Local Serving Opportunities - Willow Creek Community Church

For our communities

We believe in mobilizing the church to fight poverty and injustice so lives are transformed and Jesus is known. We come alongside God’s work to create sustainable, long-term, and holistic transformation that restores hope and dignity.

Willow Groups provide a great way to people to volunteer in the community together. Check out local serving groups here.

We are focused on making the biggest impact in three areas:

Food Security

Hundreds of thousands of our neighbors have limited or unreliable access to nutritionally adequate food in the Chicagoland area. You can participate in our food drives that resource our Care Center and partners, volunteer to pack seeds for global partners to provide nourishment & income, or check out campus-specific food insecurity volunteer opportunities below.

Restorative Justice

Transformation in our community requires radical hospitality and inclusion so that we can be part of the type of reconciliation that Jesus modeled for us. At Willow, we take part in restorative justice through countercultural, open-handed welcome, acceptance, and love.

Serve year round with local partners in the areas of welcoming refugees, participating in anti-human trafficking ministry, prison and jail ministry, and more or Join us for a one time serve in December to pack Christmas gifts for every incarcerated person in the Illinois State prison system.

Helping Vulnerable Families

Young people are the future leaders of our communities and churches. We want to help all young people thrive and use their gifts fully.

We serve where youth lack opportunities through schools, foster care systems, and youth programs. We hold annual school supply drives so students can succeed and we have ongoing serving opportunities to uplift young people.

Serving with Partners

God has given each of us gifts and passions that we can use to serve our community! Our C&J ministry is in relationship with a wide range of partners that are fighting poverty and injustice so that lives are transformed and Jesus is known, and we would love for you to take a next step in serving with one of them.

These are the local partnerships that our church supports as part of our long-term and holistic strategy to serve our Chicagoland community: World Relief, UR Chicago, Breakthrough Urban Ministries, C24/7, Together Chicago, Safe Families, Outreach, Naomi’s House, Refuge For Women, Exodus World Service.

Other ways to serve:

Take a first step in serving by signing up for a one-time serving opportunity with our local partners below (view all here). These opportunities can be experienced by individuals, small groups, families, or with friends. You can also scroll down to learn more about local partnerships through each Willow location.

One-Time Serving Opportunities

Check out these top one-time serve opportunities or view more with your Willow campus below.

Select a partner to serve with

Exodus World Service

Fellowship Housing

Home of the Sparrow

Serving Opportunity 1
Volunteers are the backbone of Home of the Sparrow. Each time you volunteer, you become part of a homeless woman’s story as they journey to self-sufficiency!

Your small group can help by painting the inside of our Palatine Sparrow’s Nest. This is an immediate need. We will supply all the tools.

Location: 75 E Northwest Hwy, Palatine, IL 60067

Date/Time: ASAP

Want to serve? Contact: Rebecca Stiemke, rstiemke@hosparrow.org

Serving Opportunity 2
Volunteers are the backbone of Home of the Sparrow. Each time you volunteer, you become part of a homeless woman’s story as they journey to self-sufficiency!

Your small group can help by painting the inside of our Palatine Sparrow’s Nest. This is an immediate need. We will supply all the tools.

Location: 75 E Northwest Hwy, Palatine, IL 60067

Date/Time: Flexible shifts Monday through Saturday between 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.

Want to serve? Contact: Rebecca Stiemke, rstiemke@hosparrow.org

Journeys | The Road Home

Naomi's House

My Half Non-Profit Kitchen

Serving Opportunity
Volunteers can assist with our fundraisers or work side by side with our employees overcoming hardship such as survivors of human trafficking, refugees, and addictions. We bake products for My Half of the Sky coffee house in Wheaton, every Monday from 12-5 pm. Volunteers are asked to commit to 2x/month in order to build relationships and support for local women who are healing from trauma.

Location: Wheaton

Date/Time: Mondays 12-5 p.m. or fundraisers through out the year

Want to serve?Email: Myhalfkitchen@yahoo.com (more details at www.Myhalfofthesky.org)

The Ruth Project

Serving Opportunity
Volunteer at The Storehouse – to help process clothing, equipment, and toy donations. Assist with childcare for shopping appointments, cleaning the Storehouse for families, prepare for support events, deliver meals, and more.

Volunteer at The Farm – Help with support events such as Family get-togethers, Teen Hangouts, mom & toddler events, and more! Hands on volunteering availbile to help with yardwork, greenhouse, painting, cleaning, meal teams, ect.

Prayer Team – Pray weekly through our zoom prayer meeting and join a texting list of prayer requests.

Location: Storehouse – Elgin, The Farm – Sycamore

Date/Time:
Storehouse: Tues, Weds, and Thurs

The Farm: Flexbile/ongoing (Especailly Friday nights, Tuesday mornings, Saturdays)

Prayer Team: Optional meeting, Tuesdays, 10 a.m.

Want to serve? RuthProject.com/volunteer

Prayer Team: https://ruthproject.com/getinvolved/volunteer/

South Barrington

Choose a different location

Willow Crystal Lake partners with the Crystal Lake Food Pantry | Join the Willow Crystal Lake team who serves on the third and fifth Thursday evenings, 4:40-7 p.m., of each month as we help meet the needs of those who are food insecure.

Email Deb Wilkerson – debwilkersong1@gmail.com to learn more.

Community Resource Days are at Willow Crystal Lake every Friday from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. (Except 3/31, 6/30, 7/7, 9/29, 11/24 and 12/29). Services are being offered from all over the county and are free to all in need! For more information please contact Julie at julie.davis@willowcreek.org.

Check out services here.

Learn more here!

