Christ Church Oak Brook, Butterfield Organizes Food Drive

Oak Brook, Illinois – Christ Church seeks donations of food and home products to benefit families being impacted by lost wages due to distancing restrictions related to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Through April 9, the church will accept donations of nonperishable, dry food; home products, such as paper towels and toilet paper; and medical and cleaning supplies at its Butterfield campus, located at 2S 361 Glen Park Road in Lombard.

For a full listing of needed items, please visit ChristChurch.us/coronavirus.

“COVID-19 and the accompanying economic disruption bring new financial hardship to thousands. As hourly workers are laid off or see their hours reduced, previously solvent families now find themselves without income, behind on rent and unable to purchase food and essential supplies,” said Peter Celauro, director of Missional Living at Christ Church. “What’s more, COVID-19 has impacted the ministries of our mission partners who care for those in need here in our neighborhood and nearby in Chicago.

The church will distribute goods received through three service groups:

• The Salvation Army/Christ Church Food Pantry (Oakbrook Terrace on April 11)
• The Fresh Market Food Pantry at Breakthrough Urban Ministries (Garfield Park)
• Emergency care packages distributed by By the Hand Club for Kids (throughout Chicago)

Drop-off dates and hours through April 9:

Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays | 9:00–11:00 a.m. at Butterfield Campus in Lombard.

Additional details are available at ChristChurch.us/coronavirus.

The challenges and demands on communities besieged by the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred philanthropic efforts near and far. Angela Han, a freshman at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Christ Church Oak Brook member, helped co-organize the COVID-19 Relief Group, a nonprofit founded to assist health care providers and first responders with essential protective gear.

“So far we’ve raised more than $28,598 from 64 donors, and collected donations of personal protection and disinfecting supplies from our lovely neighbors,” Han said. “We currently have dispatched more than 1,400 N-95 face masks, 7,000 surgical masks, 130 bottles of hand sanitizer, and 2,300 nitrile disposable gloves to Baubly Medical, Rush Hospital, Hinsdale Hospital, Clarendon Hills Police Station and some health service providers living in our neighborhood.”

She said the group, co-organized by Dov Chen, a member at Living Water Evangelical Church, is working to donate disinfecting supplies to the Oak Brook Police Station and the Oak Brook Fire Station, among others, and has more than 10,000 N-95 masks on back order. Giving back to a community that has served her is a principle of life for Han.

“Christ Church has always been a source of community for me these past years so thank you for everything you’ve been doing,” she said.

To find out more about Han’s relief group, get involved or request supplies, visit their Facebook page: @c19reliefgroup.

In mid-March all Christ Church worship services moved to livestream only. Attendees are gathering online at 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. every Sunday, at ChristChurch.us/online.

All in-person group gatherings at the church have been suspended until further notice. Staff and group meetings are being held remotely via video conferencing. For up-to-date information on church protocol and meeting status, please visit ChristChurch.us/covid19.

For more information about Christ Church, please visit ChristChurch.us.

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About Christ Church: Founded in 1965, Christ Church is a multisite, nondenominational church in the Chicago suburbs with more than 6,000 members. Christ Church features a variety of inspiring worship options including classic, classic communion and contemporary services. All people are offered the opportunity to build life-changing relationships with God and one another with a rich range of spiritual growth resources, and a selection of service ministries aimed at creating positive change in the world. Weekend services are held at the Oak Brook and Butterfield (formerly Downers Grove) locations, as well as via livestream at ChristChurch.us/online. For more information, visit ChristChurch.us.