Volunteering
Caring with Courage
It's not just a nice phrase—it's backed with support through giving of our time and financial gifts.
Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church has a history of supporting and participating in a variety of ministries, local, national and international, dealing with issues such as:
- homelessness and housing
- hunger
- poverty
- HIV/AIDS
- gay/bisexual/lesbian/transgender equality (with particular emphasis on human rights in the church)
- peacemaking
- racial justice
- environmental justice
- mental health
- quality education
- Campus ministry
Volunteer Opportunities
Cooking and Serving Dinner at the Lincoln Park Community Shelter
Do you enjoy cooking, particularly with a group of friends? Would you especially enjoy cooking in a big, new well-equipped kitchen? Do you enjoy sitting down to a well-cooked meal with interesting conversation partners? If you answered "yes" to any, some, or all of the above questions, preparing a meal for 35 shelter guests together with a team of friends and new acquaintances might be just the thing for you!
Each month, on the first Saturday of the month, a group of LPPC members and friends prepares, serves and shares a meal. Sign up by calling the church office at 773-248-8288, or email the church at office@lppchurch.org.
Sack Lunches for Shelter Guests
Volunteer to make 30 sack lunches for the guests of the program. Costs are reimbursed and lunches can be made at home or at the shelter. Contact Gerry Parker at gerryparker5@comcast.net for more information.
Shelter Overnight Volunteers
Every night of the year, the Lincoln Park Community Shelter needs a volunteer to spend the night at the shelter. Your primary responsibilities are to let in late arrivals, set out breakfast items in the morning, and simply be there to call a shelter employee if anything goes wrong (which is very, very rare). You have your own private room for the night with a bed and a desk. Most people enjoy the opportunity for some quiet time to catch up on reading or paperwork. The only prerequisite is attendance at one orientation meeting (see below). To volunteer to stay overnight, contact Allan Wilson at awilson43@ccc.edu.
Other Shelter Volunteer Opportunities
You can also attend the monthly Lincoln Park Community Shelter New Volunteer Orientations, held monthly on the last Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at LPPC. For more information about general LPCS volunteer opportunities, contact Heather Reynolds at 773/549-6111 Ext. 202, or lpcsinfo@lpcsonline.org. Space is limited; please RSVP for orientation.
Alternative Christmas Store
A few weeks before Christmas, LPPC holds an Alternative Christmas Store. The Store offers an extensive array of fair trade gifts produced by local, national and international artisans associated with social justice organizations, such as Maya Works and Sweet Beginnings.
Walk or Parade for Justice
CROP Walk: An ecumenical national organization, Church World Service, holds walks for hunger justice across the nation, called CROP Walks. LPPC participates in the Chicago CROP Walk each October, along with hundreds of other walkers from across the city and suburbs.
Pride Parade
Join the Pride Parade with others from LPPC, and witness to the inclusiveness of God's love, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, with delegations from at least 30 other religious groups from the Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches. The Parade is held annually on the last Sunday in June.
Take a Stand—Write a Letter!
Several times a year, we write letters to legislators, local, statewide, and/or national, about causes and concerns we care about. Issues we've recently addressed:
- Keeping Lake Michigan's shores free from oil company pollution
- Defending the rights of small farmers through a farm reform bill
- Advocating for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to become ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Taking a stand for affordable housing in the city of Chicago
- Promoting efforts for Illinois to join a regional alliance to prevent diversion of water from the Great Lakes
- Supporting increased federal and state funding to help alleviate world hunger, poverty and disease
