Our Community

FEED OUR CHILDREN – SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM

Summer Lunch Program continues to make a difference in West Salem.  Close to 150 lunches are served each day, twice a week, adding up to almost 300 lunches a week, and over 3000 for the summer!  Huge thanks go to other congregations, individuals and organizations in the community, and all our large donation partners who make this program possible.

Special thanks go to:

• Team captains and team members who worked each week to make this ministry possible.
• Our corporate sponsors: Linda’s Bakery, Hansen’s IGA, and La Crosse County Dairy Producers, and Subway.

If you are interested in being part of the team to make this program happen in future summers, please contact Pastor Jon or Pastor Jean!

CARE AND SHARE FOOD PANTRY

Located in a room in the basement of Our Savior’s, the West Salem Area Community Care & Share Food Pantry opened its doors in 2002.  With guiding hands and generous hearts, twelve board members and many volunteers, give their time to make a difference in our community.  Families and individuals from West Salem, Bangor, Rockland, Barre Mills and Mindoro are served from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.  The pantry survives on the generosity of people and organizations for donations of both food and dollars.  Cereal, canned goods and peanut butter are always needed, but they will always accept fresh produce during the summer.  Donations can be dropped off weekdays during office hours, Saturday during Pantry hours and Sunday during worship hours.  Our Savior’s is blessed to be a part of the mission of providing food for people in need.

CORN ROAST

Held every August at the Lions Community Shelter, the free Corn Roast is a gift to our community, and provides an opportunity to meet and get to know our neighbors.  Close to 600 meals are served each year.  The Outreach Committee along with many volunteers provides a family friendly meal of hot dogs, roasted corn, watermelon and homemade dessert.  In old-fashioned picnic style, we gather together in fellowship to celebrate community.  All are welcome to join in this evening of fun.

JUNE DAIRY DAYS

The first weekend in June in West Salem is filled with families, food and fun – June Dairy Days (JDD)!  Each year volunteers from Our Savior’s and St. Teresa’s work together to provide food for this three-day event.  A menu that includes hot dogs, brats, hot beef, pork chop sandwiches and more is cooked and served by over one hundred volunteers.  In addition to running the food stand, our adults and youth work together to manage the JDD Run.  All ages are welcome to run or walk in this event.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

A new community event in West Salem, National Night Out is designed to bring the community together.  Our Savior’s supports the event financially, but is also present with information about our ministries, and an invitation to explore more fully what we are about.  We love the people of this community, and seek to support it any way that we can!

NORWEGIAN DINNER

A “WELCA” event that pulls together men and women of all ages (lots of kids in there too!), the Norwegian Dinner represents a time-honored tradition.  Lutefisk, lefse, meatballs, potatoes, cranberries, rutabagas and home baked desserts are prepared and served up in take-out or sit-down style, by close to 100 volunteers, at this annual Norwegian dinner. With beginnings all the way back to 1925, and a profit of $66.62, the dinner now raises thousands of dollars.  And what happens to all that?  ALL of it is distributed to a variety of missions, both local and worldwide.  Our celebration of heritage makes a difference in the world today!

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE

Community Assistance brings together a number of concerned agencies, organizations, and individuals in the community to seek ways to support community life and the people who call West Salem home.  School, business, healthcare, churches, and law enforcement work together to make people’s lives better.  Our Savior’s supports community assistance financially, and Pastor Jon and Pastor Jean are a part of the CA Team.  But so are a number of other Our Savior’s folk.  Pastor Jon also serves as the contact person for those in need.  This congregation cares for the needs of our community, and cares to work together with others!