SLC Preschool For 27 years, SLC’s Preschool ministry has provided a hands-on, loving learning environment for our community’s children. A theme based curriculum reflects the varying developmental levels of the children in the 2-year-old to 4-year-old Pre-Kindergarten classes, based on NAEYC guidelines. Class time includes learning centers, music, science, reading & math readiness, storytime, weekly chapel and outdoor play. SLC members are a part of the staff, serve on the Advisory Board and volunteer their time to support the nurture of these young children and their families. Love in Action 7/31
Love in Action – Bridging the Gap
StandUp for Kids A national non-profit organization since 1990, StandUp for Kids has an ongoing presence in Kitsap county. They serve unaccompanied homeless and at-risk youth ages 12-24, helping them transition from surviving to thriving. StandUp for Kids coordinates their efforts with many local agencies/organizations, relying solely on community and individual donations for funding. SLC has provided hygiene kits and gently used clothing/sleeping bags for their ministry with our community’s youth.
YWCA ALIVE Shelter The doors opened in 1978 for the ALIVE Shelter to provide a supportive network of services for the survivors of domestic violence and their children and at-risk family. This facility is the only state-certified domestic violence shelter in Kitsap County. SLC supports their efforts financially. http://ywcakitsap.org/alive-program/
Love in Action – Bridging the Gap
Financial support for SLC’s Community Outreach currently comes from a variety of sources: SLC members’ monetary and in-kind donations; SLC benevolence and budget dollars; Thrivent Financial Community Action Team grants; Thrivent Financial Choice Dollars; Rotary Club of Silverdale Duck Bucks partnership grants and Walmart Community Grants.
In Jesus Christ, all of life – every act of service in every daily calling, in every corner of life – flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.