A Caring Partnership Brings Hope to Migrants Fleeing the Tyranny of Violence

Recently, the LCC Human Care team partnered with Immanuel Lutheran Church in Glenview, Illinois, and members of the community to donate forty-two bags of clothing, forty-five pairs of shoes, and bedding to migrants in Chicago.
 
Earlier this year, First St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Chicago, St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church of Chicago, Chicago Hope Initiative, and LCC formed a partnership to open a store for migrants and families in need.
 
While working with the community service network and other Christian churches, First St. Paul's recognized that migrants lacked basic needs items and wanted to create a space for people to pick up what they need. They did not have the building space, so St. Chrysostom's down the street offered their gym for the summer months.
 
Chicago Hope Initiative, which provides social workers for migrant families, joined the partnership to show migrant families to the store to receive basic supplies. First St. Paul and St. Chrysostom's coordinated volunteers for logistics and to run the store. LCC was invited to the ministry network to broker resources from other local churches and non-profits so they can provide much-needed items to “The Store.”
 
With school starting at St. Chrysostom's, their gymnasium was no longer available to house “The Store” for migrants. Just recently, a new home was found for “The Store.” It now has a new permanent home for two years, which will give them time to grow and develop the program. Our LCC staff had the opportunity to see the new site for “The Store” as we delivered donated items.
 
We are grateful for the ministry of “The Store” and the impact it will have. Many of the people only arrive with the clothes they are wearing and a backpack with a few personal belongings. When people come to the “The Store,” they will be able to pick out clothes, shoes, household items, toys for children, and furniture to help them settle into their new community in Chicagoland.
 
Please pray for the partnership of First St. Paul, St. Chrysostom's, Chicago Hope Initiative, and LCC as we work together to serve those in need. If you, your family, group, or congregation would like to collect items for the store, contact Denise Snider at LCC at [email protected].

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