First Church Volunteers at a Local PADS Shelter for the Homeless
Our church has been a part of PADS Shelters in DuPage county since its founding in 1988. Public Action to Deliver Shelter is hospitality based on the biblical concept of HESED, a Hebrew term describing God’s unconditional and everlasting love-justice. The program stresses the equality between GUESTS and HOSTS, and the dignity of those who have survival needs not being met in our society. We are all blessed by the presence of each other!
Volunteers benefit from getting to know our guests and providing the simple gifts of a hot meal and a warm place to sleep. Many guests have lost their homes suddenly due to medical issues, job loss, or families becoming unavailable. There is always a paid PADS employee on call to handle any emergencies. The DuPagePADS Center in Wheaton offers on-going assistance for jobs, community services and long-term housing.
First Church partners with 2 other Elmhurst churches (Bethel UCC, Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic) to cover some of the Saturday night shelter assignments forPADS guests. We plan and serve dinner and breakfast, prepare a sack lunch guests take with them, supervise guest needs, set up Saturday and clean up on Sunday am.
Our site is Jubilee Bible Church, 900 Foster Ave, Medinah, IL, in the gym next to the kitchen (entrance at the southeast of the building — knock to be let in). Directions: Take Lake St west of Elmhurst, and at the 2nd light past Swift Rd, turn right (north) on Medinah Rd. Pass the country club, continue north until the last residential street before the Lake Park HS, turn left (west) on Foster Ave. The building is located a few blocks into the residential area. Turn right at the brightly lit sign on the north side of the street, then a sharp left to the small parking lot. We will provide transportation for any volunteer who needs it or does not wish to travel alone.
- Donate food or prepare and serve dinner, talk with guests, set up sleeping area
- Supervise shower times, offer dinner for late arrivals
- Supervise during sleeping time from 9 p.m. through 5 a.m. (in three shifts)
- Prepare & serve breakfast so that all guests leave before 7 a.m.
- Clean up and put away sleeping pads
- Gather and transport linen to and from Central Dupage Hospital
Join us to serve in this wonderful opportunity! Call the church office (630-834-2440) to get connected to our PADS Coordinator for information and sign-up.