Hesed House Ministry

Living Spirit Lutheran Church volunteers to help Hesed House on the fifth Mondays of the month.  Our dates for 2009 are: March 30th, June 29th, August 31st, and November 30th.

If you would like to learn more about Living Spirit Lutheran Church's support of the Hesed House Ministry, or to volunteer, please contact Jan Truemper or the church office by phone or by email at: office@livingspiritlutheran.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

What items are most often needed at Hesed House?

How can you help?

How do I sign up for a shift?

How can I donate money?

How can I donate food items?

Where do I park?

What door do I go in?

Can children volunteer?  How old should they be?

What shifts are there and what do I do when I arrive?

How do I get to Hesed House?

How can I find out more about Hesed House?

The items most frequently needed are hotel-sized hygiene products such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo. 

Check out the following link for a more detailed list:

 http://www.hesedhouse.org/wishlist.pdf

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How can you help?

1) Sign up to volunteer for a shift

2) Donate money for the meal to be cooked

3) Donate food items on the list. 

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You can either sign up on the signup sheets at church on Sunday mornings for about 1 month before the volunteer date or you can contact Jan Truemper or the church office by phone or by email at: office@livingspiritlutheran.com

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Monetary donations can be made anytime at the church office or in the donation jar for Hesed House which is put out at church about one month prior to volunteer date.

Monetary donations:  Dinner is made and served for about 200.  Breakfast and sack lunches are prepared for about 100 people.  The total cost is about $1,000.  Just $30 from each church family covers the expenses. 

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Food items can be dropped off at the church office, on Sunday mornings at the school or dropped off at Hesed House about 4:30pm on the day the church is volunteering.

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Volunteers can park in the back of the building.  Just take the road that goes to the left of the building up the hill and find a parking spot.  You can also park down in the big lot at the bottom of the hill if you could use a little extra exercise.

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As you are looking at the back of the building, there are two doors right next to each other: one that is straight ahead and one to the right.  The one to the right is the one you want to go in as it is the access door to the kitchen.

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Yes, this is a great learning experience for children so they can be thankful for what God has given them and it teaches them what it means to help others.  We recommend around 9 years of age, when the child can follow directions, and be somewhat self-sufficient.  Tasks will be assigned appropriately according to their abilities.

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Flexible shifts are available click on one to find out more information: 

4:30 - 6:30 PM

6:30 - 9:00 PM

9:00 - 12:00 PM

12:00 PM - 3:00 AM

3:00 - 5:00 AM

5:00 - 7:00 AM

All volunteers will sign the volunteer sheet with the time they served prior to departure.

430-630PM shift

During this shift you will:

1) prepare the food

2) cook the food

3) set up the serving line

4) clean dishes used in the preparation of the food.

630-900PM shift

Dinner is served at 7PM and this shift is responsible for welcoming, feeding and assisting guests.

This shift is broken down into several segments:

1) Finish setting up the serving line

2) One person will be asked to say a prayer to bless the meal.

3) One person will help manage the dining room registration desk.  This person will check in the guests for the meal, and help them sign up for the rooms that are available.

4) Around 3 people will continue the food preparation, as well as, clean dishes, clean trays, clean kitchen, and help restock the serving line.

5) Around 8 people will work the serving line. 

6) One or two people will serve in the supply room. 

They will:

1) Distribute towels

2) Distribute wash clothes

3) Distribute hygienic supplies (tooth paste, shampoo, soap, etc)

4) Distribute over the counter medicines.

5) Sign out washing machines

6) Distribute clothes washing detergent

7) One person will be given the locker key and will be responsible for unlocking the lockers for the guests.  This person will check the picture on the locker to make sure it is the same as the person asking for access.

8) One person will be assigned to the men's sleeping area.

9PM-12AM shift

This shift will feed late guest, clean up and make lunch.

1) One person will help manage the dining room registration desk.  This person will check in the guests for the meal, and help them sign up for the rooms that are available.

2) 3 people will work in the kitchen cleaning up and making lunches for the next day. 

3) One person will be given the locker key and will be responsible for unlocking the lockers for the guests.  This person will check the picture on the locker to make sure it is the same as the person asking for access.  This person will also help in the kitchen when his/her primary duty is not being accomplished.

4) One person will be assigned to the men's sleeping area.

12-3AM shift

This shift will finish lunches, complete cleanup, and do laundry for the guests.

1) Up to four people will be assigned to this shift to primarily do the guests laundry,

2) One person will be assigned to the men's sleeping area.

3-5AM shift

This shift will be responsible for preparing breakfast for the guests.

1) 4 people will prepare the breakfast for the guests,

2) Two people will be assigned to the men's sleeping area.

5-7AM shift

This shift will be responsible for providing breakfast for the guests and cleaning up prior to departure. Breakfast is from 5:45 to 6:30AM

1) One person will be assigned to the men's sleeping area.

2) Two people will cook the meal and 6 people will serve the meal.

All will help clean up after the meal is done.

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How do I get to Hesed House?

Hesed House is located at 659S. River Street, Aurora, IL.

 
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To learn more about Hesed House, please check out their website by following this link: http://www.hesedhouse.org/index.html.

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