FEEDING FAMILIES


In 2022 we distributed food to well over 3,000 individuals in our community who otherwise would have gone without food staples or a warm meal. That is over 55 families served by our program each week! We are ever grateful to the Churches, small groups, families, and individuals who volunteer each week at our Food Pantry.


For the last several years, the Family Empowerment Centers has partnered with the Hunger Resource Network to distribute frozen chicken to many of needy families in the community. 


This year we picked up and distributed over 7000 pounds of chicken! Some of the chicken was distributed to local churches- who then gave out the chicken to people in their communities. The rest was distributed to over 150 families in our Rogers Park Community.


On Saturday, November 19th, the Family Empowerment Centers, in partnership with Project Share 2022 and North Suburban Church in Deerfield, IL, collected, filled, and distributed over 255 Thanksgiving baskets to many needy families in our community. 


For many, the most memorable part of the day was our prayer room. We opened up space at the FEC where community members could enter, be listened to, and prayed over before picking up their Thanksgiving basket.


MENTORING CHILDREN


In 2022, we helped mentor over 50 students as part of our after-school program as well as connected with many new families and kids through our summer youth programs and camps.



Through our partnership with the Safe Haven program, a program which is part of the Chicago Public Schools, we have been able to connect with over 50 students through our after-school program.


These are typically at-risk kids or children whose parents are immigrants. At the FEC they receive daily tutoring, mentorship, meals, and a sense of love and dignity through our dedicated team and volunteers.


In the summer, the Family Empowerment Centers puts on a soccer camp for the youth in the community. The kids love learning soccer drills and participating in scrimmages at the soccer camp. 


In addition to the soccer camp, the FEC also sends groups of at-risk teenagers to our “CAY Camp.” This gives the students an opportunity to get out of the city and into the country while exposing them to a variety of outdoor activities and a chance to hear the gospel of Jesus.


ESL Spotlight


Every Tuesday and Thursday during the fall and winter, 10 students from Mexico, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Haiti, Colombia, Venezuela, India, and Mongolia, make their way to the Family Empowerment Centers to begin their journeys learning English.


INTERNS AND SHORT-TERM TEAMS


We are so thankful for our intern, Emmalise Emsweller, and the many short-term teams who visited, served, and learned from us and our community!



With great joy we hosted our intern Emmalise Emsweller for the last 6 months (early summer through December). Emmalise is from Kalispell, Montana. It has been wonderful seeing her grow as a team member and sister in Christ!


Emmalise’s contributions to our special events, summer programs, Food Pantry, ESL, and After-School program have been impactful! She plans to return to Chicago in the near future, please be praying for her journey!


In 2022, the Family Empowerment Centers hosted 8 short-term teams who came to Chicago to learn about doing ministry in our urban context. Each of these groups received trainings ranging from “seeing our neighbors” to "sharing our faith in love." The teams served alongside our core FEC team, and helped with many projects!


In total, individuals from these teams donated 5000 volunteer hours to the FEC and our community!


A little love can impact an entire neighborhood!


Today, the Family Empowerment Centers needs your help. In order to continue providing the love and care our community needs, we need your valued partnership. As we approach the end of the year, would you prayerfully consider helping feed families and mentoring children by giving a special donation at this time?


Every dollar goes to the feeding and mentoring of impoverished families and at-risk youth in the inner-city of Chicago.


If you would like to donate to the Family Empowerment Centers and help us continue our mission to feed families and mentor children, click on the donate button below!


Donate Today!
Facebook  Instagram