Urban Outreach

The purpose of Urban Outreach is to inspire, inform, and invite the North Park community to serve with compassion and purpose in Chicago. Explore our current service options below.

Service day
Join students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends in a campus-wide day of hands-on service. Learn how local organizations are making a difference—and lend your support to their work.

World relief tutoring
Mentor children from refugee families. Serve weekly in-person or virtually through this partnership with World Relief.

Peterson tutoring
Help local elementary students thrive. Mondays, 4:00–5:30 p.m., right across the street from campus.

By the hand club for kids
Support children from kindergarten through college with tutoring, notes of encouragement, and prayer. Great group opportunity! Virtual options available.

Stateville letter writing
Write letters to North Park students studying through the School of Restorative Arts at Stateville Correctional Center.

FREE initiative
Join the fight against sex trafficking. Learn, pray, give, and act with the ECC’s FREE Initiative, both locally and globally.

Covenant homes
Combat isolation by video chatting with elderly residents. Perfect for individuals, pairs, or small groups.

Friday night street ministry
Serve meals and build relationships with people experiencing homelessness in downtown Chicago with Annie’s Table.

New life food pantry
Volunteer at New Life Community Church in Albany Park. Help distribute food, move supplies, or assist in registration (Spanish speakers especially needed). First Tuesday of each month | 3:30–6:00 p.m.

Lakeview pantry
Support one of Chicago’s largest food pantries. Volunteer weekdays (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.) or help on Saturdays if you have a driver’s license and can deliver groceries or pick up donations.

Exodus world service
Walk alongside refugees as they adjust to life in the U.S. Offer conversational English support or help with U.S. citizenship prep—and build meaningful friendships along the way.