St. Paul has an active ministry to local nursing homes through the East Bay Lutheran Parish Ministry to Nursing Homes and through St. Paul’s own Fairmont Hospital Task Force.

Fairmont Hospital Task Force

Celebrating 34 years of vital and life-enriching ministry to Alameda County’s most vulnerable residents.

Begun in 1987 as the AIDS Task Force, a dozen or more members and friends of St. Paul have made regular visits to the 100+ residents of the “B” wards of Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro, Alameda County’s hospital for poor residents requiring long-term care. These visits include light refreshments, conversation, prayer, singing and more.

St. Paul people are enriched by their contact with those who have so little but who share their stories with us. For 34 years we have remembered Fairmont residents’ birthdays by bringing them song, birthday cards and small gifts. Easter and Christmas are times when each resident also receives a small gift and a card.

The Covid-19 Pandemic presented us with special obstacles to carrying out our mission, but we have worked with the Activities Department staff at Fairmont Hospital and now bring cards and gifts to the staff who deliver them to the residents. We miss our friends at Fairmont but look forward to seeing them in person soon.

Lutheran Ministry to Nursing Homes

The Lutheran Ministry to Nursing Homes is a ministry of the East Bay Lutheran Parish, a nonprofit supported by five Lutheran congregations in Alameda County, including St. Paul.

LMNH supports four local nursing facilities that primarily serve lower-income elderly and frail people. The Rev. Ned O’Donnell and volunteers visit each of the facilities weekly – providing a time of worship, as well as friendly visits and in-depth pastoral care for over 400 residents, staff, and their loved ones. St Paul is one of five sponsoring congregations that make this ministry possible, with a special affinity relationship to nearby Fruitvale Healthcare Center.