Food and Shelter Team
For information about the Mitten Tree, click here
Mission: The Food and Shelter Team (FAST) explores ways to alleviate homelessness and hunger and present meaningful service opportunities and programs toward the goal of further understanding the experience and issues of hunger and homelessness through direct service and education for the UCE congregation.
Programs of the Food and Shelter Team
Emergency Overnight Shelter
Soup Kitchen
Bundled Blessings
“Our House” Curt’s Café
A brochure describing the work of Interfaith Action of Evanston and how you can participate: Soup Kitchen Volunteer Flyer
Updates & Upcoming Events
Urgent Need for Lunches: May 28, 2021
Connections for the Homeless provides sack lunches at three locations in Evanston, Monday through Friday, year round. Volunteer sign-ups are not keeping up with the need right now. If you have been thinking about trying this, NOW is the time.
For everyone who has been contributing to this effort since last October, Bravo! – and a great big Thank You! This is a very satisfying project that can be done by volunteers who want to help, but need to avoid close contact with the public. It can be done by one person, or you can get together with a partner to share the tasks (and fun – put on the music while you make sandwiches).
How do you get started?
- Choose a day (Mon. through Fri.) from the calendar on the Connections website, Connect2home.org Go to ‘volunteer’, ‘make bag lunches’, ‘sign up to prepare bag lunches to one of our locations’. This is also where you choose the location you prefer.
- Email Maggie Weiss to let her know the date and location you have chosen. msmaggie6@comcast.net
- Pick up a bag with nonperishable components of 25 lunches from Carol Nielsen. This will contain juices, granola bars, condiments and individual bags for sandwiches and lunches. carolnielsen2100@gmail.com
Then, you buy the fresh items you will use in your lunches – bread, meat, and cheese to make sandwiches, and fresh fruit. We will pay for the non-perishables; you will pay for the fresh foods. We have found the best prices at ALDI, but shop wherever you choose. The cost of fresh foods for one lunch is about $1.54, so you can do 25 lunches for $40-$45.
Need coaching? Please contact Sheila Holder at skholder8@gmail.com
Thanks for all you do,
Carol Nielsen, Maggie Weiss, Sheila Holder
What is SNAPGap?: April 2, 2021
SNAP is the government program that helps provide people living under the poverty line with groceries. SNAP does not help with essential toiletries, so there is a GAP in needs.
Interfaith Action of Evanston operates a monthly Produce Mobile, year-round, providing free groceries. To fill the SNAPGap, they are requesting donations of specific items to be distributed to 250 families through the Produce Mobile.
We did not have a Soup Kitchen obligation this year due to the timing of Beth Emet’s Passover holidays. (We normally fill in for them during their holidays). So, there may be UCE folks looking for a similar service opportunity in Evanston. This one can be done entirely contact-free.
Here is the information if you would like to help:
DROP-OFF LOCATION
- 1st United Methodist Church of Evanston – 516 Church St.
DROP-OFF DATES
- Saturdays April 3 and 9 – 10:30am to 1:30pm
- Sundays April 4 and 10 – Noon to 2pm
ITEMS NEEDED – Please limit your generosity to the items requested.
- Family size (not travel size) SHAMPOO, BODY WASH, DISINFECTANT WIPES
- If you want to order from Amazon, there is an online wish list available here.
The wish list includes 22oz. Pantene ProV Daily Moisturizing Shampoo, 22 oz., Dove Body Wash, and Lysol disinfectant Wipes, 80 count.
Sue Murphy, our friend at Interfaith Action, says you can buy one kind of product or mix and match. They are grateful for donations both small and large. You can order online or buy from your favorite store – their brands, or your favorites.
Thank you to all UCERs for your generous responses to our pandemic-time projects to help alleviate the suffering of our neighbors.
Food and Shelter Team
Co-chairs Maggie Weiss and Sheila Holder
Warm Clothing Drive Update: March 12, 2021
A huge ‘Thank You” is in order to the many UCE members and friends who donated warm clothing of all kinds for clients of Connections for the Homeless.
