Community Partners
The Gathering
The Gathering uses the kitchen and dining room from 1:30 to 6:30 pm on Monday and Wednesday for an evening meal program and from 7 am – 2 pm on Saturdays for a lunch program. Currently, they are serving to-go meals from the south end of the gym. In the fall, they will begin serving meals in the dining room. They utilize all of the closet space on the south end of the dining room and much of the available space in the kitchen.
La Familia de Arte
La Familia de Arte has beautifully renovated the old library space just south of the sanctuary for their collaborative neighborhood art program. Workshops involve neighborhood youth and their families in creating public art. The director, Dr. Lori Gramling, has worked with the ECCO after school program as well as Ascension’s Camp Hope for several years.
Southside Organizing Center
SOC engages with residents and businesses on the south side of Milwaukee to help our neighborhood thrive. They have grown, and before the pandemic they expanded their use of the second floor of the south wing. Except for the bathrooms on that floor which are also used by Inner Beauty, they have exclusive use of the second floor.
The Inner Beauty Center
The Inner Beauty Center on the fourth floor of the south wing exists to help the sexually exploited discover their value and purpose. They provide a drop-in center on Tuesdays and Thursdays and street outreach on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. There is restricted access to this floor using the elevator.
Milwaukee Gay Volleyball Assoc. : Ladies Night
MGVA’s Women’s Open Play is on Tuesdays from 6:30pm-9:30pm for a small fee of $5/player. Our Women’s Open Play (Ladies Night) is played on a Women’s height net, allowing women to feel empowered to play at a competitive level.
The Greater Milwaukee Synod
The Greater Milwaukee Synod leases the offices on the ground floor of the north wing as well as the conference room, kitchenette and store on the north end of the basement. Ascension can schedule use of the conference room through the synod office.
Lutheran Social Services
Walkers Point Youth & Family Center
Now located in the lower level of the South Wing of Ascension, Walker’s Point Youth & Family Center has been a trusted refuge for young people and their families for more than 40 years. Our mission is to provide safety, stability, and support to youth facing homelessness, family conflict, trafficking, and crisis. Through our emergency youth shelter, family counseling, transitional housing, and long-term support services, we help young people build resilience, reconnect with caring adults, and move toward a brighter, more secure future.
Volunteer Opportunities
Community support plays a vital role in our work, and volunteers make a meaningful difference every day. One of our most impactful volunteer opportunities is preparing and serving meals for the youth in our shelter. Sharing a meal not only meets a basic need—it creates connection, comfort, and a sense of home for young people during an incredibly vulnerable time.
Whether you’re an individual, family, business, faith group, or community organization, we welcome volunteers who want to support our youth by cooking, serving, or providing meal donations. Volunteers help ensure our shelter remains a warm, welcoming, and nourishing space for every young person who walks through our doors.
If you would like to learn more about volunteering or schedule a meal service date, we’d love to hear from you.
Siebert Foundation
The Siebert Foundation is a valued partner of Ascension Lutheran Church, providing critical support that helps make our ministries possible. Through their generous funding, the Foundation strengthens our S.W.A.G. Youth and Faith Formation Programs within the Youth and Family Ministry, empowering young people to grow in faith, leadership, and service. In addition, Siebert Foundation support advances the Immigration, Outreach, and Hospitality efforts of our Serving and Sending Ministry, enabling Ascension to offer welcome, accompaniment, and practical assistance to neighbors seeking safety, dignity, and belonging. Together, this partnership helps us live out Christ’s call to nurture faith, extend hospitality, and serve our wider community.