Outreach Ministries

The members of St. Paul contribute a great deal of time and money to many significant benevolence projects. 14% of our church income goes to the ELCA through the Chicago Metro Synod to support the many programs of the ELCA. The Witness Board budgets another 6% of our income primarily for more local ministries. Income designated specifically for World Hunger goes directly to the ELCA and is above and beyond budgeted figures.

YOU are invited to contribute your time and talents to some of the local outreach ministries which are listed below. 

Contact a member of the Outreach Team for details.

• Ann Hein - Chair
• Ginny Harms
• Karen Edwards
• Pat Rosborne
• Lois Johnson
• Lisa Jackson
• Wally Vallette
• Pastor Williamson
• Bob Hein - Council representative

• Blood Drive:
  Many members support the blood drive by donating blood. Contact the church office for the next scheduled blood drive. 
   
• Central DuPage Pastoral Counseling Center
  Bob Hein serves on the board of this organization that provides affordable, professional, pastoral counseling services to the public in an ecumenical setting
  
  
• The Christmas Store:
  We contribute toys and/or gifts to a local drive to provide a better Christmas for others. Part of Outreach Community Center (see below).
  Contact Ginny Harms or the church office for more information.
  
  
• CROP Walk:
  An ecumenical fundraiser for world hunger held in May. Walkers will be needed as well as sponsors for the walkers. Contact Brian Hollahan for more information.
  
  
• DuPage Habitat for Humanity:
  We contribute funds and volunteers. Homes have recently been completed in Romeoville, Glendale Heights, Glen Ellyn and West Chicago.
  
  Volunteers are always needed, not only in construction, but behind the scenes in the areas of publicity, promotion, fund-raising, and as a family partner.  Family partners make a one-year commitment to support one of the new Habitat families.  Emotional support and assistance in learning to mange a budget, including a mortgage and logging “sweat equity” are key elements. If you are interested, contact Ann Hein or the see the DuPage Habitat for Humanity website.
  
  
• DuPage United for Hardship Assistance:
  An organization to which the pastors may refer disadvantaged persons for specific needs not provided by other local agencies.
   
• Earth Ministry Team
  Meets the 2nd Monday of the month and collects cell phones, batteries and eye glasses for recyling.  They also have grown a Hope Garden raising vegetables for the Peoples Resource Center.  They are working to earn an Earth Flag and continue to make congregation members aware of ways to take care of God’s earth.
  
  
• ESL Classes:
  St. Paul volunteers teach English to recent immigrants using our computer center as a teaching tool. This ministry is coordinated through the Peoples Resource Center, which provides instructor training and client referrals. If you want to help as an instructor or assistant, contact Carl Sodergren. 
   
• ESL – Computer Class:
  In this class parents of Headstart students  learn English and also how to use a computer.  This enables them to improve their English and also to obtain a refurbished computer from Peoples Resource Center.  We provide the computer room two mornings a week, pay for one of the babysitters and provide extra equipment and quite often one or more of the teachers.
  
  
• Ecumenical Support Services for the Elderly (Adult day care):
  ESSE provides care and companionship to senior citizens who cannot stay alone during the day while their families work. We provide space, heat, water, etc. for this program as a major part of our Witness budget. Members of St. Paul are needed to provide refreshments and activities and/or entertainment for this group. Contact the church office for more information.
  
  
• EXODUS:
  An organization that welcomes refugees. St. Paul supports EXODUS through advocacy, by hosting their annual walk-a-thon in the fall, hosting various workshops and collecting Welcome Packs. Welcome Packs are for new refugees and contain everything needed to set up housekeeping in a local apartment.
  
  Members have also trained to mentor new refugees when they first move to this country, developing a relationship and helping them solve problems encountered when adjusting to a different culture in the United States.
  
  
• Family Shelter Services:
  We collect used cell phones for this organization that assists victims of abuse. They are used by women in the program and/or sold to raise money.
  
  
• J.U.S.T.:
  A ministry to inmates of the DuPage County jail that provides counseling and classes. St. Paul has provided financial support as well as Christmas cards, stamps, and candy. Contact the church office for more information.
  
  
• LSSI Counseling (Lutheran Social Services of Illinois):
  We provide a counseling office. 
     

• The Mexican Association for Rural and Urban Transformation
  Amextra is a non profit organization which operates its own community development projects.  Amextra establishes a presence in rural and urban communities and accompanies individuals and families in order to improve their quality of life through education, health and nutrition, income generation, emergency relief and environmental sustainability projects. All of the Amextra programs are long term and are focused on the formation of leaders and community organization

• National Alliance on Mental Illness. 
  Their mission is to provide support, advocacy and education in order to improve the quality of life for individuals with mental illness and their families. 
  Contact Sue Cahalan for more information.
  

• Outreach Community Ministries:
  Provides many diverse services to local youth and those in low-cost housing, including mentoring and job training for single mothers to help them to become self-sufficient. 
  We contribute money, gifts and volunteers to their Christmas Store.
  
  
• P.A.D.S. (Public Action to Deliver Shelter):
  St. Paul provides services to the homeless by hosting the Trinity Episcopal Church P.A.D.S. site every 3
rd Monday of each month from October through April with members from Holy Cross. In summer St. Paul hosts P.A.D.S. at Gary Wheaton Methodist Church. Food and volunteers are always needed. For more information contact John Warbiany or visit the P.A.D.S. website.


• People's Resource Center:
  We collect food each Sunday for contribution to this local food center. We also provide additional volunteer (e.g. see ESL classes above) and financial support. The PRC also collects used computers and printers. These are renovated and given to low income people who have completed computer classes. For more information contact the office or visit the People's Resource Center website.
   
• PFLAG DuPage:
  We provide space to this new chapter on the third Sunday of each month. PFLAG DuPage is affiliated with the national organization, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. For more information, visit the PFLAG website.
   

• Seminarian Support
  We provide scholarship funds to church members attending a Lutheran seminary.