We collected, sorted and delivered new underwear and socks (164 pairs of socks!); 40 coats and jackets (many of them new); 43 hats; 20 scarves and 20 pairs of gloves; 10 pairs of boots and shoes; 30 sweaters, hoodies and sweatshirts; over 50 long sleeved shirts; 3 backpacks and 7 pairs of long pants. In addition, there were several miscellaneous items and everything was either new or clean and ready-to-wear.
The deliveries were greeted with smiles and much appreciation for our efforts. Well done!
We have found that the need is always there – clothing can get lost, or stolen, or simply wear out. Also, new people move into situations where they need help with basic clothing.
Results like this take a team – Thank you to our many donors, to our Sexton Liz for arranging a drop-off and sort and pack location, and to organizers Carol Nielsen, Maggie Weiss, Marilyn Wroblewski and Sheila Holder.
March Madness: March 5, 2021
I BET YOU THOUGHT “MARCH MADNESS” MEANT BASKETBALL
Good guess, but in our UCE world, it means a final power push to provide 12 more days of bagged lunches for the folks served by Evanston’s Connections for the Homeless. So far, we’ve scored over 1,000 fresh meals delivered and with 300 more we have a slam-dunk to finish up the season.
For everyone who has been contributing to this effort since last October, Bravo! – and a great big Thank You! This is a very satisfying project that can be done by volunteers who want to help, but need to avoid close contact with the public. It can be done by one person, or you can get together with a partner to share the tasks (and fun – put on the music while you make sandwiches). Dribbling while you dance is optional.
We’re here to help you score your own 3-pointer.
How do you get started?
-
- Choose a day (Mon. through Fri.) from the calendar on the Connections website,
Connect2home.org Go to ‘volunteer’, ‘make bag lunches’, ‘sign up to prepare bag lunches to one of our locations’. This is also where you choose the location you prefer. - Email Maggie Weiss at msmaggie6@comcast.net to let her know the date and location you have chosen.
- Pick up a bag with nonperishable components of 25 lunches from Carol Nielsen.
- Choose a day (Mon. through Fri.) from the calendar on the Connections website,
This will contain juices, granola bars, condiments and individual bags for sandwiches and lunches. carolnielsen2100@gmail.com
Then, you buy the fresh items you will use in your lunches – bread, meat, and cheese to make sandwiches, and fresh fruit. We will pay for the non-perishables; you will pay for the fresh foods. We have found the best prices at ALDI, but shop wherever you choose.
For a more detailed shopping guide, please click the button below..
The cost of fresh foods for one lunch is about $1.54, so you can do 25 lunches for under $40.
Need coaching? Please contact Sheila Holder at skholder8@gmail.com
From Carol Nielsen, Maggie Weiss, Sheila Holder
Clothing Drive for Connections: February 20-27, 2021
As part of our partnership with Connections for the Homeless we are holding a clothing drive for the clothing cupboard. Since we can’t do “Our Giving House” because we aren’t at church, we thought this offering might be a good option. We need very specific items in sizes medium, large, and extra large; there is always a demand for large sizes. Please do not give us any other items other than those listed above. Items can be for men and women.
- Adult Winter Hats, Scarves, Gloves
- Adult Men’s Shirts
- Adult Winter Coats XL & Larger
- Adult Underwear & Socks
- Backpacks
All items must be new or gently used. If used, they must be washed. Recently Sheila Holder was able to get several nice coats for Connections from the Salvation Army. She washed them and they look like new.
If you don’t want to donate, you can make a contribution and we can buy items to fill out the offering of clothing.
Drop off dates for church are Saturday, February 20 and 27 from 1 to 3 pm at the main door. We will meet you at church and take your donations. You can also drop off at Carol Nielsen’s house, Maggie Weiss’ house or Sheila Holder’s Condo. Use the church directory for addresses. Questions: Email Carol Nielsen (carolnielsen2100@gmail.com)
Our Neighbors Without a Home Still Need Lunches: January 29, 2021
Many thanks to all of you who made bag lunches and delivered them to one of Evanston’s three locations for Connections for the Homeless. We are resuming our program on February 1 and have secured a grant which will allow us to contribute 600 more lunches!
