This team focuses on issues directly affecting the homeless and hunger-related issues. Members of this team minister directly to the homeless, serve in shelters and drop-in-centers, and food pantries across the city of Chicago.

Cornerstone

Background: Cornerstone is an organization that works with Jesus People USA. They work with the homeless to help them to “get back on their feet again”. Cornerstone has several different programs and several shelters.

We work with Sylvia Center, an Interim House for Families. It accommodates approximately 150 people providing meals, day care, clothing, group and individual counseling, individualized case management, nursing, mental health assessments, life-skills training, substance abuse counseling, money management, job assessment, job readiness, job referral, computer training classes, housing relocation assistance, and after- school programs for the kids.

Focus: This year North Park students all volunteer together in the Dining Hall/Soup Kitchen. We split up into groups where one group of students serves food, a second group cleans dishes/ general cleaning, and a third group works with children in a relatively large, open space to the right of the dining tables. Generally, working with the children entails reading, drawing, working on homework if they need help, playing, and special events once in a while. All of the volunteer groups take turns to sit at the tables and just talk with the families at the shelter.

Evaluating: The three different options allow volunteers to work in their more gifted areas; whether it be socially, or physically serving this allows for different types of personalities to be challenged in different ways while being exposed to an awareness of real people dealing with homelessness. Because our volunteers serve in different areas this provides for a more holistic ministry where we can engage in the lives of those we serve. Good for all majors.

When: Fridays 4:30-7:00 pm, though there is also an opportunity to tutor at other times throughout the week for those interested.

Training: None. There is an orientation and information session provided by Lyda Jackson (volunteer coordinator for JPUSA at Cornerstone) when necessary, for new volunteers.

Directions:
· South on Kedzie
· Left/east on Lawrence
· Right/south on Broadway
· Right/west on Clifton
· 4628 North Clifton Avenue

Site Coordinator: Mary Rodriguez