Feeding Neighbors: Saint Stephen, Silver Spring, MD

When the synod offered the Feeding Our Neighbors mini grant in late 2025, Gateway and Good Neighbor ministry teams from Saint Stephen Lutheran Church in Silver Spring, MD applied. They asked their partner in ministry, La Sagrada Familia, what could be most helpful for the families they serve. For over three years, Saint Stephen had been sharing shelf-stable food, but it varied by month and by donor. Because of the grant they could ask, specifically, what was most needed and purchase it in bulk. This was critical as so many cutbacks were hurting those most in need and, due to the ICE occupation, many were afraid to go grocery shopping.

Their faithful La Sagrada Familia liaisons provided a list of food items and, in early December, they purchased enough to share many bags filled to the brim with critical staples that they requested: two types of flour, sugar, salt, canned fruit, pasta, mac-n-cheese, cereal, two types of beans, oil, and canned tuna. Bags were delivered on December 10, 2025. Recipients were thrilled and sent multiple pictures of very happy families after they received their bag of groceries.

Pastor Betty Landis of Saint Stephen gives many thanks to the leadership of Ana Ronquillo (Gateway Team), Darryl Jones (Good Neighbor Team), and Natalie and Suleyma (La Sagrada Familia liaisons).

Have you applied for and received a Feeding Our Neighbors Together grant? Don’t forget to share your story with the synod! We’re sharing our churches’ creative endeavors because when we work together, the ministry possibilities are endless.