Web Site: bridgecommunities.org

SPC Contact: Sarah Allen

Description: Bridge Communities is a grassroots, non-profit organization committed to transforming the lives of homeless families through partnering with talented, resourceful individuals and groups in our community. The program of housing, mentoring, and empowering families focuses on moving them towards a goal of self-sufficiency.

Support Needed: Monetary donations, becoming a Bridge mentor (requires training) or a tutor. Support Sleep Out Saturday. Donate a car.

Southminster Involvement: Yearly donation from Mission Ministry and Gifts Grow. In addition, Southminster participates in Sleep Out Saturday, a local community awareness program highlighting the homeless.

SPC Contact: Gretchen Fleming

Description: Southminster entered into a sister church relationship with the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Guanabacoa, Cuba in 2004. We at Southminster Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn, are active in sharing in the life of our Cuban Sister Church congregation via monetary support, prayer, regular communication, and yearly visits to the island of Cuba.

Support Needed: Monetary donations, congregation members visiting Cuba to share fellowship, donating OTC medicines to Cuba, praying and fostering faith between our two congregations.

Southminster Glen Ellyn Involvement: Yearly donation from Mission Ministry and Gifts Grow, periodically host pastor (and wife) at Southminster, annual Southminster delegation trip to Cuba, collect and send medications and other small items such as toothbrushes, pencils, and craft supplies.

Mission Temporarily Suspended Due To COVID

SPC Contacts: Steve Henkels, Terry Kline

Description: DuPage Care Center is a large healthcare facility caring for individuals with long term, intensive medical care needs as well as patients requiring short term rehabilitation services. It serves all of DuPage County and has 360 patient beds.

Support Needed: Join a very dedicated team of Southminster Church volunteers the second Sunday of every month; help with the worship service by giving of your musical talents, singing, being a liturgist or worship leader; help transport residents to and from the weekly church service at 10:30 a.m.

Southminster Involvement: Since 1992, the second Sunday of the month, Southminster volunteers escort residents from their rooms to a Protestant worship service and then back when the service ends. In 2010, with great success, Southminster Pres formally took over the coordination of worship services on the second Sunday of each month. This mission requires no dollars, only time donated by dedicated and loving Christians. It allows Southminster members to reach out and make personal connections with other brothers and sisters in faith. Pastor Wendy Boden preaches at the Center once a year.

Website: dupagepads.org

SPC Contact: Betty Eichin

Description: DuPage PADS is a collaborative agency bringing together businesses and school groups, as well as religious, civic and human service agencies to address the needs of the homeless. It is the largest provider of interim and permanent housing, coupled with support services to help individuals work to become self-sufficient. It offers case management and employment support.

Support Needed: There are many ways to assist in ending homelessness in DuPage County: become a Pads Partner, volunteer, attend a fundraiser, host a fundraiser or donate needed items.

Southminster Involvement: Yearly donation from Mission Ministry and Gifts Grow.

Web Site: familyshelterservice.org

SPC Contact: Deb Bohi

Description: Family Shelter Service (FSS) is a local, privately-funded organization that provides countywide help and hope for victims of domestic violence. FSS is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. FSS provides a variety of services including a hotline, court advocacy, shelter, counseling, support groups, children’s programs, victim advocacy and community education.

Support Needed: Monetary donations, training, a hotline volunteer, provide childcare while mothers attend class or support groups.

Southminster Involvement: Yearly donation from Mission Ministry and Gifts Grow. SPC members volunteer in the used clothing shop – Second Chance Retail Shop, 1512 North Naper Blvd., Suite 172, Naperville.

Mission Temporarily Suspended Due To COVID

SPC Contact: Betty Eichin

Description: The First United Methodist Church, in Glen Ellyn, hosts the homeless every Sunday afternoon during the winter months (November – March).

Support Needed: Volunteers to staff the Warming Shelter, monetary donations.

Southminster Involvement: Four Southminster volunteers staff the Warming Center on the third Sunday afternoon of the month, November through March, from 1:15pm – 4:00pm. Volunteers welcome guests, provide cookies and soft fruit, and help in the kitchen. Sign-up sheets are on the Mission bulletin board.

SPC Contact: Blair Nelson

Description: Southminster Presbyterian Youth (SPY) spend a week each summer at a workcamp with youth groups from churches of many denominations from all over the country. These work-campers are organized into crews that spend the week repairing and painting the homes of elderly and needy people. These camps also nourish the youth’s spiritual life, build fellowship, develop new friendships and deliver a lot of fun.

Support Needed: Monetary donations, Youth Mission Trip fundraising, giving to Gifts Grow, and volunteering to be an adult chaperone for the mission trip.

Southminster Involvement: Annually a group of youth and adults travel to various places across the country, where they join about 200 other youth and adults from churches around the country at a Group Mission Trips work camp. They spend the week painting and repairing homes for folks who cannot do this for themselves. Our team work hard in the hot sun, enjoy spiritually enriching programs, and get to know our hosts in a unique way. Mission support via annual SPY spaghetti dinner and talent show; the May Youth Rummage Sale; the Chili Cook-off; Youth car washes; coffee houses; and through Gifts Grow.

