Social Ministry at Grace and Beyond
Letter of Appreciation From Policarpo Paz Garcia Elementary School Spanish
Letter of Appreciation From Policarpo Paz Garcia Elementary School English
2023 PIN (People in Need) Resource Directory
WOODSTOCK FOOD PANTRY (WFP)– It seeks additional volunteers and NEEDS YOUR HELP. Each participating congregation, of which there are approximately two dozen, is asked to provide volunteers to help operate it. The Pantry has a variety of ways you can contribute your time, so you can choose the type of activity you enjoy.
- Front Desk– These volunteers check on neighbors who come for food, fill their orders, and provide additional helpful information. Shifts are three hours during operating hours, which are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Even providing one to two monthly shifts would be helpful. Volunteers are also needed to interact with neighbors in the waiting area, welcoming them and giving directions on each day’s availability of fresh foods and quantities per family.
- Local Food Donation Pickup- Some Food Pantry volunteers pick up donations each week from local stores such as Aldi, Food Shed and sometimes McDonald’s and Panera. The items are brought to the Pantry for more volunteers to sort. Having additional volunteers to share this pickup task would be most helpful.
- Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) Delivery Persons– Food Bank deliveries happen one Thursday each month. This involves lifting and carrying items from the NIFB truck to the pantry (rolling carts are used).
- Periodic Special Projects– Occasionally, volunteers perform special projects. Added volunteers can provide further help to accomplish these tasks as needed.
WFP currently is searching for a larger location to serve the community. Part of this will include a capital campaign to raise funds to purchase and remodel a location to better serve our neighbors. Please let someone at the Food Pantry know if you have experience running a capital campaign or know of someone who could be engaged to help. Contact information is available at: https://www.woodstockfoodpantry.org/#/.
2024 CHRISTMAS FAMILY SHARING– Grace looks forward to organizing Our Christmas Family Sharing ministry in November 2024 to support the Family Health Partnership Clinic (FHPC), Turning Point, and ELCA Good Gifts. This in turn helps to meet the needs of our local community as well as our global community. We typically offer several different ways to help support our ministry partners, which usually include:
Family Health Partnership Clinic: The Giving Tree usually has ornaments with Walmart gift cards to help a family/families in need.
Turning Point: Ornaments on the Giving Tree for Turning Point typically will stock its “Holiday Toy Shop,” which Turning Point offers free of charge to its clients. Gifts needed will be reflected here usually
ELCA Good Gifts: Ornaments on the Giving Tree for ELCA Good Gifts will also have envelopes attached. You can choose from a wide variety of items – from chicks to goats, to school uniforms – to help support people in need around the world. You can indicate on the envelope what item you would like to sponsor, and after the ministry has collected all the envelopes, it will place an order with ELCA Good Gifts. Once the program is up and running in November 2024, you can also order online at ELCA.org/goodgifts.
More Christmas Family information should be available in November 2024.
2024 MITTEN TREE
Grace collects NEW mittens, hats, gloves, scarves, socks, and underwear for children and adults in need during the November/December months. Keep tabs here on when to bring items for collection.
Church NORTHERN IL DIAPER BANK – The diaper bank is in need of men’s and women’s adult incontinence products. Undergarments in medium, large, and X large are needed along with pads and guards for men and women. Please use the drop off box in the upper entry.
MEALS ON WHEELS– Meals on Wheels is a service delivering meals to those who cannot cook for themselves. They deliver between 10:45 am and Noon. Meals are picked up at Centegra Woodstock and delivered in the area. Meals on Wheels is in need of a team of two people on Mondays every five weeks. They are also in need of 1 driver with a car to partner with an existing volunteer on Thursdays. They really need you. If you can help with this ministry please call Jeannie May 815-943-4849.
CAREGIVER COUNSELING AND RESPITE CARE SUPPORT PROGRAM—Offered by Family Alliance of Woodstock and Huntley. Learn about: health risks to the caregiver, such as loneliness, stress, and isolation; mindful practices and how to incorporate them into a daily routine; educational events and support groups. Adult daycare provided by Family Alliance while the caregiver attends. Call 815-338-3590 for dates and times. Find additional information online at www.familyallianceinc.org.
DAYTIME DROP-IN VOLUNTEERS—One of WACM (Woodstock Area Community Ministry)’s ministries is a Day Time Drop-In center to provide shelter, laundry and a meal to those in need. WACM is looking for a few volunteers to serve on Thursday mornings from 6:30-7:30 a.m. to transition from a PADS site to a Day Time Drop-In center. Please contact coordinator, John Hudson, josus@comcast.net, if you would like to volunteer.
DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM —The Direct Assistance Program (DAP) is operated by the Woodstock Area Community Ministry. WACM strives to provide emergency assistance to those families who need it most. It is held here at Grace Lutheran Church on the first and third Thursday of the month from noon to 3:00 p.m. Because of the tremendous growing needs of the community, DAP has had to cut back on its services due to a shortage of funds. You can help by making a regular donation to DAP using the white pew envelope. WACM is jointly operated by 12 local congregations and organizations, including Grace.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED—The Direct Assistance Program is in great need of volunteers. DAP is open on Thursdays from 12-3pm, and meets in the nursery here at Grace. DAP assists persons in emergency financial crisis by providing gas vouchers, food vouchers, clothing, medical supplies, etc. If interested, please call Patrice Braun at (815) 529-4370.
Woodstock Diaper Bank—Do you need diapers or incontinence supplies? The Vine Christian Church, a partner with the St. Paul Diaper Bank Partnership, now offers diapers for children and adults. To receive diapers, an application form must be filled out in advance. All who ask will receive. Elderly in need of diapers are encouraged to apply.
PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter)
On the fourth Wednesday of each month from October through April Grace members prepare and serve dinner to homeless people who are staying at the emergency shelter at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation church. Check the poster in the narthex for ways you can contribute to the meals.
PADS offers shelter and services for people who are homeless. For more information about other services for the homeless, visit www.mchenrycountypads.com.
Woodstock Food Pantry
The Woodstock Food Pantry needs Grace’s help to restock its shelves. Donations of nonperishable food, paper goods, and toiletries can be placed in the basket in the vestibule. Items especially requested include canned vegetables (corn, green beans), canned fruit (peaches, pears, pineapple), soup (vegetable, cream of mushroom, chicken noodle, tomato), toilet paper, toothpaste, deodorant, and feminine hygiene products. Cash donations through the church office are also much appreciated. Please bring your items on “Food Pantry Sunday” – the first Sunday of each month – or at any time. Thank you!
Habitat for Humanity
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY/THRIVENT BUILDS— Construction has begun on a Habitat for Humanity house at 1601 Hillside Drive in McHenry. This is an opportunity for Grace members to work together with a low-income family to make the goal of homeownership attainable for the family. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, August 3. There are two ways to help: 1) Join the construction crew. Construction experience is not required, but volunteers must be at least 18 years old (16- and 17-year-olds may work if a parent is present). Depending on progress made on previous Saturdays, the work on August 3 will probably be installing insulation or drywall. 2) Donate sandwiches, side dishes, or other items. Our church is responsible for providing lunch for about 15 volunteers.
Please sign up at the Information Center or contact Kristin Thurow (815-337-8214, ekthurow@owc.net). For more information about Habitat for Humanity, visit www.habitatmchenry.org (click on ―Our Projects to see progress and
a map for the Marengo house).
The ELCA website is a great resource for putting our faith into action through social ministry. For more information about our church’s efforts to help people who are hungry, poor, or affected by natural disasters around the world, visit www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World.aspx. For more information about ways we work for peace and justice in our world, visit www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Justice.aspx.
Tanzanian Banner Gift
Grace has received a painted banner crafted by the members of our partner congregation, the Arusha Town Lutheran Parish in Arusha, Tanzania. We offer our prayers of thanks for our partners in ministry at the Arusha Town Parish. The youth at Grace have painted a banner with the message “We are One in the Spirit,” which was delivered in early July to Arusha.
Woodstock Area Community Ministry: Grace is one of the member churches of WACM, which works to provide financial assistance for local families in need through programs such as the Direct Assistance Program and the Woodstock Walk for Hunger.
Valley Hi Nursing Home: The Social Ministry Team at Grace organizes “arts and crafts days” two to three times a year for the residents of Valley Hi Nursing Home. The most recent activity was in May. More information will be announced in the Grace for Today newsletter when the next activity is scheduled.
Links to Other Service Organizations Supported by Grace
Grace supports the following organizations either financially or by recruiting volunteers:
Willow Brooke Neighborhood Resource Center: Volunteers are needed to tutor children living in the Willow Brooke (formerly Lakewood) apartment complex. Contact the resource center at 815-338-1030.
Bread for the World/ELCA World Hunger Appeal Grace partners with Bread for the World and the ELCA World Hunger Appeal to raise awareness of hunger and poverty around the world and to work for justice for the hungry and poor. For more information, contact www.bread.org and www.elca.org/hunger.
Family Health Partnership Clinic provides quality health care to the uninsured and underinsured in McHenry County. www.hpclinic.org
Peace 4 All, Inc. offers education/prevention services related to domestic violence and helps people who are involved in domestic violence. www.peace4allonline.org
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois provides a wide range of social services to individuals and families. www.lssi.org
Senior Care Volunteer Network of McHenry County trains and matches volunteers with senior citizens who need assistance with shopping, light housework, transportation to doctor appointments, and so on. www.fiamchenrycounty.org
Volunteer Center of McHenry County website: http://www.volunteermchenrycounty.org
WACM – Woodstock Area Community Ministries – http://wacmgroup.org