We are encouraging people who have not done this before, to give it a try. Of course, everyone who has made lunches is invited to jump in again. Join the 25 folks who packed lunches last year and see how easy it is to make a contribution that is hugely appreciated by the men and women who receive it. Imagine what it is like to have no kitchen and no food. Then, you open a brown bag and find a fresh, tasty sandwich, fresh fruit, a juice box and a granola bar – Wow!
How do you get started?
- Choose a day (Mon. through Fri.) from the calendar on the Connections website, Connect2home.org Go to ‘volunteer’, ‘make bag lunches’, ‘sign up to prepare bag Lunches to one of our locations’. This is also where you choose the location you prefer.
- Email Maggie Weiss to let her know the date and location you have chosen. msmaggie6@comcast.net.
- Pick up a bag with nonperishable components of 25 lunches from Carol Nielsen. This will contain juices, granola bars and condiments. carolnielsen2100@gmail.com
Then, you buy the fresh items you will use in your lunches – bread, meat, cheese,fresh fruit. We will pay for all the nonperishables; you will pay for the fresh items. We have found the best prices at Aldi, but shop wherever you want.
Spread a little love in the month of Valentine’s Day with bag lunches – and in March, too!
Questions? Please contact Sheila Holder at skholder8@gmail.com
Carol Nielsen, Maggie Weiss, Sheila Holder
More Information
OUR GIVING HOUSE COLLECTION 2015/16
September/October: Welcome Kits –Regular size soap, toothbrush, tooth paste, conditioner, baby powder lotion, shampoo, razors, washcloths, shampoo
November: long underwear and socks
December: no collection-Mitten Tree
January: Canned tuna, chicken, salmon
February: Diapers
March: Tuna, salmon, chicken
April: Hearty canned soups/stews
May: Card games, kids small games or puzzles
GIVING HOUSE GUIDELINES FOR SPONSORS
The Giving House is under the care of the Van Dyke Covenant Group for this year. We publicize, and see to it that there is a sponsor every month. The sponsors (often a Covenant Group) volunteer for a given month, and are responsible for 2 things. 1) matching the amount of product in the Giving House for their month, and 2) getting it to Hilda’s Place along with the existing contributions from the house. However your group decides to accomplish this is entirely up to you. We will count up the contents, call you with the amount you need to contribute on the LAST DAY OF THE MONTH, and when you are ready, we will choose a time to consolidate all of the items for your group to deliver. We will need a contact from your group.
This is an excellent activity for Covenant Groups. It is simple, rewarding, team oriented, and not too expensive. ($10.00 to $20.00 a person) If you have a problem with the cost of your particular month, just let us know. We will help out.
The collection and counting of the Giving House items is made on the last day of the month by us. Please let us know if you have any questions. We hope you will choose to volunteer.
If you wish to participate, or have any questions please contact Johna Van Dyke at johnavandyke@gmail.com.
UCE’S REFUGEE PROJECT
The refugee project is busy at work. We had a great turnout at our Potluck on May 2nd and many people have volunteered to help. We are now ready to seek congregation-wide volunteers.
We will sponsor a Syrian family in September. We are working with Refugee One, a Chicago-based organization that has helped thousands of refugees settle in Chicagoland. Refugee One will handle a wide array of responsibilities. The UCE Refugee Committee’s responsibilities are to:
* raise money for rent/utilities/ and other necessities (approx. $8000-$10,000).
* gather furnishings and housewares for the family’s apartment (Refugee One finds the apartment and provides mattresses and bed frames).
* provide mentors for the family for at least 1 year. Mentors orient the family to basic ways of life in the U.S.: how to take public transport, how to shop for groceries, etc. Mentors also practice English with them and may take them to appointments, and to share social outings so they can get to know Chicago.
* prepare the apartment: clean, paint, and get the apartment ready to move in.
* meet the family at the airport and stock their pantry with at least 2 weeks of supplies and prepare them a welcoming meal.
* provide tutoring to help family members learn English.
* provide clothing for winter
* help the family understand the American school & higher education systems.
* help the family find a house of worship, childcare, etc.
