Programs Maximizing Collaboration
Ebenezer Stone Ministries is a community ministry, which was founded as a soup kitchen on the south side of Milwaukee at 35th and Scott Street (in what was Ebenezer Lutheran Church). In 2008, Ebenezer consolidated with Hales Corners Lutheran Church. Since its founding, Ebenezer’s programs have expanded to include hot meals, a food pantry, a clothing closet, job readiness opportunities, and financial responsibility training.
Ebenezer Stone Ministries operates two food pantries serving about 500-600 families monthly. A bi-weekly pop-up pantry held outdoors in partnership with Hope Lutheran Church and Mission of Christ Lutheran Church distributes about 7,000 pounds of food within the first 30 minutes of each pantry event.
Its food distribution warehouse supports 30+ pantries. It relies on partnerships with grocery stores, food distributors, and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin to sustainably source over 500,000 pounds of food each year.
Other collaborations include:
A partnership with the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) through regular events to foster trust and break down barriers between the community and MPD.
A collaboration with healthcare agencies to provide preventative check-ups for food pantry guests.
A three-year partnership with More Than Food Consulting will build capacity at Ebenezer to create a “community hub” of resources.
Primary Focus Area: Food for food-insecure families and connections to resources and pathways to stability
Lutheran Affiliation: LCMS
Location: 1127 S 35th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53215
Website: https://ebenezerstoneministries.org/
Funding will support: Ebenezer continues to see more people in need of food and services. Funding will support its food pantries and the redistribution of food through its warehouse to support 30+ pantries. A contractual partnership with Feeding America provides food, shelving, a delivery truck, and access to expertise. It will also support an onsite navigator who connects clients to other social services including housing, job resources, and counseling services. Funding will ensure continued innovation and growth. It has expanded from serving just Milwaukee’s south side in 2019 with a budget of $49,000 to meeting the needs of over 30 Milwaukee area food pantries across the Milwaukee area with a budget of $250,361 in 2022.
Comments