Ready to make a difference? Check out the serving opportunities below and try one out! Not sure where to begin? Attend a 15-minute Go Serve info session the first Sunday of every month immediately after each service.
For more info contact:
GLOBAL
Jackie Herron-Whitfield
Compassion & Justice Pastor
LOCAL
Loretta Jacobs
Local Serving Leader
ljacobs@willowcreek.org
Serving those impacted by poverty and violence in Rogers Park
Good News Partners
• Saturday Morning Club (All Ages)
Spend time as a chaperone and friend with children living in a homeless shelter by joining in field trips to local venues.
Day/Time: Saturdays throughout the year, 9 am – 12:30 pm
Contact: Romeo Pahati at pahati96@gmail.com
• Women’s Mentoring Program
Mentor a woman at New Life Shelter to
help her achieve goals in moving out of homelessness.
Day/Time: Flexible evenings/weekend, 1 meeting per week, 6 month commitment
Contact: Beth Allen at elizabeth.allen036@gmail.com
C(Christ) 24/7
• After School Program (Kids welcome to serve with parents)
Mentor and tutor at risk boys 8 to 13 years old. Help with homework, Bible studies and fun activities.
Day/Time: Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Fridays, 4 – 6 pm, two to four times a month
Contact: Jen Matuska at matuskaclan@gmail.com
• Casserole Crew
Bake a casserole for weekly men and women’s bible studies of ex-offenders and former gang affiliates. Drop off is at Willow Creek North Shore and meals are delivered to Rogers Park.
Day/Time: Last Sunday of the month before each service
Contact: Connie Krueger at ckrueger81@comcast.net
• Rogers Park Job Development Program
Participate in pilot program to help at risk men and women obtain job skills and employment. Mentors, Training Facilitators Business Development professionals and those who can offer entry employment opportunities are all needed.
Contact: Loretta Jacobs at ljacobs@willowcreek.org
• Fellowship thru Hoops (Age 18+)
Join other Willow Creek North Shore men to play basketball and mentor members of violence/gang prevention ministry of men age 18 to 30. Games are held at a local park district facility in Rogers Park.
Day/Time: One Saturday a month, 3 – 4:30 pm
Contact: Robert Luna at Roberto.luna10@gmail.com
• Reading Coaches
Tutor at risk first and second graders in reading at Gale Academy on Howard Street.
Day/Time: Tuesday or Thursday mornings, 10:15 am – 12 pm
Contact: Joyce Zeiss at crz528@northwestern.edu
Serving Vulnerable Kids
Safe Families (All Ages)
Families of Willow Creek North Shore voluntarily open their homes to children
whose parents are in crisis. Additional ways to serve include supporting host families with short babysitting times, rides and meals.
Day/Time: Varies
Contact: Kimi Ottaviano at kottaviano@safefamilies.net
Website: safe-families.org
Kids Hope
Mentor a child impacted by poverty in Glenview. Spend just one hour a week encouraging, playing and listening to a child at a Glenview elementary school. Program starts January and runs thru mid June.
Training (one hour online) provided.
Day/Time: Varies
Contact: Karen Ideno-Chiou at lovingmotherhood@yahoo.com
Serving the Hungry
A Just Harvest (age 12+)
This is the highest capacity kitchen in Chicagoland serving a hot nutritious meal 365 days per year in Rogers Park.
Day/Time: First Wednesday and last Friday of each month, 5 – 7 pm
Contact: Kim Schuman at kim22135@yahoo.com
The Harvest Pantry (age 12+)
A ministry of Vineyard Church in Evanston
Help check in, distribute food, stock shelves, visit with guests.
Day/Time: Any Wednesday, 5:30 – 8:00 pm
Contact: Patricia Graham at angelpgj@yahoo.com
Serving Prisoners
Informational Meeting on all Prison Ministries on Sunday, January 8th from 1 to 2:30 pm in Northfield. For more information, contact Deanna at deanna@hanksmail.com.
Short Term Men’s Mission Trip
Be part of a Willow Creek North Shore team in a powerful ministry opportunity with Kairos. You will minister to the incarcerated at Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet. Weekend retreats are May and October, 2017 with training provided.
