Banner Newsletter | November/December 2022

CELEBRATIONS
Congregational Garden
The BUMC Congregationa Garden yielded approximately 20,000 lbs of produce
this growing season! We are proud to have served nine area pantries plus
our Carpentersville Community Meal. Fresh produce is difficult for our area
pantries to obtain and is very much appreciated by the pantries and their
clients alike.
Kids Above All Backpack Drive
54 backpacks, filled with necessary school supplies, were donated by BUMC
and delivered to Kids Above All. Thank you for your continued support of this
vital ministry.
Nicasa Prison Ministry
CELEBRATIONS
Northern Illinois Food Bank
The faithful volunteers at The Northern Illinois Food Bank, including our BUMC team, provide
an important source of nutritious meals for our food-insecure neighbors. Over the last year,
volunteers donated 130,000 hours to distribute 78 million meals to families, seniors, and kids. By
working 1 and 1/2 hours twice a month, our BUMC teams of up to ten members are part of that
essential service. We usually work on the first Tuesday afternoon and the third Tuesday morning at
the west suburban center in Geneva. The work isn’t hard and is quite varied. Sometimes we relabel
donated food with NIFB info; sometimes we pack fresh produce like apples, oranges, potatoes,
or corn. We have also helped fill “backpacks” that go home with school kids to get them through
the weekend and assembled the requested shopping lists of seniors who can then pick up only
what they need. We never know what we’ll be asked to do, which keeps things interesting. Most
likely, during this November, we’ll be packing holiday boxes to ensure families can offer thanks in
November and cheer in December.
Over 60 hygiene kits were packed and delivered to our friends at Nicasa
If you would like, meet at church and carpool down Rt. 59 to the warehouse. Carpooling provides
Behavioral Health Services. Thank you!
a chance to chat and get to know each other better. Adding a few more to our circle of service and
Congregational Garden KAA Backpack Drive
Nicasa Prison Ministry Hygiene Kits
friendship would be great. Please look at your calendars and sign up for an upcoming shift. Use
the QR Code below to register, or contact Pat Ziebart at psziebart@gmail.com to get on the list or
ask for more info. NIFB volunteer coordinators have asked us to get our rosters to them two weeks
before the shift, so it’s important to plan ahead and sign up. It will be easier to remove your name
at the last minute than to add you. When you finish your shift, you get to add your nametag to the
giant ball of all the good folks who give their time to this important effort.
November 15, 9:00-11:30 a.m.
December 6, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
December 20, 9:00-11:30 a.m.
January 3, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
January 17, 9:00-11:30 a.m.
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Our chief bag maker Ron Schneider and Kay Mukomela!