Serve
IMMEDIATE NEEDS:
June 23, 2020
6/08/2020
There are still many ways in which you can reach out to our community!
Food and Boxes. Christian Neighbors Church in Waukegan and the Mosaic partnership of Waukegan churches continue to deliver food boxes to families in Waukegan and adjoining villages. A list of food that can be donated on Saturdays, between 1-4pm is found below. But, they are in serious need of cardboard boxes to pack the food in. The ideal size is 12x12x16 but anything close to that will be greatly appreciated
Grocery list:
• applesauce • boxes of pasta • marinara sauce • pop tarts • cereal boxes • rice • bread • oatmeal • soup • mac and cheese mix • cookies • peanut butter • instant mashed potatoes • jelly • snacks (i.e. granola bars, chips, crackers, pretzels, popcorn) • bread
*Canned goods are not needed at this time.
Shopping procedure:
• Wash your hands before shopping
• Use hand sanitizer in your car when shopping is complete
• Use disinfectant wipes on the shopping cart when entering the store
• Bring them by CNC sometime between 1pm-4pm on Saturdays
Give Blood. Elective and non-critical surgeries have resumed and blood supplies will be stretched as the hospitals work through a three month backlog. You can donate at drives hosted by some of our partner churches. A link to make an appointment for each is embedded below.
Christ Church, Vernon Hills: June 2 & 3 Appts here.
Willow South Lake, Lincolnshire: Tues June 16, 2-6pm. Appts here.
Immanuel Church, Gurnee: Wed June 17, 1-5pm. Appts here.
Joy! Lutheran, Gurnee: Thur June 25, 2-6pm. Appts here.
Lord of Glory, Grayslake: Tue June 30, 3-7pm. Appts here
Update on Love INC Operations. Throughout the shutdown, their volunteers and staff have continued to speak to people in need by phone to direct them to available resources, offer encouragement and prayer. However, they continue to hear from many other volunteers that they also want to return to serving. In the last three weeks volunteers resumed delivering beds and kitchen essentials. They expect that in the next week their volunteers will also resume general furniture deliveries. They will also resume accepting donations of household goods, bedding and furniture. Until the clothing closets that are supplied by Love INC resume their operations, they are asking that donations of clothing not be dropped off at Love INC at this time. Donations can be dropped off Monday-Thursday between 9am and 1pm.
5/5/2020
Christian Neighbors Church (Waukegan)-- Christian Neighbors continues to make food distributions of food to high risk individuals in Waukegan and is running short on cardboard boxes to box food for distribution. Boxes can be dropped off at Christian Neighbors on Saturdays between 2 and 6pm. They will also gladly accept food donations at that time. A list of requested foods is attached to this email. Christina Neighbors is located at 222 N. County Street in downtown Waukegan.
PADS Lake County--PADS continues to house about 150 high-risk homeless individuals in hotels in Gurnee and Waukegan. Food for meals continues to be a pressing need. Here is some good news. The Roberti Culinary Pathway, part of a Love INC partner non-profit that provides tuition-free culinary training and placement for unemployed or underemployed individuals, is providing prepared hot meals to the PADS clients on certain days of the week. However, for the other days, providing hotel friendly food remains a need. Items that are helpful:
- Individual, ready-made meals for clients staying in motels
- Non-perishable, microwavable meals (Easy Mac, Barilla pasta, Hormel Completes, ramen bowls), bread, peanut butter/jelly, fruit cups (with pull tabs), chips/pretzels/snacks, bottled water
- Gift cards for Jewel, Walmart and Aldi’s so PADS can shop to fill out food needs.
- Individual size cleaning products so the clients can keep their rooms somewhat sanitized. The hotels have limited or no housekeeping and staying sanitary is key at this time.
Northern IL Foodbank--the Foodbank continues to have challenges with sufficient supply of dry goods and meats. Despite the continuing elevated need, the Foodbank is not accepting food from food drives at this time because the social distancing measures have reduced their capacity to sort and box food for distribution. However, with funding they can purchase items needed to fill the gaps in the foods for distribution. With a $1 contribution, the Foodbank can purchases $8 worth of groceries. They also need volunteers. Currently there are 31 volunteer slots available for a large distribution scheduled for May 9 in the parking lot of Six Flags Great America. Shifts are 3 hours long.
