Volunteers from Norridge’s Acacia Park Lutheran Church visited the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago on Jan. 18 to pass out meals at the intersection of Cermak Avenue and Loomis Street.
This was the second time the church partnered with The Night Ministry of Chicago on a charity event.
Last November, Acacia Park Lutheran Church volunteers made 170 sack lunches to distribute. On Jan. 18, they made fewer bagged meals, serving approximately 45 patrons, but giving each person three lunches.
The Night Ministry provides housing, health care and human connection to people in Chicago who are facing poverty or homelessness.
To pay for the meals, Acacia Park Lutheran Church held a game night Jan. 3 in the church basement who played games like Monopoly and Twister. More than 40 guests showed up, who were offered free hot dogs and snacks.
A basket offering was available, no pressure, which raised $170 for the Jan. 18 The Night Ministry trip.
Some of the lunchmeat that Acacia Park handed out in Pilsen was sold to them by a local grocer at cost.
“We’re just trying to make it a good night for people who are freezing out on the streets,” said Karen Lanners of Harwood Heights, who organized the game night and was among the Pilsen volunteers. “We’re up for meeting people, talking to people, finding out what they want and what we could do for them.”
“Our congregation has [become] real energetic and motivated around this particular issue, homelessness and this organization, The Night Ministry,” Acacia Park Lutheran Church Rev. Christopher Honig said. “There’s a lot of momentum behind this so we’re trying to get as involved as we can.”
A short caravan of cars with Acacia Park Lutheran Church volunteers traveled to Pilsen, carting hot soup, hot chocolate and supplies. Marshmallows accompanied the hot cocoa. The sack meals, toted in large boxes, included fruit.
Sue and Mike Miskawitz of Norridge, church members, helped Lanners to coordinate the game night and volunteered in Pilsen.
“This is fantastic,” said Mike Miskawitz, who said Jan. 18 was the first time he did something like this. “It makes your heart feel good.”
Long tables were set up on the sidewalk, awaiting the church’s donations. Patrons heard about The Night Ministry distributions via word of mouth. On Jan. 18, people arrived by car, bicycle and on foot.
About 20 minutes after the Night Ministry and Acacia Park volunteers set up, the chicken soup, in its large crockpot, was depleted. One homeless patron named Marlene asked for seconds on the soup but missed out by one portion.
Nearly 40 cups of hot cocoa were distributed. Marlene, who wore layers of clothing, asked if anyone had brought a backpack, items to wash up with, or socks.
“Foot ulcers are a very big problem for the homeless,” explained Jane Lippow of Chicago and a volunteer for The Night Ministry.
“They (the homeless) don’t have dry, clean socks so The Night Ministry includes them (on lists) as one of the things they need.”
Lanners said she hoped to bring those items, with a backpack designated for Marlene, on the next The Night Ministry service opportunity. Marlene said she would come back to check on the status of her hopeful backpack.
“We visit Pilsen on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays each week to provide health care and then just do outreach, assess the needs of the people who are here and try to connect them with (the) services,” said Stacy Massey of The Night Ministry.
“Sometimes it means housing, sometimes it means substance abuse counseling, sometimes it means mental health services, so we’re just geared to really meet people where they are and help them connect the parts of their lives that they’re interested in improving.”
The power of one sandwich can “feed the soul, feed the body, give strength and hope,” said Nilsa Irizarry, The Night Ministry student pastor.
Julio Moreno, who brought his son Julio, 8, and daughter Windy, 12, accepted food items and more.
“I got some gloves,” said the younger Julio, who was beaming as he pulled his find from a large dark plastic bag.
The elder Moreno, whose family resides in a rented apartment, said he’s been six months without income, but did mention a possible restaurant job.
Whatever the case, Moreno stood on a sidewalk Jan. 18 cheerfully talking with Acacia Park volunteers. Marlene did her part, picking up fast food garbage before she left the corner.
“It feels wonderful to help these people,” Lanners said, as she served cups of cocoa.
The Night Ministry works to serve the nearly 140,000 Chicagoans who experienced homelessness in recent statistic history. Acacia Park Lutheran Church was established in 1928 and chartered the following year.