Mission & Outreach
The Mission Outreach Team cares for its local and global neighbors through its humanitarian, environmental, and social justice activities, education, and advocacy to help make the world a better place. There are multiple ways that this is accomplished:
Prince of Peace regularly contributes to Elk Grove Village Food Pantry and Itasca Food Pantry. Each Sunday, as part of learning about helping our neighbors, our children gather food bags from church attendees for these food pantries.
Prince of Peace hosts the Bob and Doris Lawson Living and Giving Community Garden which provides organic produce to area food pantries. The Living Green in Elk Grove group whose leader is a member of the church has taken on the responsibility of overseeing the garden. In 2021 Prince of Peace and the Garden received a Green Team of the Year award from Faith in Place. The mission of Faith in Place is to empower Illinois people of all faiths to be leaders in caring for the Earth, and providing resources to educate, connect, and advocate for healthier communities. In 2022 the Garden was selected for a $7000 grant from Faith in Place. The grant allowed us to expand the garden by 50%, adding raised tanks and other containers. Future plans are to add fruit trees and bushes, a cold frame to extend the growing season and to expand our current 275 gallon rain catching system. We continue to partner with local organizations and have offered free education to scout troops, library groups, and garden clubs. The Garden has sponsored free classes beyond organic gardening such as: “Preserving the Summer Harvest”, “Sourdough Bread Making”, “Adopting a Plant Based Diet”, “Reducing Your Waste” and others.
Prince of Peace Mission Outreach team provides food backpacks once a month for needy children at a local public school. The backpacks contain enough food to feed a family for the long weekend that occurs once each month during the school year. We gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance received through grants from the United Methodist Foundation and the Elk Grove Rotary Club. We could not continue this mission work without their support.
Partnering with Elk Grove Township and the local school district Community Cares Closet, Prince of Peace donates school supplies and other necessities for local school children, including socks and winter outerwear. Prince of Peace also contributes clothing, supplies, blankets and towels to asylum-seekers in the area and Friends on the Street serving area people who are houseless
Prince of Peace contributes items and funds each year to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). Its relief supply kits help provide care for the most vulnerable people during natural disasters and other times of crisis, and/or to those who lack ready access to essential supplies. These include health kits, layette kits, and cleaning buckets.
Prince of Peace Mission Outreach works with community agencies during Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas to help provide food and gifts for those in need.
Through newsletter and newspaper articles, presentations, and lending library, we educate on issues such as people who are houseless, bullying, domestic violence, peace, and environmental care, as well as LGBTQ+, African American, Asian American / Pacific Islanders, and Native American experiences.
Through various activities we support the local communities and protect the environment, for example:
- Collect books, buttons, and crayons for SCARCE
- Upcycle empty oral care containers through Terracycle
- Upcycle soft plastic via Clean Up Give Back
- Collect spent ink cartridges for proper recycling
- Host Elk Grove Village Pride Celebration
- Partner with Faith in Place on gardening, energy and climate
- Member of Community Renewal Society
- Member of Reconciling Ministries Network
- Member of Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches
Come join us as we help to make the world a more inclusive, just, and healthy place.
