Spreading love to our neighbors
Blankets, Meals and more
Blanket Ministry
The Blanket Ministry at Grace Lutheran is outreach that serves the Outer Banks community. The Blanket Ministry Team coordinates with the Outer Banks Hospital Labor, Delivery and Nursery department.
Three times a year, Grace knitters make and donate baby blankets for newborns – knitted, crocheted, or quilted by members of our congregation, along with hats and booties.
From those individuals that don’t have these creative talents, purchased blankets or quilts are welcome! We sew labels on the blankets with our church’s name. Prior to donating the blankets, Grace has a special dedication and blessing during our Sunday worship service. After the blessing, the Ladies of Grace package a blanket and a hat in a large zip lock bag. We deliver blanket bags to the hospital’s Community Development Coordinator and the Labor and Delivery staff for distribution. It is a wonderful keepsake for parents and their infant child, a reminder of their homecoming. Grace has received many appreciative responses from parents.
Beach Food Pantry
Members of Grace have volunteered at the Beach Food Pantry for many years. Volunteers assist families in their selection of food items, pack their grocery bags and assist them loading the bags into their vehicles. Members of the congregation donate non-perishable items throughout the year.
A special offering is taken at Grace prior to Thanksgiving that provides food for a complete Thanksgiving meal to residents of Dare County.
Grace’s Schedule for the Beach Food Pantry volunteering this year is available! Call or email the church office to learn more and to sign up.
Thank you for the generous giving to our community. Helping our neighbors is what it’s all about!! For more information, visit Beach Food Pantry.
Interfaith Community Outreach
Over thirty years ago, a founding father of our church, Bob Wentzel, began an outreach program to the community called “The Adopted Family Program.”
Dare County Social Services provided names of families that needed assistance. Grace Lutheran, with other churches in the area, would provide the family with groceries and clothes. This program also provided financial relief to people who dropped by or contacted the church to help with bills such as electricity.
In 2004, the Interfaith Community Outreach (ICO) was created so that information and resources would be shared.
Members of Grace Lutheran volunteer assisting with intake and other administrative tasks. Grace provides financial support to the ICO with proceeds from our VBS offering and special “love offerings” during the calendar year. For more information, visit Interfaith Community Outreach.
Room in the Inn
Each year, together with other church groups, we provide support to our homeless population on the Outer Banks.
For the benefit of RITI, we:
- Volunteer as “innkeepers” to provide and serve meals.
- support a major “Lunch-to-Go” fundraiser;
- host “A Graceful Christmas” benefit concert;
- Put up an angel tree in December to encourage donations of clothing, shoes, and toiletries.
Each year, we provide a week’s worth of meals for all residents at the Inn. This means coordinating with RITI staff to ensure residents are given a home cooked dinner each day and have all the supplies necessary for breakfast and lunch. Together with other churches on the Outer Banks, we provide support for the housing insecure from November through April.
For more information, visit Room in the Inn.
Books for Inmates
Grace Lutheran Church’s Books for Inmates outreach program began in February 2023 with Tidewater Regional Jail. We gather donated paperback books to take to incarcerated individuals in Virginia and North Carolina.
“Thank you so much for the books. We’d love more and the inmates are very appreciative to have new reading material” said Ms. Powell, the jail librarian.”
WaterLife Pregnancy Care Center is in the Outer Banks community of Nags Head, North Carolina. Our goal is to help women and families involved with an unexpected pregnancy. We offer help for the present by providing no cost pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and classes for our clients.
WaterLife gives incentives to each client enrolled in prenatal and parenting classes allowing clients to earn baby items for every class completed. All care whether medical or material, is confidential.
Our goal is to offer a peaceful and kind center where everyone feels valued and confident as they navigate pregnancy and parenting. We are a nonprofit organization sponsored primarily by individuals, churches and businesses. Our staff and volunteers are well trained and willingly give their time to mentor every woman and family member who enters.
WaterLife Pregnancy Care Center, formerly known as Creative Choices Pregnancy Resource Center is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization in business for over 30 years.
Grace Lutheran is helping raise awareness and funds for Waterlife through participation in various public events. Learn more at waterlifepcc.com
Alice Jaeger, Chair for Outreach and Evangelism
Alice Jaeger is a native of NY, attended Concordia College, Bronxville, NY and relocated to Northern VA. After retirement, she moved to her permanent home on the Outer Banks. A member of Grace for 11 years, she is currently serving as Chairperson of the Outreach-Evangelism Team at Grace. Alice is the mother of 3 children and 4 grandchildren.
Want to get involved? Contact Alice today.
