How Lake County churches, organizations, and individuals serve those in need

What happens when 27 men across generations and six different churches gather for one purpose? Dignity gets built—one dresser at a time.

In a world often divided by age, background, or denomination, something remarkable happened in a Waukegan workshop on a chilly Saturday in March. Men ages 9 to 89—fathers, sons, grandfathers, and friends—rolled up their sleeves, picked up their tools, and built 21 dressers for local families in need. But what they created was far more than furniture.

This project, led by Bob Brooks in partnership with Immanuel Church in Gurnee, local organization Youth Conservation Corps, and Love INC Lake County, was a beautiful expression of intergenerational ministry, practical compassion, and the power of community when it comes together across lines of age, church, and experience.

A Need, A Vision, and an Invitation to Serve

The idea started with a simple question: “What do you need?”

When Bob first asked the Love INC team this question several years ago, the answer had been “dressers to support those in transition or need.” What began as a potential one-time service project became a semi-regular serving opportunity for residents of Lake County. This latest project was his third time organizing a dresser build in partnership with Love INC.

As a construction professional and longtime short-term missionary, Bob had built similar furniture in children’s homes in Kenya. When he heard from Love INC that local families rebuilding stability lacked basic furniture, he knew exactly what to do.

“We used the same plan we use overseas,” Bob explained. “A dresser is low-impact work; it doesn’t require a ton of strength, but it offers opportunities for everyone to contribute. That makes it a great project for men of all generations to work together on.”

More Than Wood and Screws: The Heart Behind the Build

The need for furniture was real, but the heart behind the project went even deeper.
Bob has long championed intergenerational ministry. “Scripture tells us that fathers are supposed to teach their sons,” he said. “That happens when you walk alongside them. When men serve together with a purpose, something happens. Bonds are built.”
And that’s exactly what happened.

On March 22, 27 men from six different churches gathered at JR’s Wreckers Service in Waukegan, a towing business that generously opened up their garage for the build. The team that gathered spanned generations, with seven father-son pairs and one three-generation trio—Bob, his son, and his father.

There was a job for everyone. Some cut and measured. Others assembled drawers. And one nine-year-old boy crawled inside dresser frames to wax the hard-to-reach glides, ensuring the drawers would open smoothly.

Finishing the Work: Staining the Dressers with Youth Conservation Corps

Once the dressers were built, a team of 11 members from Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) spent a day in the Love INC warehouse staining 17 of the 21 completed dressers.
These young adults brought the final touch of polish and protection to the pieces. Though the groups may not have been present for the original construction, they added their own labor and care to furniture that would soon bless neighbors in tangible ways.

Brooklynn, a Corps member who recently graduated with her high school diploma through YCC’s program, shared, “It was hard, messy work, and the dressers were heavy to move, but it was nice to see them completed and to know they would go to homes that could use them.”

The dresser build is a true reflection of what happens when a community comes together: people with different skills, backgrounds, and ages contributing in various ways, all united for the benefit of their neighbors.

From Building to Blessing

Once the dressers were complete, multiple Love INC church furniture teams, including John Skillman and Tim Banks, stepped in to help with delivery.

John shared about one special delivery to a family from Cameroon, who were especially moved by receiving a handmade dresser. “In Cameroon, all furniture is handmade,” John explained. “So this gift meant a lot to them. The father and teenage son helped carry it up to their third-floor apartment. The team also gave the teen son a Bible, and he was incredibly appreciative. It gave me such joy to extend a welcome to this family into our country and to serve them as the hands and feet of Christ.”

Tim echoed this sentiment saying, “I have volunteered to deliver furniture for years because I realize how blessed I am, and I need to do what I can to help others and show them that God loves them, too. It’s for God’s glory that we do this, serving as Christ’s hands and feet to share His love.”

Connecting Churches and Community

Throughout the process, Love INC acted not as the center but the connector, linking Bob’s vision, willing churches, Youth Conservation Corps, and mission-minded volunteers of all ages together to meet a real need in Lake County.

Gary Garland, executive director of Love INC Lake County, reflected on the power of such diverse groups working toward the same goal: “It wasn’t just about the furniture, it was about passing on something deeper. Skills. Compassion. Faith in action. That’s what we get to be a part of.”

Looking Ahead: More Builds, More Ministry

For Bob, this isn’t the end. He’s already thinking about what’s next.

He’s currently working with friends to organize future furniture builds, depending on what’s most needed. and exploring options with others from Indiana to Wisconsin to expand this intergenerational ministry model even further.

When asked about this desire to create more serving opportunities for the benefit of those in transition or rebuilding stability, Bob responded with, “I want to see people serve the Lord,” and quoted 1 Peter 4:10-11, “‘Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.’ That’s what this is about. God’s given me the resources and the relationships to make this happen, and I just want others to experience the joy of serving, too.”

The Legacy of a Dresser

The dressers built, stained, and delivered this spring will soon fade into the background of everyday life. They’ll hold clothes. Support lamps. Earn scratches and dents through daily wear and tear.

But they’ll also stand as reminders of something deeper; dignity matters, skills can be shared, and service can span generations.

“The dressers are beautiful. But the real legacy?” said Bob. “It’s in the hands that built them—and the hearts forever changed in the process.”

How You Can Get Involved

This story isn’t just about what happened—it’s about what’s possible. It’s about what every one of us can contribute to those who find themselves in need.

What would happen if we all saw ourselves as stewards of what we’ve received?

What if we gathered people from our churches or neighborhoods for a shared project like this?

What if we passed on skills to a younger generation while meeting real needs in our communities?

Take some time to think about how you can get involved:

What talents has God given you that you could share?
What relationships could you deepen through service?

Whether you’re a builder, a connector, a giver, or a learner, there’s a place for you in this story.

If you’re interested in getting connected to the intergenerational ministry for a future project like this or want to start something similar in your community, reach out to Love INC Lake County. We’d be glad to connect you.

To learn more about Youth Conservation Corps, and how you can be a part of changing the lives of young people in Lake County, visit their website.

To contribute to future furniture build projects through Bob’s group Loving InDeed, Inc., visit their page.