|
| Food and clothing are two of life's "givens" in America. For many of us
it's almost inconceivable that families next door, down the street, or
across the block could be suffering from malnutrition or exposure to
the elements because of insufficient or improper food and clothing. |
| Yet it is true! Although the majority of children living below the
official "poverty line" are white, they comprise but one-sixth of all
White children. By contrast, almost half of all Black children are
poor, as well as more than one-third of all Hispanic children.
According to Bread for the World Organization almost 75% of poor Black
children and 45% of poor White children live in families headed by
women. |
Jesus said,
"I am come
that you might have life...
and have it in
abundance." John 10:10 |
NewLife Food Pantry currently serves the following food pantries:
- Hope Fellowship
- St. Joseph's Pantry, Addison, IL
- St. Mary's Gostyn Pantry, Downers Grove, IL
- Feed My Lambs, West Chicago
- Advent Lutheran, Streamwood
- NewLife Mission Baptist Church, Chicago, IL
- Keystone Baptist Church, Chicago west side
|
NewLife's purpose is to serve as a conduit or connecting link, providing food and clothing to selected pantries in the Chicagoland area, to help provide sustenance for people and children in need RIGHT HERE in our neighborhoods. NewLife began in the Spring of 1985 through the vision and ministry of Ray Christensen and his wife, Julia.
|
| The Mission is incorporated in the state of Illinois as a non-profit
entity and is held accountable by an independent board of directors who
donate their time and expertise. In fact, NewLife has NO PAID staff
members. All work is performed on a voluntary basis, guaranteeing that
the maximum benefit possible is gained from each dollar donated and
channeled to those in greatest need. |
|
 |
NewLife Food, Inc, is a local mission that serves the community by collecting food and clothing from available corporate, non-profit services, and individual sources and transports these items to selected "pantries" or distribution centers in areas of need. At this time, these areas include West Garfield Park and Humbolt Park areas in Chicago...areas in which an unemployment rate of 60 percent is not uncommon. Other Chicago and suburban neighborhoods are added or deleted as needs and available funding changes. |
| Much of the food for NewLife is purchased from Bethlehem Center in Carol Stream IL. Donors of this food include Jewel Foods, Keebler, Frito-Lay, Eckridge, and others. NewLife purchases food at 14 cents per pound which essentially covers the cost of processing. Currently they purchase approximately 9,500 pounds of food per month. |
 |
|
A portion of the food is picked up by suburban pantries with the majority trucked to the Chicago pantries by NewLife volunteers. The clothing is obtained free of charge from personal donations as well as retail outlets and is given to food and clothing pantries to fill the emergency or continuing needs of their clients.
|
Each pantry requires recipients to provide a family profile (including income) to establish number of family members and their needs. Clients can pick up food once every 30 days. The amount provided depends upon family size. The churches which operate the pantries typically have a committee or staff member who regularly visits recipients, surveying spiritual needs as well as social and physical.
|
|
NEWLIFE NEEDS YOU to become involved in a variety of possible ways:
- Providing a vehicle (covered truck or van) for transporting good and occasional clothing
- Giving your time & energy for pick-ups & deliveries
- Gathering food as a special group, community service or Sunday School project
- Participating in a Thanksgiving and/or
- Christmas basket program
- Providing regular financial support
|
|
I Want To Help.
For details on how you can be involved
in God's NewLife Ministry, write to:
NewLife Food, Inc
c/o Ray Christensen
1130 67th Street
Downers Grove, IL 60516
|
NewLife Food Pantry Board of Directors
Miles Boone, Ray Christensen, Julia Christensen
Ralph Geppert, Herb Krause, Bruce Miller
Roosevelt Matthews, Harry Smejkal, & Dave Wagner.
The board of directors thank you for your continuing support and prayers.
|