In the home stretch of an effort to pack 8,000 baskets of food with mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans cornbread, brownie mix, and coffee (with turkeys added when the baskets are distributed), Willow Creek volunteers swarmed the Care Center. In 21 separate sessions from November 5 through December 12, an estimated 4400+ individuals not only helped local families in need, but learned about the Care Center and the vision behind Willow’s 2:45 campaign.
Creating an Environment
“We wanted to create a family experience around the meal packing events,” says Sue Clinger, one of the event organizers. Sue was responsible for the creative aspects of the event, working with the Care Center and Willow’s Compassion and Justice staff to create an environment that would encourage family participation and add a personal touch to the baskets: hand-decorated greetings, notes of encouragement, crayons and table decorations—all designed to encourage the families who receive the baskets. “The best part is that not only did we have people of all ages packing the meal baskets, but they also shared notes of encouragement along with the art work (coloring and drawing),” says Sue.
It all Starts with People
On a tour of the Care Center, volunteers learned more about the vision behind the 2:45 campaign. According to Josie Guth, Care Center Director, “We went on a journey to learn. We visited with community leaders, our global partners and organizations we felt were doing holistic ministry in a really effective way. Most importantly, we asked God what He wants us to do in the next chapter. From this, we have developed a vision we believe is from God that we are very, very excited and passionate about. The goal is to give our guests hope by building a bridge. This bridge has three components: resources, a roadmap, and relationships. But it all starts with people.”
From its inception, the Care Center has been called to meet the immediate needs of people who come to its door. In the new day, these resources -- food, transportation (CARS ministry), and housing (PADS ministry) would be more fully integrated. “Beyond this,” says Josie, “we are passionate about giving them services that we are not able to provide today, such as employment, support and recovery, and medical services, that will enable them to have a roadmap to a sustainable future. We want all of them to be grounded in relationship, accountability and the joy of walking alongside somebody. Ultimately everything we do is about pointing people to a relationship with Christ.”
Building Relationships
Remarkably, shares Sue, this vision for the future has already been modeled. Recently, a woman came to the Care Center looking for food, only to find that it was closed because of a meal packing event. She was invited to stay and help pack meals. The woman was reluctant, but her daughter encouraged her to stay. They sat at a table with a Willow attender and her daughter. Sue checked back later and found that this woman who had come in downcast and looking for food left with a friend, renewed hope, and a job. How? Through a relationship. The Willow attender befriended her and invited her to church the following Sunday. On finding out the woman needed a job, this Willow attender was personally able to connect her to a job at the Christmas boutique where she worked. Hollywood could not have scripted it any better.
If you would like to serve or would like more information on the Care Center, please contact [email protected]
What a heart warming story and a great ministry.
Posted by: Sue Schuerr | 12/19/2010 at 08:55 AM