Ascension once again provided sleeping areas and dining/fellowship during the week of October 21-28, 2012.  During this week we provided shelter and meals for three homeless families with young children. Acension will next host Family Promise families during the week of February 17-24, 2013.

Many volunteers make a Family Promise week possible.  A huge thank you goes out to all those who have prepared all or part of a meal, shopped for breakfast and lunch foods, slept overnight at church, played with the children, helped with set-up and take-down, or provided financial support.  Your efforts make a huge impact on these families in transition.  Please mark your calendars to continue your support of this important ministry in February.

When Ascension provides dinner and overnight accommodations for homeless families through Family Promise Chicago North Shore, we join more than 135,000 volunteers in 41 states in the Family Promise Network that has served thousands of homeless families while they get back on their feet.  Most of Family Promise's clients are children.  Family Promise works to keep children in the same school they were in before their family became homeless.  Parents are provided with counseling and assistance in finding work and new places to live.  Families generally "graduate" out of the program in three months.

Please contact Ruth Newman or  Gail Price at church to learn more about the program.

Habitat for Humanity-Lake County has been an active mission ministry for the past eight years. Our volunteers work at Waukegan work sites one Saturday a month from June through November.  Our schedule is the third Saturday of each month.

Our group leaves from church at 7 am to go to the work site, stopping along the way for coffee and donuts.  New sites have been obtained in Waukegan and Zion, where new construction and gut rehab will be done.  Habitat has initiated a new program, "Brush with Kindness" which is designed for exterior maintenance to enhance curb appeal in blighted neighborhoods. 

This is a powerful way to give a hand up and a new start to people in need of housing.

To volunteer contact, Jill Reid (847-256-5259, jkreid41@gmail.com) or sign up on the bulletin board in fellowship hall at church.

Careful recipient screening is conducted by the Habitat organization to ensure that the prospective homeowner is able to pay the mortgage and participate in the "sweat equity" requirements. Those who qualify and can benefit from this opportunity have a chance to break the poverty cycle. Various opportunities exist to participate in this ministry from volunteering your time at the work site to donating money or goods and services.  Those 16 years of age and older are eligible to be at the actual work site.    No prior experience is necessary as there are many jobs to be done and instruction is available.  Youth between the ages of 12-18 can find a copy of the needed permission slip on the Youth Ministry page - see link below.

Ascension demonstrates concern for hunger and hungry people by participating in the Glenbrook CROP walk.  Pledges and donations obtained by walkers in the 1K, 3K, or 5K walk support international hunger alleviation as well as the local needs of the Northfield Township Food Pantry. 

Ascension hosted the 2012 Crop Walk on October 21, 2012.  Approximately 27 Ascension walkers joined with many others from the Northfield/Glenview/Northbrook area to walk in support of hunger initiatives.  A record $1700 was pledged by Ascension members!

Thank you to those who generously supported our 2012 Crop Walk on October 16th.  The clients of the Northfield Township food pantry as well as hungry people around the world are thankful for your support!

On Monday and Thursday of each week Ascension volunteers pick up unsold pastries from the Starbucks located in the Willow Festival Shopping Center.  They bag and freeze the pastries for later distribution to the clients of A Just Harvest Community Kitchen.  Additional help is needed to expand this ministry.  To volunteer for a shift, please contact Kristin Merrill (847-853-8941, kmerrill@gmail.com) Patty Haskins (309-236-5256, haskinspa@yahoo.com).

Formerly named the Good News Community Kitchen, this Rogers Park ministry serves a hot meal to 150-200 people every night of the year. Ascension volunteers purchase food, help prepare it and serve on the third Tuesday of each month.  Volunteers meet at church at 3:45 and return at approximately 7:15. All people above age twelve are welcome to participate.  Youth between the ages of 12 and 18 can find a copy of the needed permission slip on the Youth Ministry page.   To purchase food or to go to the kitchen on the third Tuesday of any month, sign up on the bulletin board, contact Irm Clarborne (847-256-3302, Born19@voyager.net).

Ascension members and friends welcomed the Kai family from Bhutan upon their arrival at O'Hare on July 25, 2012.  The family consists of a married couple with their two-year-old daughter, a sister and a father.  They are thrilled to finally be in a country where they will not be endangered because of their ethnicity.  We look forward to greeting the family at church in the near future.

Thank you to all who provided household goods to RefugeeOne in June.  In spite of the family arriving with only a few days' warning, we were able to easily set up their apartment.  A huge thank you to Pam Carlson for spear-heading the resettlement process.  Our commitment to RefugeeOne includes financial help during the family's first three months here, so financial gifts will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you to all who supported the Souper Bowl of Giving on the day of the big game in February.  Over 200 cans of soup were collected for the Northfield Township Food Pantry and $520 was donated for the ELCA World Hunger Campaign.
Thank you!