Missions
The First Congregational Church Mission Committee has selected the following organizations for the past year.
The Family Health Partnership
January
The Family Health Partnership provides quality Health Care to the residents of McHenry County. The Clinic operates with volunteer Physicians and other staff. They serve the uninsured and under insured of McHenry County. Half of the patients are children who have delayed having care because they are uninsured and could not afford treatment.
PADS
February
There are seven church sites in McHenry County that house PADS’s cold weather emergency shelter program. There is a van that provides transportation to and from each emergency church shelter. There is alive in shelter for the homeless off Kishwaukee Valley Road. Vocational services are provided. www.mchenrycountypads.com
One Great Hour of Sharing
March
The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering, administered by Wider Church Ministries, is the refugee, relief and development fund of the UCC. It provides support to people in more than eighty countries.
www.onegreathourofsharing.org
Grafton Food Pantry
April
The Grafton Food Pantry is a non-profit organization that is committed to educating and bringing the community together in the fight to end hunger. Our volunteers serve the Village of Huntley, Village of Lakewood, and portions of Lake in the Hills, Crystal Lake, and Algonquin in Illinois.
https://graftonfoodpantry.org
Strengthen The Church
May
Your gift to Strengthen the Church builds the UCC’s future now by funding The Stillspeaking Ministry, new and renewing churches, youth and young adult ministries, and lay and pastoral leadership formation – especially among women and people of color. Your offerings are directed to your church’s Conference, Local Church Ministries, and The Stillspeaking Ministry for these church development, leader development and Stillspeaking purposes.
www.ucc.org/stc/
Independence Health and Therapy
June
Family Alliance, Inc and Adult & Child Services have merged together their mission is to assist mature adults in the Northern Illinois region to remain in their own homes and achieve resiliency in their communities and also to promote independence by providing best-of-practice day programming, in-home and on site mental health and dementia services, and proactive caregiver support.
It's All About Children
July
In 1998 Thomas Martin, a little boy with cancer from McHenry County, was asked if there was anything special he would like for Christmas. His simple wish was twenty-five new hats for the children who were going through chemotherapy with him. The Hats Off For Thomas Chamber Mixer was established from his request. Over five hundred hats were donated at that first event. For the next six years the Hat Mixers grew to include live and silent auctions and the money raised was contributed to Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago for pediatric cancer research. In 2004 the Hat Mixer was replaced by a Gala and It’s All About Kids, a 501 (C) 3 organization was formed. In 2016 It’s All About Kids started our Annual Festival at the Farm which is a family friendly event on the Martin family farm. Since the beginning we have raised more than ONE MILLION dollars, giving 100% of the profits to Chicago’s Lurie Children’s Hospital for Pediatric Cancer Research, and to forty McHenry County families (so far…), facing the burden of medical care and other related costs. www.itsallaboutkids.info
Pioneer Center
August
Pioneer Center for Human Services- delivers community based services for people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, traumatic brain injury, autism and they are a VOICE for sexual assault and McHenry county Pads and the Youth Service Bureau. It is a Not-Profit Organization empowering individuals to achieve their full potential.
www.pioneercenter.org
Senior Care Volunteer Network
September
The Senior Care Volunteer Network has been preserving the independence of McHenry County seniors since 1998. Their mission to is to help seniors remain independent and at home for as long and as safely as possible. Their goal is to provide their services at no-cost to the seniors they are serving. www.scvnmchenrycounty.org
Turning Point
October
Turning Point is a domestic violence agency. Their mission is to confront violence against women and children in McHenry County. They provide: 24 hour crises intervention, emergency shelter, food and clothing, counseling and a parenting program.
www.mchenrycountyturningpoint.org
Veterans Path to Hope
November
Veterans Path to Hope- Building a community where every veteran is integrated, connected, and self-sustained. Their mission is to provide veterans in need and their families the services necessary to experience hope and achieve success. Through four main values of respect, integrity, compassion and advocacy. https://veteranspathtohope.org/
Pioneer Center Wish List & Christmas Fund
December
This fund is for the Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund which is the primary source of annual income for the work of the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance, one of the corporations comprising the Pension Boards of the United Church of Christ. Gifts to the Christmas Fund help provide pension and health premium supplementation to low-income retirees, emergency assistance to the families of clergy and lay employees and Christmas “Thank You” Gift Checks to individuals and families facing financial crises.