While the world battles the Covid-19 pandemic, people are doing their part to find ways to help those in need. The times we are living in are tough, but when we work together to uplift those who need help, we are reminded of the goodness that still exists. The pandemic presents new challenges for people, while also exacerbating preexisting problems. More people are dealing with food insecurity, so St. Luke’s partnered with local businesses to host a food distribution on campus every Tuesday. In order to best serve the community, St. Luke’s has also reached out to people in need with the goal of having open conversations on what resources were most needed, and what barriers they had to accessing aid.

Transportation poses a barrier to accessing aid, and not having reliable transportation makes finding work even harder. The pandemic makes the situation even worse, because having to rely on public transportation places you at a higher risk of contracting the virus. Thus, St. Luke’s started a new car ministry. This ministry works to find used car donations, as well as setting up maintenance days for oil changes. As of July 31, two families in need have received vehicles. For more information on how to get involved, visit st.lukes.org/car.

A new challenge stemming from the pandemic is having to work and attend school from home. This was a bigger adjustment for some than others, and many people found themselves without access to a computer. Without a computer, people cannot participate in virtual meetings or classes which makes working from home next to impossible. St. Luke’s is stepping in to meet this new need with the computer ministry. Those involved in this ministry are refurbishing old computers and building new low-cost computers. So far, they have given away 17 computers, and a dozen more are currently being refurbished. If you have a computer or any computer parts to donate, or can help with repairing computers, contact Amy Winslow at awinslow@st.lukes.org.