Interfaith - Over 30 Years of Enhancing the Lives of Older Adults

The Interfaith Program for the Elderly (now Interfaith Older Adult Programs) began in 1973 on Milwaukee's East Side when members of congregations realized that older persons were becoming increasingly isolated in their neighborhoods. With the help of the Greater Milwaukee Commission on Religion and Urban Affairs (now called the Interfaith Conference), several congregations formed the first Neighborhood Outreach Program. They believed that they could answer the call to reach out to older persons better together than separately.

Cudahy-St. Francis Interfaith was one of the original Interfaith neighborhood organizations. The program started providing services in 1977 and soon had forty volunteers serving older adults. Interfaith incorporated in 1979. Since it's inception, Interfaith's dedicated volunteers have given thousands of hours of time to help older adults. Interfaith's volunteers and staff provide needed services such as transportation, friendly visits, information, advocacy and referral. In 1999, Interfaith working with Middle School and High School students, began providing snow-shoveling services for older adults in Cudahy. The City of Cudahy funds this program. Until 2000, seven local congregations supported the work of Interfaith financially and with volunteer involvement, they were:

Cudahy United Methodist

Holy Family Catholic

Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic

St. Frederick Catholic

St. John Evangelical Lutheran

St. Joseph Catholic

St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran

In 2000, the three Cudahy Catholic Churches, Holy Family, St. Frederick and St. Joseph, merged and formed a new congregation: Nativity of the Lord Catholic Church. The current sponsoring congregations are:

Cudahy United Methodist

Nativity Of the Lord Catholic

Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic

St. John Evangelical Lutheran

St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran

Changing Lives Assembly of God