Thrivent Action Teams
If you are a Thrivent member you have TWO Thrivent Action Teams available to you EACH YEAR. Each action team is designed to bring volunteers together and provides $250 in seed money to complete each project
(plus awesome t-shirts).
Consider using one or both of your Thrivent Action Teams to benefit LOMC!
Take a look below at our current needs and fill out the simple form below to let us know you can help.
From Thrivent’s Website:
Thrivent Action Teams make it easy to live generously. It starts with a simple question: “Who can I help and how?”
Next, identify a community need and grab friends and family to form a volunteer team and brainstorm ways to address it. Thrivent provides a customized kit of resources to kick-start your fundraiser, educational event or service project. Your team provides the people power to bring it to life.
How To Help
- Pick a Thrivent Action Team idea from below or come up with a new idea.
- Fill out LOMC’s form so we know who is creating which Thrivent Action Team.
- Sometimes we have more than one person submitting the same Action Team and one will get rejected.
- We will get back to you promptly to let you know if everything is a GO on our end.
- Go to Thrivent’s website, login and submit your Action Team.
- Feel free to use LOMC’s address to send the materials directly to us.
- 1834 S Il Route 2 Oregon, IL 61061
- Feel free to add t-shirts and other items as a part of the Action Team. LOMC will use them.
Health and Safety
Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center is committed to help keep guests and campers safe when at the outdoor ministry site. COVID test kits are needed to protect and inform staff and guests from spreading and getting the COVID virus.
The seed money will be used to help purchase antigen self-tests that staff and guests can use to better assess the likelihood they have the COVID virus.
Volunteers will be purchasing tests and training staff (and other volunteers) on their use.
With COVID-19, the need to keep people safer is a top priority. LOMC is a large retreat center serving children, youth, families and adults year-round. Many different types of equipment are needed to keep guests and staff safe.
The seed money will help purchase free-standing hand sanitizers that can be put where guest and staff need them most.
Volunteers will be purchasing, assembling and placing the hand sanitizer stands around LOMC.
Property
Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center in Oregon, IL needs help in directing guests. Some existing signs are too weathered to read and additional signs are needed to direct guests.
The seed money would be used to purchase both permanently installed and lawn signs that will greatly help visitors know where to go.
Volunteers will taking down old signs and assembling and installing new signs around the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center property.
In a very rural area, electrical power issues cause thousands of dollars of damage to equipment due to brownouts and power outages. At Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center, volunteers and staff have drawn up plans to protect equipment including: ice machines, fridges and computer equipment.
The seed money would be used to purchase surge protectors and devices to regulate voltage.
Volunteers will removing old (worn out) devices and installing the necessary equipment to keep LOMC’s electric and electronic equipment safer.
Technology
LOMC has a handful of buildings that could use some security features. The retreat center already has the equipment to handle more cameras (in part thanks to a prior Action Team) and the addition of a few more cameras will help keep things safer.
The seed money will be used to help purchase a camera to be installed on a building at the retreat center.
Volunteers will be ordering and installing the cameras at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center.
LOMC has many buildings that have wifi internet but there are a few outdoor areas that could benefit from having wifi. Some groups (churches, youth groups, etc.) often meet at LOMC’s pole barn or campground pavilion and ask if there is internet. This project will help us provide internet for groups to show presentations, stream video and more.
The seed money will be used to purchase outdoor wifi access points for Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center’s Pole Barn and Tent & Trailer Pavilion.
Volunteers will be helping purchase the items and then installing them onsite.
LOMC has a good computer network and a few pieces of equipment are older and needing to be upgraded to make technology flow in outdoor ministry.
The seed money will be used to purchase a new Ethernet switch to help keep information moving along.
Volunteers will be helping purchase the items and then installing them onsite.
Program Center
The Nelson Program Center is a year-round building at LOMC primarily used by children and youth. The multi-purpose building could use some new resources to teach everyone about God’s natural world. We want to add books and other resources to help us in teaching about the environment.
The seed money will go towards purchasing books, kits and other educational resources.
