Local Mission Partners
LOCAL MISSION PARTNERS
Casa Central: Casa Central provides social services for all age groups, focusing on the city’s Hispanic population, including on-site and at-home care and programs for the elderly and for children. First United has involvement with all ages from both communities - providing help in the form of apartment paint & clean up days, donation of household items and clothing, and shared meals. Deb Stracco has been instrumental in getting First United involved with Casa. You can find more information at casacentral.org.
Erie House: Erie Neighborhood House is a comprehensive social service agency that aims to empower Latino and diverse low-income communities by offering a range of educational programs, access to critical resources, and advocacy programs to all ages. You can find more information at eriehouse.org.
Family Service: Family Service of OP/RF is a non-profit, social service and mental health agency whose goals are to alleviate suffering and empower individuals and families in the local community to live healthier and more hopeful lives by providing a range of professional mental health and community prevention services, including behavorial healthcare services, crisis and emergency services, comprehensive youth services, psychiatric rehabilitation services, specialized support, and prevention and risk reduction services. More information is at familyserviceoprf.org.
Hephzibah: Hephzibah is a children’s welfare association whose goal is to provide safety and care to vulnerable children and families in crisis. Hephzibah provides day care; family based services including foster care and adoption; group homes for children who have lost parents through death or abandonment or who are from families overwhelmed by poverty, addiction, illness, or mental instability; educational enrichment programs; and support for families who have children with serious medical conditions. More information is at hephzibahhome.org.
Infant Welfare Clinic: Infant Welfare Clinic supports low-income mothers and their children by providing medical, dental and social services. A number of members contribute their fundraising talents as well as medical skills to serve the Infant Welfare Clinic. Included in that number are Judy Breeden, Bonnie Beck, and Betsy Samore. You can find more information at childrenscliniciws.org.
Interfaith Council for the Homeless: Interfaith Council for the Homeless works to pool community assets to assist the area’s homeless population. IFC collaborates with other groups, agencies and churches to help the homeless gain access to food, clothing, housing, furniture, transportation, and other needs. More information about Interfaith Council is at ichchicago.org.
Interfaith House: Interfaith House provides medical services and recovery assistance to homeless men and women, in order for them to achieve medical stability, as well as aftercare services. Interfaith House also offers mental health and substance abuse services, nutrition services, housing advocacy, and employment counseling. First United member Lynda Ficca organizes monthly birthday parties which bring smiles and fun to all participants. For more information go to interfaithhouse.org.
Inspiration Corporation: Inspiration Corporation helps people who are affected by homelessness and poverty to improve their lives and increase self-sufficiency. They have grown to serve 2,500 individuals a year by providing meals, supportive services, housing, employment preparation and vocational training, and free voice mail – serving as a catalyst for self-reliance. Their service area is primarily the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. For more information go to inspirationcorp.org.
Lifelink: Lifelink is a non-profit, Christian-based organization which assists people of all ages in building and maintaining individual well-being by providing spiritual, physical, social, and emotional health services. Lifelink operates out of a facility located in Bensenville, IL, and also facilitates home health services. Information about Lifelink can be found at lifelink.org.
Proviso Habitat: Proviso Habitat for Humanity is a local arm of Habitat for Humanity whose goal is to provide new homes for low-income families. Members of the community work together to raise funds and build homes. The most recent building project was completed in Maywood. Gy Menninga is First United’s main contact with Proviso Habitat. More information about Habitat nationally is at habitat.org.
Sister House: Sister House provides assistance for women recovering from addiction, including housing, addiction recovery programs, and educational and job training assistance. Sister House runs a small, but powerful program that helps women work through their challenges to gain independence. Marilyn Kauffmann was one of the first members to get involved with Sister House.
Volunteer Center: The Volunteer Center pools volunteer opportunities in the community, focusing on at-risk youth, senior citizens, and the mentally disabled. First United has a longstanding relationship with Oak Park’s Volunteer Center. Each month the Volunteer Center provides a listing of short-term and longer commitment opportunities for volunteering locally. For more information go to oprfvolunteercenter.org.
Food Pantry: The Food Pantry, located in the basement of First United, serves the needs of men, women, and children in the surrounding area. It is open Saturday mornings and 2 Wednesday afternoons each month. They provide bags of food and other household items that are available to those in need. The Greater Chicago Food Depository and other local organizations support the Pantry. Leah Beckwith and Karin Pietrini are former food pantry directors.
FUSH/FUJI: First United Senior Highs (FUSH) and First United Junior Highs (FUJI) are an integral part of mission at First United. Each year over 50 FUSH kids participate in a week-long work camp where their efforts help assist those in need from all parts of the country. In addition to this weeklong service trip, they have held concerts to advocate for Kohn Elementary School, Students Against Sweat Shops, and other resident mission in the church and at OPRF. FUJI students have made apple crisp for PADS, painted transitional apartments for Casa Central, and helped with Interfaith House birthday parties among other mission projects. Contact Gehring Miller, the FUSH Moderator for more information.
Alternative Christmas Store: The Alternative Christmas Store has been a First United tradition for 22 years. It provides a way to purchase gifts that support Church World Service or other mission partners and creates a different option for giving during the Christmas season. The leadership in this project is changing, so if you would like to lend a hand please talk to Rev. Julie R. Harley to join a new team for the future!
West Suburban PADS: “PADS” stands for Public Action to Deliver Shelter. Programs include Emergency Overnight Shelter during cold weather months, Transitional Housing, Permanent Supportive Housing, Homeless Prevention, Support Center, Medical and Mental Health Services, and more. Since 1992 over 4,000 men, women and families have been assisted. First United has been a site for Monday night emergency shelter since the start of the program in1992, and we provide the crew of volunteers to staff the shelter on the third and fifth Mondays with dinners and bag lunches for all guests. Contact Ted Despotes or William Lovell for more information.
Cluster Tutoring: Cluster Tutoring assists pairs an adult tutor with a child or young person who is struggling with their studies. Once a week tutoring pairs meet, at Pine Avenue Presbyterian Church on Tuesday nights or First United on Thursday nights. Each year there is a waiting list for children to be accepted in the program as they wait for people to volunteer as tutors. Contact Rev. Julie Harley for more information.
Walk-In Ministry: The OPRF Area Walk-In Ministry is a collaboration by many faith organizations in the area to satisfy needs of people who need immediate assistance. By centralizing and pooling the resources of several faith communities as well as individual donors, WIM works with clients on an ongoing basis, assisting those seeking help by listening compassionately to issues, identifying underlying problems and/or providing immediate assistance or referring them to appropriate service organizations. The WIM program succeeds because clients are required to be accountable and actively involved in this process. Contact Susan Zaruba for more information.