SEAM

By far the largest program at SEAM is the assistance for basic human needs. Food is provided to those families in need. SEAM receives the food to contribute through donations from Dare To Care and from SEAM member congregations. St. Andrew has baskets ready for donations of food at both the door at the back of the Sanctuary and at the door near the church office. Volunteers take the food weekly to SEAM. The loss of so many jobs and the downturn in the economy in the past few years have caused an increase in families qualifying for food. There is a real need for more food on a continuing basis. Another money making project is the Used Inkjet and Laser print cartridges and Used cellphones. SEAM receives money for each of them and used the dollars to help at-risk families in our communities.

 

SEAM provides clothing through a partnership with Goodwill Industries. SEAM member congregations take items to the local Goodwill and tell the clerk that the donation is for SEAM. SEAM receives a monetary credit for the items and this credit is provided to those in need in the form of vouches that can be taken to Goodwill and used as money. Volunteer openings for interviewers in the Assistance Center are available right now. The day and hours are Mondays from 10am to 1pm. And, for nurses to provide blood pressure screenings any day of the week, M-F from 10am to 12:30pm. Contact SEAM at 499-9350 to volunteer for these positions.

 

One of the ways St. Andrew involves many members in assisting SEAM is the Kroger Gift Card and the Meijer Gift Certificate program. Individuals purchase the cards/certificates and as they use the cards to buy items at Kroger and Meijers, 5% of each purchase is credited to SEAM by the merchants. The gift cards may be replenished at any Kroger card register and reused on and on. Meijer Gift Certificates are not renewable and new ones must be purchased when the current ones are used up. For more information on this program and to purchase cards and certificates, contact Joe Haag.

 

SEAM has an after school program: Project YES! (Youth embracing School) a truancy prevention program operated out of the Klondike and Watterson Elementary Schools. Volunteers can choose to tutor for on or two days each week on Tuesdays and /or Thursdays from 4 to 5:30pm. Students range from grades one through eight and need help in a number of subjects. If you are senior in high school, a college student or adult your gifts are needed.

 

Each year St. Andrew help SEAM with the Thanksgiving Baskets SEAM provides for the needy in our community. Normally a couple from the church watches grocery sales and purchases the items needed to fill the baskets with non perishable foods. Gift cards and coupons are included for perishable foods. The cost for these baskets are covered by individual donations.

 

St. Andrew Church also utilizes the SEAM Blood Donor list to schedule donor appointments when our church provides a location for the Red Cross Bloodmobile. Contact Donna Wenzel to volunteer to assist with the appointment making process.

 

How can you help?

• Purchase items for SEAM as you do your weekly food shopping. Bring this food each Sunday morning and place it in one of the SEAM baskets.
  
• You can donate clothes or household items to Goodwill and mention that they are for SEAM. Goodwill will still give you a receipt that can be used to support a tax deduction on your income tax. They will also give SEAM the monetary credit. If it is inconvenient for you to take the clothing to Goodwill, drop it off at the church in one of the baskets designated for clothing.
  
• Save your used inkjet and laser print cartridges and your used cell phones. Save them at work and at home. Bring them to church and place in the appropriate SEAM container.
  
• Contact Bill Jewell at 499-8298 to volunteer to tutor a child.
  
• Make a monetary donation to help defray the cost of the Thanksgiving baskets.
  
• Purchase a Kroger Gift card or a Meijers Gift Certificate and use it for your regular grocery shopping.

Direct contact information for SEAM:

 

South East Associated Ministries, Inc.
6500 Six Mile Ln, Ste A
Louisville, KY 40218-2355
Phone: (502) 499-9350