Web site: www.cancer.org

SPC Contact: Sandy Lopata

Description: Luminaria is a way to honor every life touched by cancer. You can dedicate them to a loved one lost, someone currently battling, or anyone who’s overcome cancer. Luminarias are bags filled with a single candle/light and are lit in honor and in memory of our loved ones who have battled the disease. These bags are decorated “In Honor of” or “In Memory of” someone that has faced a battle with cancer.
Support Needed: Monetary donation

Southminster Involvement: Southminster’s Luminaria Sunday is held in February. Luminaria bags, with names of those touched by cancer, will be lit with tea lights and placed around the sanctuary during the worship service. The names will be read and prayed for during the Prayers of the People.

Wed Site: peoplesrc.org

SPC Contact: Bobbi Frey

Description: PRC is a community-based service organization that provides numerous human service programs to over 30,000 county residents who are in economic distress. Their food pantry, supported with donations, serves over 9,000 families a year. Other services include computer training and access, literacy training, job assistance, and a clothes closet.

Support Needed: Monetary donations, volunteer at a food pantry, computer labs, clothes closet, or help with literacy training. Donate to monthly food offering.

Southminster Involvement: Yearly donation from Mission Ministry and Gifts Grow. Monthly donation to PRC’s Food Pantry. Support for PRC’s annual Share the Spirit, donating toys, gift cards, mittens, hats, and providing volunteers to help parents select gifts for their children.

SPC Contact: Ginny Kline

Description: This ministry meets once a month to knit prayer shawls that are prayed over and hand- delivered to those who are ill, hospitalized, or facing an unusual challenge.

Support Needed: Volunteer your time and talent to knitting.

Southminster Involvement: Team of dedicated knitters who design and create the beautiful prayer shawls.

Web Site: rtaurora.org

SPC Contact: Norm Ellsworth

Description: Rebuilding Together Aurora provides assistance to people who own their own home and meet RTA income criteria but who, because of physical limitation or income, are not able to make necessary home repairs.

Support Needed: Monetary donations. Volunteer your time and talent to help with various building/re-habbing projects.

Southminster Involvement: Yearly donation from Mission Ministry and Gifts Grow. Southminster sends a team of volunteers annually to repair and transform a home.

SPC Contact: Ginny Kline

Description: In 1994, the Glen Ellyn Clergy Council created Walk-In Ministry with the help of Southminster and 12 other local churches. Their mission is to provide a single source of compassionate assistance to families and individuals in need. Services include financial assistance for rent, utilities, and medications as well as vouchers for groceries, meals, gas, and transportation. Walk-In Ministry works closely with other assistance programs like People’s Resource Center and DuPage PADS in an effort to provide care to those in need.

Support Needed: Monetary donation

Southminster Involvement: Yearly donation from Mission Ministry and Gifts Grow. Several congregation members are long-standing volunteers at Walk-In Ministry.

SPC Contact: Any Mission Ministry Member

Description: Each May the congregation is invited to make their mission dollars grow by making a donation to one of SPC-supported missions. Mission Ministry DOUBLES that donation (For Example, $25 to DuPage PADS becomes a $50 donation). Only gifts up to $300 per family are matched. If total donations exceed an amount determined each year (as much as $5,000), matching money percentages are adjusted. Only $1,000 will be donated to any one mission.
Mission Ministry reserves the right to designate use within a given fund.

Support Needed: Donation to Gifts Grow Program, monies can go to one mission or be divided among several agencies. Donations can be made in honor of or in memory of designated individuals.

Southminster Involvement: This unique Southminster ministry began in 2004.

Web site: jollyoldsoles.com

SPC Contact: Julie Storey

Description: Jolly Old Soles is dedicated to providing new and used shoes to primarily local organizations that assist both children and adults in need. Jolly Old Soles’ purpose is to connect those willing to help with those needing assistance with our basic human necessities, shoes.

Support Needed: Donation of new or gently used shoes.

Southminster Involvement: Southminster collects gently used shoes for Jolly Old Soles to distribute to local organizations that assist children and adults in need.

SPC Contact: Troy Hammer
EMail: _____________
Phone: ______________

Description: Mission fundraiser during NCAA Basketball Tournament

Support Needed: Monetary donation
Southminster Involvement: Get caught up in March “Mission” Madness by entering the Men’s Basketball Tournament using the ESPN website. For a minimum donation per tournament bracket, choose your winning team. The four highest-point individuals will each determine which SPC Mission will get their share of the pool.
This is a fun filled way to follow the NCAA Tourney and have a chance to give back at the same time. Good luck on your brackets!

Website: dupagepads.org

SPC Contact: Steve Henkels

Description: A global Christian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems—disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression and mass displacement.

Support Needed: Youth tutor, English language tutor, young adult mentor, health advocate, apartment setup assistants, citizen tutor and transportation assistants.

Southminster Involvement: Yearly donation from Mission Ministry and Gifts Grow. SPC members volunteer in various capacities.