Community Programs

Children who are involved in their community and/or have experience volunteering learn responsibility, teamwork, job skills and are less likely to be exposed to risk factors that can lead to addiction.  Get involved in your community, provide help to those in need, find wholesome activities for your children and learn more about programs that can provide assistance to you or someone you know.

Angel Food Ministries
This nonprofit organization works with local churches to distribute quality, nutritious and affordable units of food for $30. Participation is without income limits or prequalifications. Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church needs volunteers to help with ordering, organizing and distributing the food units. To volunteer call 630-385-8135 or visit the Cross Lutheran website.

Association for Individual Development
This nonprofit, community-based organization, serves 3,000 individuals throughout Kane, Kendall, and DeKalb Counties and works to enrich the lives of individuals with diverse disabilities by promoting individual achievement and community inclusion. For volunteer opportunities call 630-966-4450 or visit the Association for Individual Development website.

Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Kane and Kendall Counties is a mentoring organization for children predominantly residing in single-parent families. Call 630-844-9090 or visit the Family Counseling Service website to get involved.

Caring Hands Thrift Shop
The Caring Hands Thrift Shop is a ministry of Cross Lutheran Church North Campus and relies on volunteers to help sort and stock shelves of donated items. Located in Yorkville’s downtown area, Caring Hands provides assistance to people in financial duress or in emergency situations. To volunteer, call 630-553-1847.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
CASA Kendall County serves as a voice for abused and neglected children in court and helps these children transition into a safe, nurturing and permanent home. There are many opportunities to get involved. Call 630-553-8660 or email the organization for volunteering information.

Cornerstone Young Women’s Learning Center
Cornerstone Young Women’s Learning Center is a nonprofit organization that helps single moms between the ages of 18-24, pregnant or with a child (ages 0-3) grow a vision to succeed. The program provides assistance for food, housing, and child care in order for the single mother to go back to school to earn a degree. The 2-year residential program needs many volunteers in the home for 3-hour shifts throughout the day helping with tutoring, mentoring, helping around the house, etc. Volunteers will go through a training session and have background checks done. Visit the Cornerstone website for more details.

Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity
You don’t have to be a painter, carpenter or plumber to get involved. Behind the scenes volunteers are needed for fundraising, building coordination, public relations, and office assistance. To get involved, call 630-859-3333 or visit the Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity website.

Grace Meal at Good Shepherd Oswego
FREE lunch every Tuesday 12:00-1:30 PM.  No RSVP or registration.  A full well balanced meal is served every Tuesday for everyone who comes.  Church of the Good Shepherd, 5 W. Washington St. in downtown Oswego, IL, next to the Legion.  630-554-3269 www.goodshepherdoswego.org

Kendall Cares Clinic
Held annually in Kendall County in the Spring at the Plano High School.  The clinic offers free medical, dental, vision, and audiology screening, haircuts, nail painting, make up application, family photography, clothing closet, hot meal and food pantry, children’s books, resource information, and more.  www.kendallcares.org

Kendall County Department of Health & Human Services
This organization provides population-based programs and services to promote personal and mental health, protect community health, and prevent disease. For information call 630-553-9100 or visit the Kendall County website.

Kendall County Food Pantry
Volunteers work with the Northern Illinois Food Bank to purchase food and provide personal hygiene items for those less fortunate. In its new location at 1204A Deer Street in Yorkville, families in need can now shop for a variety of items. To volunteer, call 630-553-0473.

Kendall County PADS
Pubic Action to Deliver Shelter.  If you are homeless or in need of a hot meal, in Kendall County 7 different sites are available to you for shelter.  331-207-8903 www.kendallcountypads.org

Safe Passage
It is the mission of Safe Passage to reduce or prevent domestic violence and sexual assault in DeKalb County. We provide a wide range of services to victims of domestic and sexual violence including crisis intervention and medical advocacy for victims of domestic and sexual violence, short- and long-term housing for victims and their children, counseling, legal advocacy, children’s services, community education, and a batterer’s intervention program. Hotline: 815-756-5228 • In Sandwich: 815-786-6333 • Business Line: 815-756-7930, website: www.safepassagedv.org

Simply Destinee Dance Team
Simply Destinee is a youth inspired Dance Team that promotes suicide awareness in Memory of Destinee A. Oliva. They are dedicated to caring for Aurora’s youth and inspiring positive development in their lives, families, and the community, helping overcome everyday challenges.  Simply Destinee believes all kids deserve to feel safe, healthy and ready to learn, they are committed to providing the community based support they need to succeed. Simply Destinee kids can express themselves through all different styles of dance salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia, hip hop, swing, waltz and more. Find our more here www.simplydestinee.com.

Wayside Cross Missions
Responding to Christ’s command to love our neighbor and our responsibility to demonstrate His compassion to people, Wayside Cross Ministries reaches out with the Gospel to persons in the Fox Valley whose lives lack hope and direction because of poverty, addiction, abuse and violence. We do this through material help, counseling, education and training and provide these services without regard to age, sex, race and creed. We help people find new hope in Christ, grow in spiritual and social maturity, build self-esteem, gain control of their lives and return to their families, churches and communities as productive citizens.  630-892-4239 www.waysidecross.org

Youth Engaged in Philanthropy (YEP)
YEP is a youth philanthropy program that teaches young people leadership skills and the importance of community involvement and philanthropy. YEP assists the DeKalb County Community Foundation in addressing youth needs in our community.

Contact Becky Zantout for questions about YEP Grant Applications and the upcoming online grant application process. Additional information on the YEP program and how to get involved is available.