There is also the opportunity to serve at the sorting and distribution center at 440 Keller Drive in Park City
Weekdays:
Tuesdays at 9:00am – 11:30am
Wednesdays at 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Thursdays at 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Weeknights:
Wednesdays at 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Weekends:
Saturdays at 9:00am – 11:30am
To sign up for any of these serving opportunities follow this link. https://solvehungertoday.org/volunteer-opportunities/
CATCH--Lake County Community Action to Counter Hunger. A number of Human Service agencies in the county have joined together with the Foodbank to help fill the gaps in food distribution for high risk individuals, such as Seniors, Homeless, Immigrants and Disabled individuals. Roberti Community House, Curt's Cafe and Community Action Partners are preparing hot meals and food boxes that are delivered. The need for individuals to help with grocery deliveries is growing. I will share more information on how to help with this need when I receive it.
If you are aware of people that need food assistance, use this link to register them for assistance: https://forms.gle/L1cNU7MaFAZtiyhJ6
Blood Drives-Elective and non-critical surgeries are about to resume and the backlog will tax blood supplies in the area. Donations can be made at: Vitalant (formerly Life Source), 223 Waukegan Road, Lake Bluff, IL. You can make an appointment through this link: https://donateblood.lifesource.org/.
*****************************************************************************************************************************
4/22/2020
WELL DONE, BETHEL! Two carloads of non-perishable food was delivered to COOL this morning! Thank you for being such a blessing to one of our Ministry Partners!
Looking for other ways to contribute to our Ministry Partners? Click on the links below.
A Safe Place
PADS Lake County
4/14/2020
ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING PADS SHOWER GREETERS:
PADS is currently providing hotel rooms for its clients as part of shelter in-place so they will no longer need showers in the morning for the time being. So, until things return to normal, we can all take a little hiatus from shower duty. The expectation is to start back up sometime in May but that will depend on recommendations by staff and health care officials. We will announce when they start up again here on the website and on our Facebook page. Thank you to Jack Erwin and John Skillman for stepping in to help during SIP. Your willingness to serve is greatly appreciated.
04/07/2020
From Scott Jewitt, Director of the Northern Illinois Foodbank:
For obvious reasons most people are struggling to find direct service volunteers – and I understand why. The guarantee of safety isn’t there. The safest thing would be full quarantine – but that’s not possible. Next would be PPEs, full med grade masks and gloves. These supplies are not available to our sector. What we can do is follow the CDC guidelines:
1. Prepack the food for rapid distribution
2. Do a drive up model
3. Provide gloves for the volunteers
4. Provide and execute a health statement from those volunteers participating
5. Request they provide personal face masks for the distribution to protect the other volunteers and participants
There are a few locations/times that need some volunteer support. We will provide them the paperwork and guidance for the distributions and they are drive up mobile distributions. Probably 6-8 people are all that is needed.
- Thursdays starting this week (4/9) from 2:30 – 5:00 at the parking lot across the street from Emmanuel Faith, 1840 Lincoln St, North Chicago, IL 60064
- Tuesdays starting next week 4/14 till this thing is lifted… from 9:00 – 12:00 at Mt. Moriah Christian Center parking lot, 524 10th St, Waukegan, IL 60085
Please have them contact me if they are interested. I can be reached at sjewitt@northernilfoodbank.org and 847-525-7721. I will take them on a first come first served basis to manage the social distancing recommendations. We will have gloves but volunteers will be recommended to bring their own face masks. We are not able to provide them.
4/3/2020
PADS - All rotating shelters for PADS are closed and overnight shelter for all they can accommodate is in a Warren Township government building. In addition, for high risk homeless individuals (primarily elderly) PADS is housing in area hotels, as well as providing meals so the individuals can remain isolated. In response to the initial request, PADS received ample supply of food for those in the hotels but that is nearly depleted. They have asked for assistance from our church partners with this need. From their web-site they list the following as suggested foods: Non Perishable microwavable meals (Easy mac, Barilla pasta, Hormel Compleats, ramen bowls), bread, peanut butter and jelly, fruit cups, canned goods (with pull tabs as we don't supply can openers), chips, water bottles. They also list disposable products (styrofoam, paper or plastics cups, paper plates and bowls and plastic silverware and individual meal containers (microwave safe). PADS website is padslakecounty.org. You can get more information on how to drop off donations there.
