Local Outreach
Serving Our Neighbors and Growing as Disciples of Jesus
Local Outreach partners with local organizations, schools, and social workers to serve the vulnerable populations in Bartlett and the surrounding area. By mobilizing our church body to serve, our goal is to build bridges in our community through relationships and care, while giving the people in our church opportunities to grow as disciples of Jesus.
Thanksgiving Food Drive Volunteer Opportunities
Collect Donations
Food Drive Packing Party: November 15
Meal Deliveries: November 20
Financially Support the Food Drive
What is the Thanksgiving Food Drive?
The Thanksgiving Food Drive provides Thanksgiving meals to families in the Bartlett area who are in need. We do this in partnership with our local Jewel-Osco and Bartlett-area schools. This year, we will serve households from six schools. Watch this video to learn more about the food drive and its companion event, The Christmas Gift Drive.
What can I donate to the food drive?
We need the following items:
- Packets of Gravy
- Boxes of Cornbread Mix
- Packages of Stuffing Mix
- Cans of Sweet Potatoes
- Boxes of Pudding -or- Jell-O
- Packages of Cookie -or- Brownie Mix
Items can be purchased and dropped off in Village Church's Food Drive Donation bin. Donations will be accepted until Sunday, November 15.
How do I collect donations at Jewel?
Volunteers sign up for 1-hour time slots at Jewel (located at 125 E Stearns Rd, Bartlett, IL 60103). During that time slot, volunteers will stand at a table set up in the front entrance of the grocery store to greet customers as they begin shopping. Volunteers provide flyers to shoppers then invite them to consider doing one of two things:
- Purchase grocery items (listed on the flyer) and deposit them at the front of the store
- Donate financially to the food drive upon checkout
Volunteers may sign up for as many shifts as they want! Shifts are best enjoyed with a friend. 😉 To see an example of what an experience may look like, watch this video.
What is the packing party?
At the Packing Party, volunteers pack food donations into bags that will be delivered to schools. We will enjoy lunch together, pack the donations, and prepare additional delivery items for the bags. Sign up here.
What does meal delivery involve?
After the donations have been sorted at the Packing Party, a team of volunteers will deliver meals to Bartlett-area schools on Friday, November 20. Volunteers will meet at Village Church in the morning to discuss the delivery sites, then divide into teams for delivery. If you are comfortable driving, let us know when you register here.
Who can volunteer?
All ages are welcome to join in any of these opportunites. As you will in our recap videos, these are very family-friendly events.
What will a financial donation cover?
All monetary donations help cover the cost of both the Thanksgiving Food Drive and the Christmas Gift Drive. While donated food items compose the bulk of our gift to families, other costs associated with these events include packaging, volunteer appreciation, additional gifts for unaccounted for items, and more. All donations are appreciated and can be made here.
Crossroads Kids Club
Do you want to share Jesus' love with kids in public schools? We are looking for people like you to build relationships with kids in an Awana-style after school club for kids in a local public school. This club is free to all students and the more volunteers who join, the more students we can welcome!
Local Outreach Partners
BC3
Bartlett Community Care Collective (BC3) is a collaborative effort between Village Church of Bartlett and the Bartlett Police Department. This initiative provides individual support to people in our community, offers volunteer opportunities for our neighbors, and equips BPD to serve with care.
Crossroads Kids Club
Crossroads Kids Club is a free, weekly after-school program where kids build friendships, explore faith, and grow in character. Volunteer serve at a local elementary school to help students journey through the Bible and discover what it means to follow Jesus.
ECFA
Evangelical Child & Family Agency (ECFA) offers compassionate and Christ-centered services to children, families, and individuals through adoption, pregnancy support services, counseling, and intact family services.
The Ruth Project
The Ruth Project is a non-profit organization based in Elgin, IL on a mission to end the modern-day orphan crisis. Through donations and volunteering, they abundantly provide resources to foster and adoptive families, setting them up for long-term success.
The Forgotten Initiative
Through The Forgotten Initiative, agency workers directly interact with foster parents, vulnerable adults, and children in foster care. This organization provides support through Journey Bags, Foster Family Support, Social Worker Support, and on-the-ground care for foster families.
Safe Families
Safe Families provide a safe home for children and a supportive community for parents while they get back on their feet. This network of relationships keep children from entering the foster care system, and ultimately, helps keeps families together. The goal is family reunification.