Volunteers will be sorting older resources and helping lead environmental activities with groups.
Retreat Cabins
LOMC has two wonderful meeting buildings adjacent to the cabins but it needs some decorative improvements. LOMC would like to hang photos that have been taken around the property to brighten their Perch and Roost buildings.
The seed money will help purchase canvas prints to hang in both buildings.
Volunteers will be ordering the prints and hanging them in the buildings.
Program Needs
This project involves us gathering items to put in a campfire kit to be used by families at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center. The kit will include everything from firestarters, lighters, campfire stories, family faith questions and more. Families will be able to to use the kit to have their own campfire complete with activities.
The seed money will be used to purchase all the items for the campfire kit including a bin to place the items into,.
The plan is for volunteers to purchase and volunteer items and then have them assemble the kit to be used at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center.
This project involves gathering creating a geocache program at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center (Oregon, IL) so that guests can hike the property to learn more about LOMC and discover special items in the hidden caches.
The seed money will be used to purchase waterproof container and small prizes to be put into the cache containers. Special handouts will also be created to share with LOMC guests that they will use to help them find the various geocaches.
The plan is for volunteers to purchase the supplies for each geocache, map the locations, create the handout and hide the geocaches around the LOMC property.
We are looking to create a Thrivent Action Team that helps LOMC (Oregon, IL) rebuild its fishing program. LOMC has a large pond stocked with fish and many guests enjoy the sport of fishing. A team is needed to repair old fishing equipment and set up new equipment as well as teach guests the basics of fishing.
The seed money will be used to purchase supplies to repair old rods and reels, purchase new poles and lures as well as seed money for creating a program to teach newcomers on how to fish.
The plan is for volunteers to help with the fixing and setting up of equipment and teaching guests on how to use the equipment.
We would love to have a Thrivent Action Team that helps improve the experience for participants at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center’s crafting retreats. Participants spend time crafting or working on hobbies as well as enjoying experiences involving nature, faith and fun activities.
The seed money will be used to purchase items like LED desk lamps, power outlets and other items that those on the crafting retreats can use to complete their hobby or crafting better.
The plan is for volunteers to decide what items are most in need to help participants, do the ordering, setup the supplies and come up with creative ways to store items.
Recently Completed Thrivent Action Teams
Emergency Supplies
Dan Dilbeck came through for LOMC once again and organized an awesome Thrivent Action Team to help with emergency needs. The Action Team allowed LOMC to purchase first aid kits and LED lanterns to be used around LOMC in case of emergency. (December 2021)
Perch Painting
Margi and Mike Ficken created an Action Team to repair and repaint our Timbers Village Perch building. The Perch is a meeting room building that compliments our guest groups experience by providing an open space to meet in. This Action Team will allow us to repair walls and repaint the room to make the space cleaner and looking fantastic. (April 2021)
Freedom Tree Amenities
Dan Dilbeck created an Action Team to replace and add to the experience guests have at Freedom Tree Village. Replacement andirons for the fireplaces, new games and other additions will continue to help create a peaceful, restful and special place for groups to retreat to. (October 2021)
5K
Michelle Wandersee organized a Thrivent Action Team to support the Donut Fun 5K at LOMC. Volunteers and teams are being gathered to help create a special event to help raise funds for LOMC. (October 2021)
Craft Fair
Rob Gieraltowski led an Action Team to help with the Autumn Fest Craft Fair. Various supplies will be purchased to accommodate our craft fair booths. The fees collected from the booths will help support LOMC. (October 2021)
Pumpkin Carving
Audrey Adams led an Action Team to support our all-ages pumpkin carving activity this fall. Pumpkins will be purchased locally and volunteers will be helping setup and run this very popular activity at LOMC. (October 2021)
