Outreach
Outreach is an important element in how we share God’s love for others. St. John leads a vibrant service effort in support of others. Check our calendar and come join us!
- 01 Loaves & Fishes
Support our local food pantry by bringing non-perishable food items. Place the items in the bench in the Narthex. The food items are collected year-round and delivered to Loaves & Fishes. See website for more details: www.loaves-fishes.org
- 02 Our Churches Wider Mission (OCWM)
Once a year St. John collects donations for Our Churches Wider Mission. This donation occurs in March. These donations support the work of OCWM in the areas of ministerial support, global missions and social justice. See website for more details: www.ucc.org
- 03 St. Jude Hospital
Every January through early February, join us as we sign, fold and seal Valentine’s cards for the children at St. Jude Hospital.
- 04 Feed My Starving Children
Join the St. John team as we participate in a local event with the Feed My Starving Children organization. As their website describes: “You’ll hand-pack rice, soy, dried vegetables and a nutritionally complete blend of vitamins and minerals into bags which are then sealed, boxed, placed on pallets and shipped to our incredible partners working hard to reach the neediest children around the world.” Training provided – no experience needed. Sign up at St. John’s coming soon. See website for more details: www.fmsc.org
Here are some pictures from a very successful FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN event. St. John was the Djbouti Group.
Djbouti is in the Horn of Africa – bordered by Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and the Red Sea. It’s location makes if near the world’s busiest shipping lanes and is a key refueling center for the ships, and does much in the way of trans-shipment. There are several foreign military bases located here as well.
- 01 School Backpacks
School Backpacks Help needy children in District 204 by bringing new school backpacks to St. John. Backpacks will be collected in July for the new school year.
- 02 Naperville Crop Walk
Every October St John participates in the Naperville CROP Walk, which celebrated 43 years of walking in 2025. CROP Walk is dedicated to fighting hunger, both locally and globally, by actively providing public awareness, by providing monetary and food donations, and by providing volunteers throughout the United States. Two of the local organizations benefiting from CROP walk are Dupage Loaves and Fishes (which provides food and support to over 10,000 people each week) and Northern IL Food Bank (which serves 13 IL counties and provides 250,000 meals per day). In Illinois 1 in 8 adults, 1 in 6 children, face food insecurity. Please consider joining us in October as we once again walk – you do make a difference!
- 01 DuPage Care Center (DPCC)
In November, we collect gifts for seniors at the DuPage Care Center. See the DPCC Holiday Wish List for requested items.
- 02 Christmas Caroling
In December, join us as we gather to sing Christmas carols at local nursing homes.
- 03 PADS
We collect money to support PADS
- 04 Community Kitchen & Pantry in Downers Grove
In May, we travel to the Community Kitchen in Downers Grove to provide and serve a meal to those in need. In July, we collect new pairs of jeans for the Community Pantry. In December, we collect socks.
- 05 Backpacks for Indian Prairie School District
We collect new backpacks to donate to children in the Indian Prairie School District.
- 06 Scholarships for Tower Hill and Pilgrim Park Camps
We collect money to support the camps at Tower Hill and Pilgrim Park.