Calvary's Mission

Lego Project

Imagine six to eight children, all in the third grade, and four or five college students, all sitting around tables building Lego sets. It sounds like fun, and it is. But there is more than fun in this picture. The children come from an elementary school in the lowest income zip code in the city. And they are children who are at risk of falling behind in reading and math skills. Why? Because third grade is a major leap in learning for children. In earlier grades, children mostly replicate what the teacher gives them. But in the third grade, they cannot see what the result of their efforts should be until they read all of the instructions and complete the assigned tasks. Children who are quickly frustrated will look at the instructions on the board or handout, see too many words that are difficult to read, and give up without trying.

So what does building Lego sets have to do with reading instruction? To build a Lego set you have to follow sequential instructions, constantly check your work, and stay on task to completion—you cannot play with the Lego set until you build it.  Breaking a complex task into simple steps, following those steps, checking your work as you go, and staying on task are the skills children and adults need to be lifetime learners.

Calvary developed the Lego Project in 2001 and has partnered with third grade students from the Milwaukee area and Marquette University students for the past six years. The children and college students meet after school two days each week. They build Legos for the first 45 minutes to an hour and spend the last fifteen minutes eating cookies and playing games. This is a time when the children teach the college students some of the things they are learning in school like school cheers, dances, and songs. We hope that having the opportunity to teach as well as learn will expose the children to the joy of learning which, in turn, will develop in them the desire to stay in school.

Baby Basics

Baby Basics began with the observation of Jean Ann Lynch, a church educator working in a Presbyterian Church in Boston. She saw that there were working people who did not quality for government assistance programs but whose incomes were so meager they were often just one car repair or doctor’s visit away from eviction or bankruptcy. Those with infants and toddlers would stretch their household dollars by using fewer diapers. They were not changing their children’s diapers as often as needed. While such a strategy saved a little money, eventually the children developed rashes which would make them cry which, in turn, added to the stress of already over-stressed and tired parents. Jean Ann realized that if she could do one thing to make a difference for the working poor, she could help them have all the diapers their children needed. And Baby Basics was born.

Baby Basics partners with low income, working parents in much the same way as Habitat for Humanity. The partnering parents provide “sweat equity” by helping other volunteers’ purchase, store, and distribute diapers, and they may serve on the board of their local Baby Basics affiliate to help raise funds to purchase diapers. In return for their work, they receive diapers for their children. Parents leave the program when their children no longer need diapers, their income exceeds locally established guidelines for poverty, or they are unemployed and, therefore, qualified for other forms of assistance.

Calvary was approved to become a Baby Basics Affiliate in March of 2007 and has raised enough money to partner with two families.

Central City Churches

Central City Churches (CCC) is an ecumenical, urban ministry to the poor comprising eight congregations along Wisconsin Ave, and representing five denominations (Roman Catholic—Gesu and St Rose; United Methodist—First United; Lutheran (ELCA)—Redeemer, St. Paul’s, and Our Savior’s; Episcopal—St. James; and Presbyterian—Calvary).  CCC operates the Outreach Ministry in the lower level of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church which provides leads on jobs, job training, assistance with writing resumes, as well as emergency assistance for basic needs such as food, shelter, and medical care.

CCC also operates as an ecumenical gathering as clergy and lay leaders from all eight congregations meet regularly to oversee the operations of the Outreach Ministry, assess the needs of metro Milwaukee, and to organize opportunities for the eight congregations to worship and pray together.

Mission Support

 To learn more about any of our mission projects or to offer your support, please contact the Calvary Church office at 414-271-8782.