Social Outreach
As members of the ELCA, we believe we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. God uses our hands, direct service work, voices, and advocacy efforts to restore and reconcile our world. Through faithful advocacy, the ELCA maintains our Lutheran belief that governments, NGOs (non-governmental organizations), and global initiatives can help advance the common good.
At PHLC, the Social Outreach Ministry team leads our congregation in addressing people’s social, economic, and emotional needs within the congregation, our community, and our world. The team aims to transform us into a more caring and prayerful church.
Agency of the year – Mars Home for Youth
MHY Family Services provides compassionate, trauma-informed care to youth and families through therapeutic education, residential treatment, and community-based services. Their mission is to empower children and adolescents to overcome adversity, heal from trauma, and build the skills needed to thrive.
As the 2026 Agency of the Year, MHY will again be the focus of our congregation’s outreach and giving. Funds raised through our Father’s Day card sale and weekly Second Mile offerings will directly support MHY’s Therapeutic Kindergarten Program, helping young children develop social, emotional, and academic foundations. We’ll also collect school supplies in the summer to ensure students begin the school year equipped and encouraged.
PHLC is proud to partner with an agency whose mission aligns with our values of compassion, inclusion, and advocacy. By walking alongside MHY, we extend our support to some of the most vulnerable members of our community, offering hope, dignity, and a path toward healing.
Other Activities
Perry Highway Lutheran Church actively engages in seasonal initiatives to benefit various organizations and communities. The church hosts a Spring Cleaning Drive in March to support North Hills Community Outreach (NHCO). In May, they provide Mother’s Day Blankets for World Church Services and create Father’s Day Cards to benefit the selected Agency of the Year.
During July and August, a School Supplies Drive assists agencies such as Lighth of Life (LOL), NHCO, and Mars Home for Youth (MHY).
In the fall, a Winter Coat Drive is held in September through November for LOL, and the Thanksgiving on Every Table Food Drive in October and November benefits LOL.
The holiday season includes the Christmas Giving Tree initiative, which supports MHY and other local agencies, and Care Packages for Pittsburgh Lutheran United Ministries (PHLC) College Students. A Baby Shower for Baby Jesus event is organized in November and December to benefit LOL. These initiatives exemplify Perry Highway Lutheran Church’s service and community outreach commitment.
Lutheran Advocacy
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa) is the state public policy office of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LAMPa serves the congregations, synods, and Lutheran institutions in Pennsylvania, providing resources, training, and information in the work of being a public church.
As members of the ELCA, we believe we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. God uses our hands, direct service work, voices, and advocacy efforts to restore and reconcile our world. Through faithful advocacy, the ELCA maintains our Lutheran belief that governments can help advance the common good.
ELCA advocacy works for change in public policy based on the experience of Lutheran ministries, programs, and projects worldwide and in communities across the United States. We work through political channels on behalf of the following biblical values: peacemaking, hospitality to strangers, care for creation, and concern for people living in poverty and struggling with hunger and disease.
