I'll Be Home For Christmas

I'll Be Home For Christmas

DuPage PADS clients get a home for a day. I'll Be Home for Christmas is a favorite song of many during the holiday season. It may even be one of yours. But suppose you had no home of your own, or a family or friend's home where you could enjoy Christmas Day?

That's the situation in which many clients of DuPage PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) find themselves. They spend their day in one of the few open train stations, Starbucks, or if they're lucky, fast food restaurants. Some ride the trains back and forth between Chicago and the suburbs until one of the local church shelters open at 7:00 p.m.

Again this year, Christ Church is opening its doors on Christmas Day to provide a "home" for those who find themselves homeless in DuPage County. Throughout the day, Christ Church staff members Food Coordinator Susan Pick and Maintenance Director Dale Paulson will be working side by side with many Christ Church of Oak Brook volunteers. They will be serving those needing friendship, food and a place to feel at home.

If you're interested in volunteering on Christmas Day between 12:30 and 5:30 p.m., or would like more information, please contact Donna Lappert at 630.306.1340.

Thanksgiving Care Packages on Their Way Overseas

Through the generosity of the Christ Church family and with the guidance of the Military Ministry team, 450 Thanksgiving Care Packages were sent to soldiers serving our country overseas. "Thank You" to everyone who helped demonstrate Christ's love and gratitude to these men and women who put their lives on the line every day.

Eight boxes were sent to Christ Church of Oak Brook military family members, forty boxes to two Illinois National Guard units in Iraq, 150 boxes to one North Carolina National Guard unit, and 252 boxes to the 82nd Airborne unit from Fort Bragg, North Carolina serving overseas.

If you have a family member actively serving in the military, the Military Ministry team would like to know. Please contact Steve Johnson at augietec@att.net or 708.899.4042

Thanksgiving Food Drive sets a new record!

Thank you all who brought food to the past food drive. The number of people served this year is up 35%. We collected over 200 banana boxes of food to serve our hungry neighbors and this is by far the most food collected during a food drive. As the pantry team was praising God for His generosity through our church, the unexpected happened. Over 180 families (over 500 people) came through the doors of the Westmont and Salvation Army pantries on November 21. This was the largest number of people served in one month in the pantry ministry. The line of people waiting for food in Westmont stretched out of the church into the parking lot. Without the donations of food from the food drive, the Westmont pantry would have run out of food and many people would have done without food for Thanksgiving. We are grateful to the congregation as we strive to serve our neighbors in need in these challenging times.