Welcome to our Outreach news/events section. Here you will be able to find the most current Service Outreach news/events taking place in our parish community. Our goal is to keep you informed of the various opportunities that we have as a parish to volunteer and to become missionary disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Aurora University- Spartan Attic Needs your clothes donations!
Bring them to room 216 from August 20- September 18!
Aurora University is committed to ensuring that students are prepared for their transition from campus to career, graduate school, or service. Spartan Attic is an on-campus clothes closet that provides complimentary professional clothing, shoes, and accessories to the students at Aurora University.
From August 20th to September 18th, we will be hosting a Clothes Drive here at St. John Neumann. If you are interested in supporting this effort, see the list of needed items and bring your donations of gently used or new professional clothing to room 216 on your way to Mass or during office hours. Look for the specific shelf assigned to this service outreach project!
Women’s Clothing
• Dress Shoes: Heels, Flats
• Black and Brown Leather Belts
• Dresses, Dress Pants, and Blazers
• Solid Color Blouses
• Black or Tan No-Show Socks (New)
• White or Black Camisoles Various Sizes (New)
Men’s Clothing
• Dress Shoes: Oxfords, Loafers
• Black and Brown Leather Belts
• Solid Color Suits
• Solid Color Collared Shirts
• Ties
• Black or Tan Dress Socks (New)
• White Undershirts in Various Sizes (New)
Volunteers needed!
Drivers and people who be willing to sort and pack these donations will be needed. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Susana Morones at smorones@sjnstcharles.org. Thanks in advance for sharing your time & talent!
PADS MINISTRY NEEDS YOU… VOLUNTEER WITH US!
St. John Neumann PADS ministry provides one day of meals each month for the 150 plus guests at Hesed House in Aurora. Hesed House is the 2nd largest homeless shelter in the state. Its mission is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and provide shelter to the homeless. Our parishioners help in various ways on the second Thursday of every month. Some donate an assigned food or grocery item, others drive all the donations to Hesed House and others help prepare and serve the food at the shelter, on different shifts. We urgently need new volunteers to fulfill all these obligations, either on a regular basis or as a backup/substitute
There are 3 shifts at Hesed House that people can help with: 1st shift: 5:30-8:30 pm- to prepare and serve dinner. This includes warming up pans of pre-made mostaciolli and setting up all the sides that go with it, salad, fruit, etc. Additionally, during this time, there is a store that supplies necessities for the guests. Volunteers are needed to staff the store.
2nd shift: 3:00-5:00 am. Volunteers help prepare a nourishing breakfast- eggs, toast, sausages, coffee, fruit, etc
3rd shift: 5:00-8:00am Volunteers serve breakfast and clean up.
To find more information about the mission of Hesed House, check out their website – www.hesedhouse.org. If you would like to volunteer or have questions please contact Sue Skibley at skibley0905@sbcglobal.net, or call 847-707-0939. Thank you!
Overnight and Food Volunteers Needed!
Lazarus House needs your help! Every month, SJN missionaries provide food and overnight support for our neighbors at Lazarus House. This is a flexible opportunity that you can work around your schedule. Overnight helpers sleep at Lazarus House and are only woken in case of emergency. Health and safety protocols are being followed. Food volunteers cook or provide groceries on a flexible basis. If you would like more information, contact Sara at 630-677-3078 or sjpm1031@yahoo.com.
Waterleaf Women’s Center
Be a witness of the Gospel of Life and volunteer at Waterleaf Women’s Center in Aurora. Waterleaf is looking for volunteers who have hearts to serve women facing an unplanned pregnancy. Your help is needed to support their mission and transform the fear of these women into confidence. There are many ways in which our St. John Neumann community can serve at Waterleaf. You can become a client advocate, an office volunteer, an Aspire instructor, a mentor, or a prayer warrior. They are also looking for Registered Nurses to donate their time and help them with their mission. If you feel called by any of these opportunities to serve or would like to learn more about their mission click HERE. Let’s answer the call to “Walk with Moms in Need.”
A Morning of Service at FMSC!
Join us on the 3rd Monday of the month for a morning of service at Feed my Starving Childre in Aurora. Because of you, this lifesaving meal packing program will continue to address the increased global hunger need due to COVID-19. We will be building community among St. John Neumann parishioners and packing nutritious food from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. We have reserved 20 spots for our community. If you would like to participate, please contact Bob Andrini at drinibird2@gmail.com. For more information about the program, visit fmsc.org. Thank you for being the hands and feet of our Lord Jesus. Because of you, many children around the world will receive nutritious food from your hands to theirs! After the packing session join us at Portillo’s to build community.
Hesed House is Now Open for On-site Volunteers
Are you fully vaccinated and want to bring the light and hope of Our Lord to the Hesed House community? They are now open to receive volunteers in their kitchen! Your commitment would only be six times a year, and there are different shifts to choose from. Help is needed to serve dinner, clean up, work in a store/pantry, check people in, make sack lunches, make breakfast, etc. If you feel that the Holy Spirit is calling you to this ministry, join us! Contact Sue Skibley today at Skibley0905@sbcglobal.net to find more details about this most rewarding ministry.
Tutor Volunteers Needed!
The Dominican Literacy Center in Aurora will be training new tutor volunteers for its literacy program in August. Female volunteers (with high school diplomas) are trained to help women students learn to read, write, and speak English. Tutors meet with students once a week for 90 minutes, from September to May, at 260 Vermont St., Aurora (behind St. Therese Church). Tutors do not need to speak Spanish or have teaching experience, but all volunteers must attend three evenings of training. The training dates are August 17, 19, and 24, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. If you would like to volunteer in this ministry, please contact Alison Brzezinski at Alison@dominicanliteracycenter.org to register. For more information about this mission, visit www.dominicanliteracycenter.org. The Center is not handicap accessible.
Clothes Closet Ministry at Redeemer Fellowship gives away gently used clothing, bedding, towels, baby items, purses, and jewelry to families who have fallen on hard times and are in need of assistance. If you know someone that needs the help of this ministry, please contact Susana Morones at smorones@sjnstcharles.org for more details.
