Ministries

Food for the Soul is a partnership between St. Mark Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church in Ohio City. Trinity Lutheran Church hosts a meal for the homeless in Cleveland on the 3rd Saturday of the month. Once a quarter our congregation makes food and brings in donations to take up to Trinity and we lovingly serve them. Also, throughout the year we will host clothing drives to bring warmth or much needed assistance to the same homeless.

Mark your calendars for the next opportunity to serve the homeless on Saturday, November 15, 2025

St. Mark Lutheran Church partners with Zakers Affinity Causes (ZAC) in St. Kitts and Nevis. ZAC is an all-volunteer non-profit in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Together with ZAC we have been able to bring clothing to the island as well as minister to the elderly, school age, and those in prison. In 2024 we were blessed to take a small group of special needs to the Animal Assisted Intervention session Dolphin Discovery.

Thank you for your continued support of this mission! If you would like to join our initiative, our next opportunity to minister on the island is in 2026. Contact Regina Thompson at 440-785-1782 or rdvmpt@gmail.com for more information.

St. Mark partners with another local ministry in Brunswick called That Place for Teens. At That Place for Teens you'll find a variety of FREE activities to keep teens off the streets and someone who will always listen.  Through our after-school program, club meetings, community programs, hang-out time, and mentoring, we encourage teens to think critically about their life choices and matters of faith.  

On the 1st Thursday of the month we make (or buy) a meal and serve the teens who are there. We get the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the youth and show them that the older generations have not forgotten them and do care about them and their futures.

What is the Buddy Walk?
The Northeast Ohio Buddy Walk is DSANEO’s largest fundraiser. This year marks the 25th annual Buddy Walk in our hometown! The event celebrates inclusion and promotes acceptance! The 2025 Northeast Ohio Buddy Walk is taking place on Saturday, October 4th at the Great Lakes Science Center in downtown Cleveland. Free parking is provided for participants at this one-mile walk. The event includes music from Rockability, activities for kids, vendors at the Buddy Gateway, food trucks and more. Each year we welcome over 2,000 participants to this event. We are excited to be hosting this event during Down Syndrome Awareness Month!

What happens at the Buddy Walk?
Are you ready to celebrate? The Northeast Ohio Buddy Walk is a special day for everyone! Opening ceremonies begin at 8:30 am and the walk steps off at 9:00 am. At 10:00 am the Post Buddy Walk Dance Party begins. Be sure to check out all the Buddy Walk activities before and after the walk. The event concludes at 11:00 am but we hope you will continue to enjoy everything that downtown Cleveland has to offer on this special day.

What do the funds from Buddy Walk support?
As the largest DSANEO fundraising event of the year, the Buddy Walk provides about 35% of the resources needed for DSANEO to fulfill its mission throughout the year. With your help, we can continue to provide support, education and advocacy for children and adults with Down syndrome, their families and communities throughout Northeast Ohio.