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Community Outreach
All Our Losses Support Group: Each one of us experiences a loss of some kind throughout our lives – whether that be through economic conditions that impose a new employment and income reality on us, friendships or other relationships that are severed for whatever reason or through death of a loved one. Each loss brings with it some common emotions – fear, anxiety, anger, embarrassment, sadness and a sense of just feeling numb, to name just a few. Through a process of small group sharing framed with reading and reflecting on scripture, we help each other better understand the burdens that such losses heap upon us and benefit from an examination of where God might be in our situations. The sessions are completely confidential – what is said in the room stays in the room. If you find yourself caught up in trying to work through your personal situation and wish for some support, please join us on Thursday afternoons from two o‘clock until three-thirty in the Conference Room, just off the main hallway. For more information, contact Rev. Terri.
Parish Outreach
The Primo Center for Women and Children (St. Barnabas) was the local charity chosen as the recipient for this year’s Antiques Show “split-the-pot” raffle. Many of you know The Primo Center as St. Barnabas, and Emmanuel has had a long tradition with the center. Shirley Mumford and Muriel Cooper, as well as many other members of Emmanuel, have provided services for the group over the years including cooking and serving meals, providing food, supplies and furniture and generally supporting the director of the program, Dollie Williams. Shirley and her husband Paul continue to take items to Primo Center. There is a designated cabinet just down the stairs next to The Swamp waiting for our next donations.
The Primo Center is a transitional shelter that keeps families together in times of crisis and healing. They provide shelter for up to 10 families at a time, and the families stay up to 4 months with some exceptions for extended stays. They also provide services for their neighborhood. Their mission is to build and maintain strong families with a goal of having families live independently. There are three pillars to achieve the goal and mission of The Primo Center: Crisis Management; Decision to Recover; and Self Healing.
The Primo Center provides a safe haven for women with families who can now rebuild and eventually have a home of their own. Some of the services offered by The Primo Center include the following:
- counseling and mentoring
- healthcare
- financial planning
- meals
- child care
- training in GED and computer classes
And The Primo Center is a great neighbor. The Center offers neighborhood training in GED and computer classes as well as providing neighborhood events, food and goods as available.
Their needs are many, but a current list includes the following:
Chest freezer (used is fine) and/or refrigerator
Bedding – twin and double -- especially double
Towels and washcloths
Pots and Pans
Silverware
Dish cloths
Kids’ games and puzzles
All items including furniture to furnish an apartment as the families move into independent housing
And finally, these are Dollie’s Dreams – to build a playground area behind The Primo Center and to renovate St. Barnabas with apartments for subsidized housing.
Beds Plus Incorporated: Emmanuel is proud to be a host for the BEDS program each Wednesday. A lunch and day program plus dinner and overnight sleeping accommodations are offered every week for our homeless neighbors. Volunteers for the program – here and at other churches – are always needed as well as specific supplies. Call Beth Tracy at the BEDS program office 708-354-0858 x2 or email at tracy@bedsonline.org for more information.
Emmanuel Church Women:
This group, open to all women in the parish, raises significant funds each year to fund community needs. Its signature annual event, the Antique Show (now in its 52nd year), attracts dealers and vendors from all over the Midwest. The women and men of our parish work together to offer other attractions to patrons including dinner and lunch service, a tea room and Baker’s Shelf, and a wine and appetizer hour the opening night. Among the causes funded from ECW’s efforts are: La Grange Area Community Nurse Service; Community Extension Project., the Constance Morris house; the Hamill Play Zoo (to purchase books); St.. Gregory’s School; Lawrence Hall; Breast Cancer Society and others.
David E. Weaver IV Endowment Fund:
This endowment fund, established by the church as in memory of David E. Weaver, our retired pastor’s son, whose young life was tragically cut short. Mr. Weaver will always be remembered as someone who gave back to his community, particularly to youth, and the purpose of the fund is to champion these efforts. The fund made its first gift in 2007 to the YMCA of Greater La Grange to fund fifteen scholarships to the annual summer camp program.
Meeting Space:
Emmanuel provides space for Alcoholics Anonymous; Girl Scouts of America Brownies; BEDS (a night of food and shelter for the homeless); the YMCA of Greater La Grange Summer Camp
Lawrence Hall:
One of the oldest child-welfare agencies in Illinois, Lawrence Hall educates and house disadvantaged youth, offering them a lifeline of hope and opportunity. Emmanuel supports the work of Lawrence Hall through gifts and food, particularly at Christmas time.
Bishop Anderson House:
Parish women make and provide stuffed bears to be distributed to babies and young children at Stroger County Hospital.
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