Northern Illinois Foodbank- The Foodbank continues to provides food to site pantries at churches and other agencies, distributes food 3,500 food boxes a week through mobile food pantries, distributes 1,500 boxes to seniors and homebound individuals, distributes 2,500 boxes of food each week in areas that are in greater need because of pantry closures. These numbers are significantly higher due to the crisis and consequently there is increased need for volunteers to pack these meal boxes. Because of social distancing protections instituted in the packing sites, there are more shifts. All CDC recommendations are followed at each site. Volunteers can sign up for shifts to box or deliver food through this link: calendar. The Foodbank's site is solvehungertoday.org.
Elder Care- New opportunity to serve without leaving home- ElderCARE operates in Northern Lake County and is a non-profit, volunteer organization that helps adults ages 65+ remain as healthy and independent as possible. It typically provides door to door medical transportation, shopping trips and friendly home visits to all who apply. All of the personal contact services have been suspended but wellness calls are being made. Rev. Jackie Lynn, who is the Executive Director of ElderCare stated today that the need for people to make calls to seniors to ease the pain of isolation is great. Potential volunteers can call 847-406-4683 or email info@eldercarelakecounty.org
4/2/2020
Pat Schwartz of Love INC has reached out with a need for face masks for the family and friends of patients with the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Zion. We have a lot of talented seamstresses in our midst, so if you have extra fabric and are so inclined, Please go to cancercenter.com/together#PPE for instructions on the proper materials and process for making hand-sewn surgical masks. You may also contact Kim Piercy, CTCA Donation Administrator, directly at 847-746-6597 or kim.piercy@ctca-hope.com with questions.
3/31/2020
We are in need of 3 new shower greeters!
Due to COVID-19, some of our regular greeters are considered high risk and we need you!
Here is what a shift can look like:
6:30/6:45am - you arrive, unlock the preschool doors and turn on the lights
7:00am - The PADS bus pulls in with their clients (Usually around 8 people)
7:30am - Everyone loads back onto the bus and heads to breakfast.
You will get about a half hour to get to know and encourage a "new-to-you" group of people.
Once the bus pulls out, you will need to spray down the shower stalls and all the surfaces in the rooms with a bleach spray or a hydrogen peroxide spray (there are instructions for which to use). Once all surfaces have been sanitized, then lock the doors, turn off the lights and you are on your way.
This is an excellent way to start your day! This is perfect for anyone with the gift of Helps, Encouragement, Hospitality, or Evangelism.
Please consider sharing your gifts by contacting Katrina Johns, Equipping Coordinator: Katrina@BethelGurnee.org or Monte Stoltzman: Stoltzman@Comcast.net.
Volunteer at the temporary shelter at Warren Township Senior Center
- Laundry help (two people to help between 8:00am - 5:30pm; must call Suzanne at 847-689-0541 or email at SChristiansen@PadsLakeCounty.org
- Donate gift cards to Aldi's, Walmart, or McDonald's ($5 up to $25, should have receipt taped to card for PADS records. Can be dropped off at 1800 Grand Ave. Waukegan, IL 60085 Attn: Suzanne)
- Room monitor
- help with lunch and/or dinner
- Make bag lunches
PADS Lake County
PADS Lake County is a community-based organization that provides trauma-informed support, resources, and shelter to individuals and families experiencing a housing crisis. They envision a community in which homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring; one in which anyone who may experience a housing crisis has timely access to the proper resources and services based on their individual needs.
They help individuals and families reach their full potential by providing a comprehensive approach to reducing homelessness. Their holistic services seek to help neighbors create sturdy foundations in stable homes so that they can build brighter futures for themselves and contribute to our community.
Bethel supports PADS Lake County by providing showers to the PADS clients several mornings a week. In addition to the showers, clients receive a hot cup of coffee and a good conversation. Every once and a while, Bethel will learn of additional needs for their clients and staff. Those needs will be posted here.
They help individuals and families reach their full potential by providing a comprehensive approach to reducing homelessness. Their holistic services seek to help neighbors create sturdy foundations in stable homes so that they can build brighter futures for themselves and contribute to our community.
Bethel supports PADS Lake County by providing showers to the PADS clients several mornings a week. In addition to the showers, clients receive a hot cup of coffee and a good conversation. Every once and a while, Bethel will learn of additional needs for their clients and staff. Those needs will be posted here.