Through the Kids Hope mentoring program, students develop transformative relationships with an additional caring and consistent adult, empowering them to thrive. Become a mentor for a student from Canterbury school year round by contacting Julie at julie.davis@willowcreek.org.

One-Time Serve Opportunities

Check out one-time serve opportunities here!

Food Security

Willow Huntley has a community garden! Help grow and harvest 1000s of pounds of fresh produce to support our local food pantry. Teams serve on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 8 a.m.–12 p.m seasonally.

Willow Huntley partners with the Grafton Food Pantry, a non-profit organization that is committed to educating and bringing the community together in the fight to end hunger located in Huntley. Join a team to serve in the Grafton food pantry by helping organize, sort, clean and prepare the food to be distributed at the food pantry. Email Lee Morgan to get started.

Restorative Justice

Community Resource Days is a collaborative community event at Willow Crystal Lake providing for the un-sheltered and those in need of extra support with access to a variety of resources to help fight homelessness.The serve happens every other Friday from 10-2pm and volunteers help in a variety of ways: serving meals, working with guests, and preparing the space. Email Lee Morgan to join the team.

Helping Vulnerable Families

Willow Huntley works with Kids Hope USA. Invest your lunch hour one day a week to make a lasting difference in the life of an at-risk child by becoming a Kids Hope Mentor. Or join our team as a prayer partner! Email Lynne Sell to learn more.

One-Time Serve Opportunities

Check out one-time serve opportunities here!

Food Security

Willow North Shore partners with C24/7, a non-profit organization dedicated, through the power of Jesus Christ, to improving the lives of children and young adults in the North of Howard neighborhood by providing the necessary tools, security and environment for them to thrive economically, socially and spiritually.

Volunteer Opportunities: The C24/7 After-school Program provides opportunities for at-risk elementary students to learn, grow, and thrive in and out of the classroom. Volunteers can cook a meal (Dinner is served at 5:30) or tutor students (Program from 4-5pm) weekly. Email Paul – paul.daly@willowcreek.org to learn more.

Restorative Justice

Willow North Shore partners with Exodus World Service and World Relief to support refugees and migrants who have recently been resettled into the area through meals, fellowship, and other tangible needs.

Through Exodus, you can collect and deliver essentials through a Welcome to America Pack or help refugees acclimate to their neighborhood as a New Neighbor volunteer.

Or join the mentoring program hosted at North Shore Campus one afternoon a week (4-5:30PM). The children in this program have recently arrived from Ukraine and are learning English. No language skills required (the program is English based). Email Paul – paul.daly@willowcreek.org to learn more.

Cultivating Upcoming Generations

Willow North Shore partners with the UR Chicago, an organization working to end gun violence in Cabrini Green and Roger’s Park Chicago by providing access to living-wage income opportunities through Christian job readiness, training, and mentorship.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Serve as an “Upline” or mentor for a graduate of the URCA training. Help encourage them as they begin looking for work. Use your own connections on the North Shore even help land them their first job.
Help with resume writing
Help with mock interviews
Provide a meal for the group ( 10-20 ) as they go through the program.

Email Paul – paul.daly@willowcreek.org to learn more.

One-Time Serve Opportunities

Check out one-time serve opportunities here!

Food Security

The Willow Creek Care Center is committed to offering services that help meet immediate needs & services that help build toward a more sustainable future for individuals and families in the Chicagoland area. The vision is fighting poverty and injustice so that lives are transformed and Jesus is known. Get involved here!

Restorative Justice

Build friendships with and mentor those who are incarcerated or reentering society after incarceration. Visit prison facilities, provide encouragement, facilitate bible classes, worship services, & small group curriculum. Or become a pen pal and maintain consistent correspondence with an inmate If you would like to volunteer in the Prison & Jail ministry, click here.

Helping Vulnerable Families

Willow South Barrington works with World Relief, an organization that believes in the power of holistic care for each refugee, asylum seeker, and other immigrant in our community. Sign up to volunteer with World Relief here.

One-Time Serve Opportunities

Check out one-time serve opportunities here!

Food Security

Coming soon!

Restorative Justice

Help provide a welcoming environment for migrants and refugees who have recently moved into the community through meals, fellowship, and other tangible needs. Email Scott Woods -swoods@willowcreek.org to learn more.

Helping Vulnerable Families

Through the Kids Hope mentoring program, students develop transformative relationships with an additional caring and consistent adult, empowering them to thrive. Sign up to serve here.

One-Time Serve Opportunities

Check out one-time serve opportunities here!

Food Security

Willow Wheaton hosts a Senior Connect to provide food to our neighbors. Senior connect is an initiative that the Wheaton campus runs to serve seniors in their community to provide groceries right at the apartment complex.

Join a team to serve monthly at Wood Glen Senior Apartments in West Chicago with Northern Illinois Food Bank to help provide to the seniors living in this community. The serve happens on the second Wednesday of each month from 3-6pm. Email Jason Nelson – jnelson@willowcreek.org to learn more.

Restorative Justice

Willow Wheaton partners with Fellowship Housing to help women find stability and hope for their future. Help prepare a new apartment for a mom to move into through putting together various donation baskets or serve at an event to support moms and their children.

Email Jason Nelson: jnelson@willowcreek.org to learn more about the serving opportunities.

Helping Vulnerable Families

Willow Wheaton partners with Outreach Christian Ministries, a comprehensive youth and family resource center offering transitional housing and family stabilization services.

Volunteer at an after-school program by tutoring students in elementary, junior high and high school to help with academic development as well as life skills and faith formation. Or serve at their transitional housing complex for women & children coming out of difficult circumstances. Email Jason Nelson: jnelson@willowcreek.org to learn more about the serving opportunities.

One-Time Serve Opportunities

Check out one-time serve opportunities here!