Homeless and hungry locals lined up at Grace Lutheran Church on Third and Moreland streets Sunday morning for a free pancake breakfast—a weekly event the church has hosted more than a decade.
Pastor Sarah Stadler-Ammon said the church began giving away free monthly meals in the late 80s, and the congregation started this particular tradition in 1999 in hopes of getting to know the neighborhood. She said the church expected to meet local families, but ended up serving the local homeless.
“I think it’s really important that we recognize that all members of our community are members of our community,” she said. “Some of our community members need things, so we share what we have.”
Grace Lutheran partners with several other Valley churches to make the event happen. Every Sunday, volunteers from one of the churches show up at Grace at 6 a.m. to start cooking. Mike Johnson, a volunteer with Mesa’s Spirit of Hope Lutheran Church, said they typically serve between 300 and 350 plates of food each week.
“We serve these people,” he said. “We talk to them, and if they let us, we give them a hug.”
Each plate has three pancakes and two pieces of sausage, and volunteers go around the hall clearing plates and offering coffee refills through the morning.
“The goal is to serve our fellow human beings,” Johnson said. The volunteers aim to “think global, act local,” he added.
Tina Gilson, another volunteer from Spirit of Hope, said giving back at the pancake meals is inspiring.
“When you know that you’ve filled a belly of somebody who otherwise wouldn’t have gotten anything to eat that day—that’s what makes this really special,” Gilson said.
Built in 1928 but operating at different locations since 1914, Grace is the oldest Lutheran church in Arizona.
“It served the people during the Great Depression and it’s still serving the people now,” Johnson said.
The weekly pancake breakfast is one of many approaches the church has taken to alleviate the struggles of Phoenix’s homeless. Stadler-Ammon said the church hosts a clothing distribution every Monday morning, in addition to the free meal and bible study offered on Wednesday evenings.
During the summertime from June through August, Grace Lutheran Church is a heat-respite station for the homeless. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, the doors are open to individuals in need of not just air conditioning, but also sack lunches, water bottles and even a haircut.
Volunteers work to connect the homeless with behavioral-health clinics, employment agencies and other resources that can service their needs, Stadler-Ammon said.
There are several ways for volunteers to help the homeless. Stadler-Ammon is currently creating the schedule for 2016 pancake breakfasts and said there are various Sundays in need of volunteers.
Thirteen valley churches participated in serving pancake breakfasts in 2015, Stadler-Ammon said. Individuals do not need to be directly associated with a church to participate. If a group of friends would like to host, they are welcome to so long there are at least 10 people.
The pastor said the church is always in need of volunteers for the summer respite, Monday clothing distribution, and Wednesday-night meals. Locals can get involved by contacting her at pastorsarah@graceinthecity.com.
Stadler-Ammon explained that her congregation’s efforts have resulted in mutually beneficial associations.
“People experiencing homelessness are people who have stories and gifts to share,” she said. “It’s a joy to have relationships and be friends with these people.”
Contact the reporter at Sierra.Laduke@asu.edu.
