Ministries & Outreach

Salem provides volunteers and/or support to many ministries - both local and across the world. Here is a sampling: Hope Haven, Safe Passage, We Care Pregnancy Center, “Angel Tree” for Avancer House (Genoa), Meals On Wheels, Salem Food Pantry, Social Justice / Global Missions Team, Sycamore Chamber of Commerce, ELCA World Hunger, and Lutheran World Relief.

Personal Hygiene Collection Drive Donations accepted until February 15.
Look for the donation box in the Narthex.
All items collected will be distributed countywide to local Food Pantries.
Recommended items: Shampoo/Conditioner
Chapstick Soap / Shower Gel/ Combs / Brushes/ Tampons / Pads / Lotion / Deodorant / Baby Wipes / Hand Sanitizer

This is part of a bigger Emergency Preparedness exercise to simulate receiving in of supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile. When this is initiated for a Disaster, the Health Department has to be prepared to receive the supplies, sort, inventory, and then push out to set locations. These locations (called Point of Distribution or POD) would then distribute the materials (usually would be talking medications) to their population (i.e. Nursing Home residents) and the Health Department would be distributing to the public.

In this exercise, the “PODS” receiving the supplies will be the DeKalb County food pantries. We are focusing on collecting mostly regular sized items, although travel sized items will not be turned away. We are encouraging people to shop at the dollar stores because the value for the money is fantastic. I attached a picture of 1 item of each type of product I purchased from the dollar store. Great value to provide more product!

I chose personal care products because the food pantries have an affordable avenue to their food supplies; however, personal hygiene products are not supplied by any other means other than donations and these items are “gold” to the food pantries. You can contact me if you have any questions either at adopt911@comcast.net or cgraves@dekalbcounty.org

ELS (English as a Second Language) will be offered at Salem on Wednesdays starting January 9 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. There is no cost and it is open to anyone hoping to learn how to speak, understand, and/or write English. Speakers of all languages welcome. The teacher speaks Spanish and Portuguese.

February is Salem’s Meals on Wheels Month for the Voluntary Action Center. Salem furnishes volunteers for 3 Sycamore routes (West, Central and East) each weekday in February. It doesn’t take long to complete a route (usually 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) and your help is appreciated. Call Sue in Salem’s office to volunteer               (815/895-9171)!.

Salem Food Pantry, founded in 2000, is open 9:00-11:45 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

It serves all DeKalb County residents. Volunteer opportunities are available and donations of food and paper products are always appreciated. In 2017 the Pantry fed 12,220 individuals across 3,519 family visits.

Salem’s Food Pantry is welcoming volunteers:
Saturdays: 8:15-10:30 a.m.
Help sort and stock food donated by Jewel-Osco.
Saturdays are great times for parents and kids!
Call either: Sue in the office: 815-895-9171

Items we can always use…
Peanut Butter
Canned Tuna or Chicken
Canned Stew/Hash
Instant potatoes
White Rice
Oatmeal
Pasta – noods, short shapes, etc.