Even in the midst of our stay at home order, Love INC continues to be the bridge between our churches and those experiencing need within our community. Following are just a few ways we’ve been able to connect our neighbors and local organizations to The Church during this challenging time:

• Technology allows our Help Center volunteers to serve from home, continuing to provide prayer, hear our neighbor’s stories, and share referrals for assistance. New Hope Ministry coaches are delivering boxes of food and household supplies to participant families who are not able to leave their home due to the health risk.

• PADS of Lake County asked Love INC to help find food for over 135 homeless neighbors that it is isolating in hotels. When we sent out that need, churches responded with three weeks of food and paper goods for these neighbors. In response to a second call for assistance, more food is on its way to PADS each week.

• Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) did not have enough cardboard boxes to make up emergency food boxes for distribution. In response to our alert, one of our church partners called a congregation member who works for Uline. Within days, Uline donated 1,500 boxes to NIFB. Church members also answered the call to help pack these boxes at the NIFB warehouse.

• Critical food pantries in North Chicago and Waukegan had been forced to shut down, since their usual volunteers are high-risk individuals. In response to our request, our partner churches are working together to provide volunteers to re-open these desperately needed pantries.

• Christian Neighbors Church in Waukegan identified a high-risk population at a local low-income housing building, largely populated by high-risk individuals. They mobilized other Waukegan churches to deliver 60 boxes of food. In response to our request for additional support, several other churches and congregation members shared food and significant financial donations to help fill the boxes. A Love INC delivery truck has also been deployed to help make deliveries.

• When the van used by Christian Assembly of God in Zion to operate their Abiding Love Food Pantry broke down, within hours of learning of the need Love INC shared another of our trucks, allowing the food pantry to continue operation. A congregation member of one of our partner churches also volunteered to deliver meals to their housebound clients.

• The Continuum of Care Program in Lake County posted a request on Facebook about a need for laptops with webcams to help some of their homeless clients access virtual medical and other resources. We connected them with our friends at ARCOA Group who were happy to donate the needed computers.

• The Cancer Treatment Center of America (CTCA) needed masks for family and other guests visiting their cancer patients. Within a week after sharing that need through our partner church network, members of two different churches made over a hundred masks and delivered them to CTCA.

• Beacon Place in Waukegan continues to keep their kids engaged by sharing school work, craft items, and games. Loved Twice shared 30 games and puzzles from our inventory to keep these families entertained!

Are you asking “how can I help?” during this challenging time?

Check out our list of opportunities through our partner churches &/or local agencies. Share pictures of you and your family serving with us by email or on social media with tags: #LoveINC and #COVIDCantStopGood and #BodyOfChrist.