Refugee One has language classes and helps refugees find jobs. Refugee One partners with local employers–so they get jobs pretty quickly in most cases.
What can you do? We will be launching the fundraising effort and will notify the congregation. We want you to share the funding page with your friends and co-workers. We need volunteers, please consider joining one of our volunteer teams. A volunteer sign-up chart is posted on the Food and Shelter Team Bulletin Board.
Questions? email: Jeanne Kerl (figkerl@gmail.com) or Carol Nielsen (carolsnielsen@sbcglobal.net)
UCE’S REFUGEE FUNDRAISING FOR SPONSORSHIP BEGINS
UCE is co-sponsoring a Syrian family, in partnership with RefugeeOne, an organization working with the US State Department. We hope that the family will be housed in Rogers Park but we will not know until early September exactly where they will live.
There are two main parts to this project: the first phase is raising funds. We have set up a website hosted by Refugee One to begin the fundraising. We cannot commit to having a family until we have raised the $8000 that will be required for six months rent and utilities. Please visit our fundraising site to make a donation.
You may be contacted by one of the UCE Refugee Committee members to ask for your support. All levels of donations are welcome.
The second phase is preparing for the family’s arrival hopefully sometime in September. We will also be helping the family learn English, navigate the school system, find a job, and learn the everyday living responsibilities of life in Chicago.
There is a role for you! Please make a donation. Sign up at the UCE Social Action Bulletin Board to help on one of the teams. Questions: contact Jeanne Kerl (figkerl@gmail.com) or Carol Nielsen (carolsnielsen@sbcglobal.net). We look forward to working with you to change the lives of a refugee family.
UCE’S SOUP KITCHEN LOWDOWN
UCE’s soup kitchen work is part of an Evanston-wide system that provides a meal every day of the week 365 days a year. Several are coordinated by Interfaith Action of Evanston, and others are run independently by congregations. A schedule of all the offerings is available here.
During the fall and spring, UCE hosts Wednesday dinners when our neighbor Beth Emet is celebrating holidays and unable to host. We serve dinner and provide a sack lunch. This fall we are hosting on September 16 and 23 .
During the summer, we host three Monday lunches at Second Baptist and just completed our third on August 17th.
Like many of the congregations that host regularly, we aim to offer “radical hospitality” and believe that community, respect, and dignity are as important as food. We serve a nutritious and delicious meal we would be glad to have ourselves. We use tablecloths and real silverware, and often have piano music from our own Robb Geiger. We have practices to make our guests feel welcome and at ease.
Here are a few questions and answers we often get asked:
Who attends the soup kitchens? Some of the guests are homeless and depend on Evanston’s soup kitchens, warming centers, and shelter. Many others have housing but don’t have income for enough food. Some may even have the basics of housing and food but come for the community meal. All are welcome.
Why don’t we substitute at UCE more often for other churches? Our dates helping Beth Emet each year are determined by their rabbi and the Jewish calendar. Other congregations don’t need a substitute location because they don’t have the same limits on holidays as the Jewish congregations. They do offer the opportunity for outside groups to serve on their schedule, which you can read about at the Interfaith Action page linked above.
Why do I have to bring the casseroles hot on Wednesday? Our kitchen facilities don’t support heating up 10 casseroles from the refrigerator. We know cooking on Wednesday afternoon isn’t convenient for everyone, and really appreciate our cooks!
Why is there sometimes so much extra food? The number of people who attend the soup kitchen dinners varies unpredictably from 75-140 depending on weather, the beginning or end of the month, and the economy. We want our guests to relax and be sure there will be plenty of food. We almost always offer seconds and plastic containers for taking leftovers. If we still have significant leftovers we bring them to Hilda’s Place.
Ready to get involved? You can sign up on the volunteer page to cook, purchase food, or volunteer. There are also opportunities to serve as coordinators in the kitchen, security/hospitality, and clean-up. If interested, contact me.
I have been coordinating the Wednesday soup kitchens for almost 10 years. I have used my skills in planning and organizing to help others, plus learned new skills and made great friends. Come join us, we have lots of fun!
Janet Hartmann