Archived Action Teams
Linda Patterson led an Action Team to head-up a very unique and tasty activity at LOMC! Volunteers will be operating the cider press helping make fresh cider for visitors this fall. The wonderful funds from Thrivent will help purchase apples, cider straining bags, cups and more. (October 2021)
Archived Action Teams
Carol Walter set up an Action Team to improve the John Califf Memorial Garden that is located near the Moline Dining Hall. The seed money helped purchase supplies to fix an eroded drainage ditch and make other improvements to the garden. (August 2021)
Margi Ficken created an Action Team to help LOMC add needed signs to our trails and buildings. This Action Team will place a new “Meadows/Timbers” trailhead sign behind the Moline Dining Hall and an additional “Levi’s Cave” sign to help with directing hikers to the awesome sandstone formation. (April 2021)
Rob Gieraltowski organized a Thrivent Action Team to help with our “Sundae on Saturday” and Hike-A-Thon events. Funds from the Action Team will help enhanced our fundraiser and provided a new geocache course at LOMC! (February 2021)
Becky Hayden has created an Action Team for a group to remove old CO2 and smoke detectors at Marander Lodge and replace them with new ones. Batteries were also purchased to ensure safety in other working detectors. (April 2021)
Pr. Carla Thompson Powell organized a Thrivent Action Team to update artwork in our Hawkins Hospitality Center. In late January we hung new canvas-wrapped photo artwork in the Hospitality Center! (January 2021)
Dan Dilbeck organized a Thrivent Action Team to have our Hospitality Center painted. The entryway needed some repairs and paint and the main room will get a fresh treatment soon. (December 2020)
Bob and Sue Gingras organized a Thrivent Action Team to upgrade our Tim Geissler Memorial Archery Range with a new target and additional supplies. (November 2020)
Michelle Heinrich organized a Thrivent Action Team to create bird houses. A family attending a Household Getaway at LOMC helped get the bird houses ready for new occupants. (November 2020)
Audrey Adams was able to organize a Thrivent Action Team to help add to our October Outings. Pumpkins and other gourds decorate the LOMC Office and Dining Hall. In addition, each household will be able to take a pumpkin home. (October 2020)
Archived Action Teams
Sue Gingras organized a Thrivent Action Team to protect and display our nature posters in poster frames. (January 2021)
Pr. Carla Thompson Powell organized an Action Team to clean-up and improve the Prayer Labyrinth. (May 2021)
Audrey Adams was able to organize a Thrivent Action Team to help add to our October Outings. Pumpkins and other gourds decorate the LOMC Office and Dining Hall. In addition, each household will be able to take a pumpkin home. (October 2020)
An Action Team was created by David Adams to add signage to our trails. Wonderful trail direction signs and posts were added to our Meadows and Timbers Villages. Additional signs related to COVID-19 safety will also be placed around LOMC. (August 2020)
An Action Team was created by Dan Dilbeck to change out all our old flood lamp bulbs in Dody House with new and efficient LED indoor flood lamps. In addition, we were able to get regular LED bulbs to use to replace around LOMC. (July 2020)
Thanks to Margi and Mike Ficken for applying and receiving a number of Action Teams for LOMC. This is the first completed Action Team they led… new entrance signs out on Route 2. They came out awesome!!! (6/8/2020)
Thanks to Margi and Mike Ficken for applying and receiving an Action Team to replace our outdated vertical blinds in Freedom Tree with curtains. They look great and much improved! (7/9/2020)
An Action Team was created by Margi and Mike Ficken to repaint hallways in our Retreat Cabins. There is nothing like a fresh cost of paint to make an area look fantastic! (Summer 2020)
Thanks to Audrey Adams (LOMC registrar/bookkeeper) for leading this Action Team to make cookout kits for our Family Getaway experience. New cooking grills, cooking gear and place settings were bought! Awesome!!! (5/20/2020)
Thanks to Michelle Heinrich (LOMC Program Director) for applying and receiving an Action Team to add some nature artwork to the Norman Nelson Program Center. Michelle used Mr. Rob’s photos from around LOMC to create canvas prints that were hung in the Program Center. Looks great!!! (6/9/2020)
An Action Team was received to help raise money on Tuesday, May 5 2020 for LOMC’s spring Giving Day. The fundraiser helped purchase needed cleaning equipment and general funds to help LOMC. Over $9,000 was raised!
