We want to change the world. Join us!
The Ministry for Change is committed to Transformative Community Engagement and Social Justice. We help the congregation live out Jesus’ call to “do justice,” (Micah 6:8) and serve “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). We seek to do this by:
- Helping members of the congregation understand and address the root causes of social problems such as poverty, hunger, homelessness, and others, by learning about the systems that cause or contribute to human suffering.
- Using the church’s and its members’ personal and financial power with others to help change the systems that cause or contribute to human suffering.
- Providing opportunities for members of the congregation to help alleviate human suffering caused by these systems through direct service with and/or financial contributions to individuals and organizations that serve those who are suffering or who otherwise face barriers to wellbeing.
The Ministry for Change oversees and administers several funds the Union Church Endowment Fund, as well as other church funds related to mission and social justice.
Local Volunteer Opportunities
Some of our volunteer opportunities may be affected during the COVID crisis. Contact Jane Grimm or Trayce Biancalana for more information on current opportunities to contribute to our partners. You can click through directly to sign-ups for PADS or our other volunteer opportunities, or read more about individual partners below.
A Just Harvest
Founded in 1983, A Just Harvest aims to reduce hunger in Rogers Park and the greater Chicago community by providing nutritious meals daily while building a just society to promote the well-being of the patrons served. Meals are served to the hungry every day of the year.
Volunteer opportunities
- Purchase food to supply a meal. 2-3 hours
This is a great task for an individual, a couple or a family (even with smaller children). Volunteer(s) will purchase items on the shopping list and then deliver them to AJH on the fourth Saturday of each month. - Meal distribution. Current COVID-19 procedures allow for volunteers to help distribute meals to clients any day of the week from 11:00am to 1:00 pm. Contact AJH directly to sign up to help distribute meals here
The Boulevard
Founded in 1994, provides residential care for homeless men and women in medical recovery. This 64-bed center on Chicago’s West Side offers interim housing and support to ill and injured homeless adults who would otherwise lack a stable and safe place to heal. It is the only agency of its kind in Chicago. Union Church does supply and clothing drives for The Boulevard each year.
Volunteer Opportunities
4-6 people needed to prepare and serve a meal to The Boulevard residents. Time commitment: 4-5 hours door to door. This is a fabulous opportunity for a few people to participate in The Boulevard’s Share-A-Meal program with the very appreciative residents. Volunteers should be 14 years of age or older. Some standing required. Further details will be provided prior to the Share A Meal. The address is 3456 West Franklin St. Chicago.
DuPage Pads
Founded in 1985, PADS seeks to end homelessness in DuPage County. It provides interim and permanent housing, coupled with support services in order to help individuals work toward becoming self-sufficient. They have just purchased a 130-unit Interim Housing Center (IHC) using a repurposed hotel in Downers Grove, Ill., where Emergency Housing has been provided since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The significant client successes, improved health and safety features for client families, and enhanced access to supportive services have been undeniable, leading us to take this next important step
Volunteer opportunities
Union church provides a healthy meal delivered to each client on the 4th Tuesday of each month. We are looking for volunteers to shop for healthy sides for the meals and to pack and deliver meals to the clients in the Interim Housing Center in Downers Grove.
HCS Family Services
Founded in 1937, provides emergency and interim assistance, a food pantry, counseling, and education to help vulnerable families and individuals in the area. Union church does a food drive for HCS, usually in September.
Volunteer Opportunities
Many of the volunteer opportunities with HCS take place at the Hinsdale Memorial Building and are described here. Volunteers must be 14 years of age or older.
San Lucas Church
San Lucas Church, UCC, is a small mission church located in Humboldt Park in Chicago. It provides much needed services to the community including a weekly meal, emergency food and clothing and counseling.
Green Halo Scholars
Green Halo Scholars was founded in 2017 by Sally Guglielmo. Our mission is to support, mentor, and expand opportunities for motivated and committed first-generation and low-income students in the Western Suburbs of Chicago.
Through college counseling, financial guidance, and career resources, we stand with our Scholars as they apply to college, navigate campus, and pursue their postgraduate dreams.
Our scholars are nominated to participate by their school counselor based on their academic achievement. They are required to attend regular meetings with their mentor, in addition to workshops and college visits hosted by Green Halo Scholars.
Union Church Soup Ministry
This is an independent group that meets in the church kitchen each Monday morning to prepare soup for the San Lucas Church soup kitchen. The meal is delivered on Tuesday morning.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10
DuPage United
Ministry for Change coordinates the Church’s work with DuPage United. DuPage United is an inclusive, non-profit, fiercely non-partisan organization whose members are civil society institutions: churches, mosques, synagogues, non-profit agencies, and associations. This mix of institutions has come together to form public relationships and to act together to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities. DuPage United engages in democratic action in the public arena. Union Church has been a member of DuPage United since 2015.
Before We Get to Mars + UCECI
The “Before We Get To Mars” project is an endeavor by the congregation at Union Church, created to advocate for quality early childhood education for all. The Ministry for Change works in partnership with the Union Church Early Childhood Initiative (UCECI) on the “Before We Get To Mars” project.