Meals on Wheels
SOTV has been a part of this valuable community outreach ministry for many years and we invite you to be a volunteer driver on the 4th Thursday of each month.

To learn more about volunteering for Meals on Wheels, click here.

Bundles of Love
Bundles of Love is a non-profit, volunteer driven organization that helps babies and their families in many ways. They provide clothing, bedding and necessities for infants in need; correctly sized clothing for premature infants of all sizes; and burial garments and keepsakes for families who have suffered the loss of an infant due to stillbirth, complications of birth, or illness. SOTV supports Bundles of Love financially, by providing a monthly work space, and by collecting baby items during the year. www.bundlesoflove.org

Habitat for Humanity
SOTV supports Habitat for Humanity annually through:
• its summer youth mission trip to Milwaukee
• summer and fall work weeks in the Twin Cities
• financial support from the church and through a Father’s Day tool sale

Contacts: Bruce or Laurie Samuel at 952-432-4193.
To learn more about Habitat for Humanity, click here.

Military Support Meetings at SOTV
Contact Phil Plowman (651-452-5433) for more information.  http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/

Community Meals at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church
Every Thursday local churches rotate the responsibility to provide free evening dinners at Mount Calvary to 30 – 60 of our neighbors in need; people from the same communities as the members of Shepherd of the Valley.

To volunteer for October 23rd please contact: Linda Holt 651-454-5257 or holtrl@comcast.net

Christmas Gift Giving
There are many opportunities to share the Christmas spirit with those in need. Through this program, church members can provide gifts for families or provide financial support to a worthy local or global ministry. Ministries previously supported include: Tungamalenga Partnership, Southeast Asian Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International, Ebenezer Ridges Care Center, Dakota Woodlands, Wingspan Life Resources, Armful of Love and Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Red Cross Blood Drive (February & July)
SOTV sponsors two blood drives during the year, one in February and one in July.  In July of 07, 97 units of blood were collected!  Volunteers are enlisted to work during the drive, schedule appointments and assist the Red Cross with set-up and clean-up.

Birthday Bags (March)
An annual collection to provide party supplies for families who could not otherwise provide a celebration.   In 2007, SOTV volunteers filled and distributed 170 bags to the following organizations: Rosemount Family Resource Center, Southside Family Nurturing Center, Crisis Nursery, All Nations Indian Church, Rosemount Elementary School, San Martin Holy Trinity and Burnsville Teen Crisis Center.  SOTV members brought in party supplies, General Mills supplied cake mixes / frosting and Cub Foods donated the bags. 

Easter Baskets / Dinners
Each year SOTV expresses their support, concern and love to congregational members who have had a difficult year. In 2007, at least 66 dinners and 26 smaller coffee and cookie baskets were delivered.  Families served by this ministry are from SOTV, All Nations and Pueblo de Esperanza Church.

Children in Need Garage Sale (May/June)
All proceeds from this annual fundraising event are used for outreach projects which support area children in need and their families.  Thanks to this event, financial support has been given to Rosemount Family Resource Center, Bundles of Love, Southside Nurturing Center, Crisis Nursery, B. Robert Lewis House, Dakota Woodlands, Kaleidoscope program in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis, programs in ISD 196 and others.  This is a BIG project that requires the support of many volunteers.  If you are interested in helping with this ministry, contact Deb Schrader at 952-322-4739.

School Supply Drive (July/August)
SOTV sponsors an annual school supplies drive each summer that provides students in need with the supplies they need to be ready for school.  In 2007, approximately 650 district and area students benefited thanks to school supplies given by the congregation, financial support and volunteer efforts.  For more information about this program, contact Lisa Loher at 951-683-9127.

Winter Outerwear and Mitten Tree (November/December)
Through this annual collection of gently used winter outerwear and new mittens / hats, area children and families are distributed to area children and families in need.  For more information about this program, contact Lisa Loher at 951-683-9127.

Food Shelf Collection (monthly)
Food items, paper products, toiletries, baby items are collected monthly to stock local food pantry shelves.  For more information about this ministry, contact Mary Reed at 952-431-7230.

Gas Certificates (monthly)
Gas certificates purchased using garages sale funds are distributed monthly to support families in crisis situations.

Disaster Relief
SOTV steps up to help when local disasters strike.  Just recently we sent several small groups to Southeastern MN to aid with flood damage.

Operation Dough-Nation
SOTV volunteers participate in this outreach, sponsored by Panera Bread, by picking up day old bread and bakery items and delivering them to a variety of local service providers for distribution. For more information about this ministry, contact Laurie Danley at 952-432-3545.

Hurricane Katrina
SOTV has a passion for those suffering from the devastation left by hurricane Katrina.  We have had at least 9 mission trips prior to 2008 and we will continue in the years to come. We have assisted financially, had various collections and send volunteers. If you would like to know more about hurricane Katrina relief, contact Sue Carlson at 651-457-6942.