Contact: Tom Hanks at tom@hanksmail.com.
Cook County Jail
Join a team of women leading Bible studies about God’s love and restoration with women residents eager to learn and grow. Secure parking and access for volunteers.
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 6:45–8:30 pm
Contact: Deanna Hanks at dhanks@umich.edu
Short Term Women’s Mission Trip
Minister with a group from Willow Creek North Shore to women in prison at Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, IL. This is a weekend with Women at the Well Prison Ministries to show hope and the love of Christ to the incarcerated. Training provided for weekend retreats in May and September, 2017.
Contact: Deanna Hanks at deanna@hanksmail.com.
Pen Pal Ministry
Be a friend and spiritual coach to incarcerated individuals.
Day/Time: flexible commitment from home
Contact: Deanna Hanks at dhanks@umich.edu
Serving the Elderly
Glen Oaks Nursing Home (all ages, Northbrook)
Help serve on a ministry team (music, prayer, activities, visitation) at Glen Oaks Nursing Home. Glen Oaks is home to 300+ individuals of varying ages and disabilities.
Day/Time: Third Wednesday of each month, 5:45 – 8 pm
Contact: Elena Rios at elenarios4@hotmail.com or 773-517-1810
Serving Refugees
Exodus World Service (all ages)
Share friendship, hospitality, and knowledge of life in the U.S. with newly arriving refugees. Serving ranges from providing basic living supplies to meeting weekly with a family over a 3 month period.
Day/Time: One time or flexible commitment
Cross Cultural Trainings: December 3, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm at Northbrook Public Library and second Saturday of each month.
Website: www.ExodusWorldService.org
Willow Contact: Debbie Arnspong at arnspong@gmail.com
Serving Victims of Human Trafficking
Anti Trafficking Task Force
Join the Willow Creek North Shore Anti Trafficking Task Force and choose from the following opportunities to serve with a range of time commitments.
• working with girls in recovery from trafficking
• promoting rescue opportunities for victims
• growing awareness of issue in Chicago
Day/Time: Varies
Contact: Kathleen Sleigh at ksleigh603@comcast.net
Serving with your Business Skills
Barnabas Group
Attend a quarterly breakfast hosted by Barnabas Group that connects you with faith based not for profits that need your skills on a short term basis. Network with other Christian business professionals who want to serve with their marketplace skills.
Day/Time: Quarterly with choice of downtown loop or O’Hare location.
Contact: John Phillips at jrphil123@comcast.net
Website: chicago.barnabasgroup.org
Serving General Needs
Men Serving Others
Join a team of men serving our local ministry partners and community. Sign up for mailing list for monthly and special invites. Specific skills not necessary.
Day/Time: Generally the second Saturday morning of the month
Father/Daughter/Son Serves: Feed My Starving Children – February 17, 9 – 11 am,
Greater Food Depository – April (date and time TBD)
Contact: Keith Landauer at Keith.Landauer@searshc.com to be notified of future opportunities
Learning Experiences
Local and global serving general informational session held every first Sunday of the month immediately following each service (Check info center for location; lasts approximately 15 min).
When Helping Hurts Discussion Group
Learn how to serve the poor in ways that are life changing for both the impoverished and the ones serving. This class includes video teaching and group discussion as well as an overview of Willow North Shore’s local and global serving opportunities.
Day/Time: Sunday mornings,
March 11 – April 23 or June 4 – July 9, 10:30 – 11:45 am
Contact: Loretta Jacobs at ljacobs@willowcreek.org
Bridge Builders Immersion Weekend
Join with others from Willow Creek North Shore for an overnight at Sunshine Gospel Ministries in the community of Woodlawn. This is for those who want to understand the issues of poverty and violence in Chicago at a deeper level. We will dive into the scriptures, the community and into conversations about the issues we see in the news every day.
Weekends: March 4-5 or May 20-21
Contact: Loretta Jacobs at ljacobs@willowcreek.org
How Can I Help? Compassion & Justice Events at North Shore
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