Providing for Students

Our Food & Clothing Co-op provides students and their families with an average of 75% and up to 90% of their food, clothing, and home goods needs free of charge during their time at seminary, thanks to the generosity of donors throughout the country who love to support their future pastors and deaconesses. 

Food Co-op
Saturday & Sunday

CLOSED

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday

Donation Drop-Off

Volunteer Hours (as needed)

6:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Tuesday (shopping only)

6:00 a.m.–2:15 p.m.

Clothing Co-op

Sunday

CLOSED

Monday–Friday (volunteer sign-in ends at 3:00 p.m.)

8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Saturday (student and family use only)

9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

The Clothing Co-op is only open on Saturdays when classes are in session and when staffed by a student worker. Details will be posted on the Co-op Facebook page and the Clothing Co-op doors.

The Co-op is open when classes are not in session. It is closed when the seminary is closed due to inclement weather and other times as announced.

The Food Co-op provides

  • perishable and non-perishable food items
  • paper products
  • cleaning supplies
  • diapers
  • over-the-counter medications
  • school supplies

The Clothing Co-op provides

  • men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing
  • household items
  • appliances

Other gifts include

  • layettes for families with new babies
  • Christmas Marketplace: gift cards, handmade quilts

Students may shop using points at the Food Co-op on Tuesdays in exchange for volunteer hours. Points and required volunteer hours are determined based on family size.

Donations are necessary to the co-op program at CTSFW. We rely on the generosity of churches and church members to provide our students with free food and clothing. If you would like to donate, but aren’t sure where to start, here are some needs and suggestions:

For a full list of things to donate, see the Co-op brochure.

Food Co-op

  • Breakfast items
  • Condiments
  • Canned goods, pasta, pasta sauces
  • Laundry items
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Paper products

Clothing Co-op

  • Gently used or new clothing (men’s, women’s, children’s, infants’)
  • Housewares
  • Small appliances (microwaves, blenders, etc.) 

NOTE: we cannot accept TVs, computers, laptops, or tablets

  • Items for layettes: clothing (size newborn to 4T), bottles, baby books, toys, etc.

Every Christmas, CTSFW students and their families receive gift cards and other out-of-the-ordinary gifts to make the holiday special, thanks to generous donors throughout the LCMS. For more information and to donate, see the Christmas Marketplace brochure or contact Deaconess Katherine Rittner at Katherine.Rittner@ctsfw.edu

Contact the Food & Clothing Co-op

Interested in knowing more about how the co-op meets the needs of our students and their families? Do you need to send the co-op a message or ask a question? Use the form below or give us a call!