First Lutheran is excited to introduce RaiseRight, a new, ongoing fundraiser that lets your everyday shopping benefit our 2025 Gifts of Hope partners.
Here’s how it works: When you purchase a RaiseRight gift card from First Lutheran for one of the participating retailers, you use it just like cash at that store. A percentage of your purchase—anywhere from 1.5% to 14%, depending on the retailer—comes back to First Lutheran to support the 2025 Gifts of Hope partners.
You don’t spend more than you normally would. You simply use a RaiseRight gift card instead of cash or your debit and credit card when making your purchase—and your routine shopping becomes a gift of hope. And it doesn’t matter who actually spends the gift card—whether you use it yourself or give it as a gift—the giving still benefits the Gifts of Hope partners.
For example: If you purchase a $100 Walmart gift card through RaiseRight and use it for your shopping, Walmart donates 2.5% ($2.50) back to First Lutheran. That money, along with other Raise Right proceeds, goes directly to our Gifts of Hope partners.
Think of the impact your everyday shopping can have:
- Groceries (Hy-Vee, Walmart, Russ’s Market, SuperSaver) → help fill weekend backpacks of food for kids.
- Gas (Casey’s) → help someone experiencing homelessness get to job interviews.
- Home improvement (Target, Menards, Home Depot, Lowe’s) → provide animals and resources through ELCA Good Gifts.
- Holiday shopping (Amazon, Scheels, Kohl’s, Bath & Body Works, Dick’s) → support safe shelter, transportation and advocacy for girls escaping sex trafficking.
- Dining & entertainment (Marcus Theaters, Panera, Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, Starbucks) → help fund scholarships for families at Las Abejitas Bilingual Education Center.
RaiseRight is not a replacement for the Gifts of Hope Market on December 6–7. The Market remains the main opportunity to shop for gifts and support our GOH partners directly. RaiseRight is an ongoing fundraiser that supplements the Market and can continue year-round, with proceeds directed to GOH or another new need that might emerge during the year.
Look for the RaiseRight table in the Gathering Area on Sunday mornings starting November 16, 9:30–10:45 AM, to learn more and place your order for gift cards. Stay tuned for the list of selected retailers you will be able to purchase gifts cards for.
Make your purchases count twice—once for you (or someone you gift the card to), and once for those in need through the Gifts of Hope partners.
For more information, contact Kari Hoeft or Bev White.
