Light Squad - An Experimental Church
Donation protected
I worship at the Quaker meeting and routinely fellowship with Methodists, Baptists and Mennonites.
For more than five years, I've led the Friday Food Sharing which serves the poor near UN Plaza.
I talked about how I see God in this work during an interview last year.
Now, we're faced with a social catastrophe of tremendous scale - this will likely not "pass" until next year.
The Problem
Shelters are designed for density. Recently 70 persons tested positive at the largest shelter in the city.
The Response: Direct Action -
We'll just stay with those who are in need. This is a brutally simplistic model: we are not here to fix, solve or cure anyone - this is just the "show up" part of the church.
For those in our community, we will provide necessities - tent, sleeping bag, food, laundry and etc.
There will be no alcohol or any other mind altering substances - other than caffeine and sugar - allowed. Harm reduction isn't possible because the community would become inundated with dealers.
$600 allows us to take in one person - tent, mattress, sleeping bag, storage, laundry, thermometer, food.
Once we've reached the goal, an operations budget will be set for ongoing costs of the ministry.
Temperatures will be taken daily - we will accompany anyone who develops a fever to the hospital.
Spirit In Action
Our community is faith-led; we are not a "social program" or a charity - our primary concern is the spiritual well-being of those with whom we are in fellowship.
We will host silent worship and digital fellowship every Sunday - staying in our tents.
Advice & Oversight
We are assembling a small group of advisers to assist with practical questions such as mental illness, accounting and legal advice (Martin vs Boise)
My ministry is overseen by a committee of elders at the San Francisco Quaker Meeting.
For more than five years, I've led the Friday Food Sharing which serves the poor near UN Plaza.
I talked about how I see God in this work during an interview last year.
Now, we're faced with a social catastrophe of tremendous scale - this will likely not "pass" until next year.
The Problem
Shelters are designed for density. Recently 70 persons tested positive at the largest shelter in the city.
The Response: Direct Action -
We'll just stay with those who are in need. This is a brutally simplistic model: we are not here to fix, solve or cure anyone - this is just the "show up" part of the church.
For those in our community, we will provide necessities - tent, sleeping bag, food, laundry and etc.
There will be no alcohol or any other mind altering substances - other than caffeine and sugar - allowed. Harm reduction isn't possible because the community would become inundated with dealers.
$600 allows us to take in one person - tent, mattress, sleeping bag, storage, laundry, thermometer, food.
Once we've reached the goal, an operations budget will be set for ongoing costs of the ministry.
Temperatures will be taken daily - we will accompany anyone who develops a fever to the hospital.
Spirit In Action
Our community is faith-led; we are not a "social program" or a charity - our primary concern is the spiritual well-being of those with whom we are in fellowship.
We will host silent worship and digital fellowship every Sunday - staying in our tents.
Advice & Oversight
We are assembling a small group of advisers to assist with practical questions such as mental illness, accounting and legal advice (Martin vs Boise)
My ministry is overseen by a committee of elders at the San Francisco Quaker Meeting.
Organizer and beneficiary
Zae Illo
Organizer
San Francisco, CA
Monique Flambures
Beneficiary
