Christians Serving Our Neighbors & Friends in Need

In the year 2000, Kendall County was identified as one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. By 2012, Kendall County also ranked among counties with the highest foreclosure rates in Illinois. One in every 13 households is in some state of foreclosure. Residents are making decisions between food, medicine, and gas for their autos.

In April 2009, as the nation's economic conditions worsened, community leaders, including governmental leaders, a number of church pastors, leaders from civic organizations, and a few interested business leaders, first came together at a breakfast meeting. The meeting's objective was to discuss opportunities to more effectively serve those Kendall County residents facing economic hardship. The group formed at these meetings is called Kendall Cares.

Inspired by a shared common faith in Jesus Christ, Kendall Cares is designed to serve people in our community through:

As these needs were identified, small task teams began working together informally, in the spirit of action--Christians working together to serve others, as told in the Bible and by how Jesus lived during His time on Earth.

Kendall Cares Clinics

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow,’ when you now have it with you.” - Proverbs 4: 27-28

The goal of Kendall Cares is to provide compassion, hope and assistance to our struggling neighbors. Out of the Kendall Cares Community Breakfast meetings, the Kendall Cares Clinic and PADS have come to fruition. The third annual Kendall Cares Clinic was held in April, 2012, serving more than 400 Kendall County residents.

Local professionals provided medical, dental, chiropractic, vision and eye screening to the guests who came to the Clinic. Each guest was able to shop in the clothing closet and was served a hot meal. Over 400 volunteers also assisted in helping our neighbors.

PADS in Kendall County

Since October, 2010, Public Access to Deliver Shelter (PADS) has been active in Kendall County. Through a network of area churches, PADS provides warm overnight shelter to our neighbors who currently don't have a permanent home.

PADS provides overnight shelter and meals and runs from mid-October to mid-April through seven area churches that provide a warm, safe surrounding from 7:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. each day. With cooler weather coming on, Kendall County PADS needs more volunteers. Visit the PADS page for details and registration forms.

Good News!! Good Shepherd will be offering a free hot lunch every Tuesday from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. starting on Tuesday, January 3, 2012. The Grace Meal will be served at The Church of the Good Shepherd, United Methodist in downtown Oswego located at 5 W. Washington St. No reservations are needed. Children specials included. Lunches will be served every Tuesday until the end of May. For more information, please call the church at (630) 554-3269, visit the church website, or download a flyer on the program.

Kendall Cares expresses thanks to the community leaders who have participated, thus far, in one or more of these community breakfasts. A special word of thanks to a few individuals who have taken a leadership role in helping to turn informal breakfast discussions into action: