What is the Willow Creek Care Center
The Care Center is a ministry of Willow Creek Community Church.
They are committed to offering services that help meet immediate needs as well as services that help build toward a more sustainable future for individuals and families in the Chicagoland area.
Their mission is to fight poverty and injustice so that lives are transformed. They strive to help meet the basic needs of the community while offering long term solutions and empowering people towards a more stable future.
Ways to Receive Help
The Care Center offers a wide variety of programs including:
- Care Team- provides information about services and resources available from the Care Center.
- Clothing Store- offering low cost gently used clothing.
- Kids Zone- a safe fun space for children to play while parents & guardians receive services at the Care Center.
- Dental & Vision Clinic- provides dental & vision care for patients through the help of volunteer doctors & professionals.
- Employment- receive support on your employments search through one-on-one counseling, classes, and job fairs.
- English As a Second Language- learn & improve your English language skills.
- Financial Education- learn how to create a budget, get out of debt and make the most of your money to become financially stable.
- Food- provides food to any person or family in need of food.
- Health Services- understand & improve your well-being with the help you need to work toward your health goals.
- Legal Aid- receive counsel & referrals from trusted attorneys for your legal issues, including immigration.
- Pregnancy Support- connect to services for women facing an unexpected pregnancy, including pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, health insurance and one-on-one counseling.
- Prison, Jail & Re-entry- connect to support services for those in incarceration, those released from incarceration, and families who have an incarcerated family member or friend.
- Shelter- Connect to temporary and permanent housing solutions through our partner organization, Journeys.
- Tax Preparation- get your income taxes prepared by a certified volunteer through the VITA program.
- Transportation- overcome your transportation challenges through car inspection and repair services provided by the C.A.R.S. Ministry.
Ways to Support the Care Center
Here are some of the most helpful ways you can give.
Clothing and Shoes
• Donations may be dropped to the outdoor collection bin in the parking lot between the D and F entrances.
• New or gently used children’s clothing, sizes newborn through children’s 14/16 (XL).
• Donations of children’s socks, undergarments, and pajamas must be new.
• Children’s and adult shoes, all sizes and conditions. Please rubber-band in pairs.
Vehicles
• The C.A.R.S. Ministry of Willow Creek gladly accepts donations of cars, motorcycles, RVs and boats, in any condition. Vehicles are picked up free of charge.
• Qualified vehicles are repaired and cleaned, then given to approved families in need of transportation.
• Junk and clunkers are sold, with proceeds used toward the repair of other vehicles.
Computers
• The Computer Connection ministry of Willow Creek gratefully accepts donations of desktop or laptop computers that are no more than 6 years old.
• Computers are refurbished and given to families, individuals, and organizations in need.
• Donations of keyboards, mice, cables, and flat-panel monitors are also welcomed (CRT monitors not)
• Donations may be dropped off from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. on Saturdays at the Elgin warehouse, 1385 Madeline Lane, Suite 100, Elgin, IL.
Financial
• Contributions by cash or check may be placed in the offering during any weekend service. Please be sure to indicate that your gift is for the CARE CENTER. Include your name and address on the check or envelope if you wish to receive credit for tax purposes.
• You may also make your donation by mail. Send your donation to Willow’s main campus at 67 Algonquin Road, South Barrington, IL 60010. Again, please indicate that your gift is for the CARE CENTER and include your name and address for tax purposes.
Food
• Donations of unexpired, commercially packaged food are gratefully accepted at the Care Center during regular hours of operation.
• Items most needed are peanut butter, jelly, soup, cereal, tuna, rice, pasta, spaghetti sauce, macaroni & cheese and chili.
Please note they do not accept furniture or electronics as donations.
For questions about donations, please email [email protected]
Want to donate your time? They have a variety of programs that are looking for volunteers!
Explore the various volunteer roles available both at the Care Center and out in the community. Because of the pandemic, some programs are not currently accepting new volunteers. Click the link below to see the programs they offer.
Check out the Willow Creek Care Center at their website below.
