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Thrivent Financial, working through the Zion Lutheran Church, gave over $9,000 to local charities in 2011, church officials reported.

The Care & Share Food Bank received a cash donation of $3,120 last December in addition to food items. The senior Meals on Wheels was also the recipient of a check, this one for $2,512.

Partnering with Second Harvest Mobile Food Bank program, enough fresh produce, bread, beverages and beef (nearly 3.5 tons) was brought in to help feed 148 households. Thrivent also presented Second Harvest with a check for $2,350.

A yard sale to benefit the Trees of Sharing produced $1,652; an Easter breakfast raised $472 to help send area youth to summer camps. A Christmas stocking project raised $306 to help a seminary student and mission.

Zion Lutheran and Thrivent raised $500 for diapers given to two local women’s shelters. A cash gift of $418 purchased quilt batting to help a group of quilters make quilts for Lutheran World Relief and the Omak Shelter and local fire victims. Zion Lutheran Women’s Missionary League ladies make up to 100 quilts each winter to help others.

In all, the Zion Lutheran/Thrivent program raised $9,330 for local causes and a total of $33,000 for Grant County projects.

“Thrivent Financial provides its members and other interested volunteers the opportunity to join in service and use the financial resources of Thrivent to serve people and organizations here in our local community,” President of Grant County Chaper of Thrivent Financial Evelyn Russell stated.

Anyone can join in volunteer and educational activities hosted by Thrivent Financial by calling 509-633-0648 or emailing cer@ifiber.tv.