https://kuc.org/wp-content/uploads/girl-painting.jpg

By The Reverend Dr. Katie Snipes Lancaster

CjxwPiZuYnNwOzwvcD4=

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.  –Matthew 25:40

Kenilworth Union Church supports about 40 agencies every year through our Outreach Ministry. The church has decided to focus on agencies that support children and their education, emergency services, physical and mental health, and poverty alleviation. However, that’s a difficult message for children to wrap their minds around, unless it’s tangible, visible, and up close. Every year, the Children’s Ministry adopts one agency and highlights their work by getting involved.

This year, we are learning about La Casa Norte, an agency that works with youth and families who are homeless. In October, one of the board members from La Casa Norte came to talk to our children, helping them to think about what it might mean to be homeless, and why it’s important that we think about helping end homelessness for youth and families. For example, did you know more than 18,000 children in Chicago Public Schools navigate their education without a home?

So far this year, our children have made blankets for kids who are being housed at La Casa Norte and collected canned food that will fill their pantries. Our Children’s Chapel offering will go to support their mission and in December our Mitten Tree will go up on the first Monday in December to collect warm and cozy items to donate. And, our kids even inspired a Girl Scout troop who also made blankets for kids at La Casa Norte (maybe you want to do this for your next sleep over or club gathering, too?).