Kendall Cares

Christians Serving our Neighbors & Friends in Need

Kendall Cares is a grassroots coalition of Kendall County Christians working together to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of the community.

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 discussion at the first breakfast, and two subsequent breakfast gatherings in October 2009 and March 2010, focused attention on how a grassroots effort of concerned citizens and leaders could work together to address community needs during tough economic times.

These breakfast discussions uncovered three important needs that a grassroots volunteer movement, inspired by a shared common faith in Jesus Christ, could accomplish together to serve our neighbors in need across Kendall Country. These three needs are:

1. Access to health-care for the uninsured and under insured

2. Shelter for a growing homeless population

3. Access to resources for those in need and for those who wish to serve

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.

"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)

Kendall Cares Clinic

On Saturday, May 1, 2010, at Plano High School, the first Kendall Cares Clinic served the uninsured and under insured through free medical and dental screenings and many other free services. Local professionals provided medical, dental, chiropractic, vision and eye screening to the 374 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. The next clinic is scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2011.

PADS in Kendall County

Beginning in October 2010, Public Access to Deliver Shelter (PADS) in Kendall County is expected to be operational, at seven different church sites across the county, providing warm overnight shelter to our neighbors who currently don’t have a permanent home. Click here to learn more about PADS in Kendall County.

Kendall Cares Web Site

Access to valuable resources, both for those in need as well as for those seeking to help those in need, through volunteer service, is addressed through the creation of this web site, spearheaded by the Outreach Team at Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church & School, the Kendall County Food Pantry, and Dean Fisher of CarStar in Yorkville. If you wish to contribute content for this web site or volunteer to further develop it as a countywide resource for all residents, click here.

Kendall Cares expresses thanks to all 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:

Cheryl Johnson, Executive Director & Public Health Administrator, Kendall County Health Department
Rev. Mark Gregory, Yorkville Congregational Church
Laurel Mateyka, Assistant Principal, Plano High School
Richard Randall, Kendall County Sheriff
Sharon Schultz, Homeless Liaison for Regional Office of Education, Grundy & Kendall Counties
Maria Spaeth, Executive Director, Kendall County Food Pantry
Rev. Brian Truog, Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church & School

These Community Breakfasts, hosted by Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church & School, occur semi-annually at Loving Arms Child Care Center, located on Mill Road, east of Kennedy Road and west of Orchard in Bristol Township. The next Breakfast is scheduled for Saturday, October 16, 2010 from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. If you are interested in attending, click here to be added to the Kendall County Community Breakfast contact list.