Our Causes are Your Causes
Local
- Throughout the year we provide Mobile Food Pantries in local communities, providing groceries for 10–14 days across all campuses.
- The Big Give for Kids equipped 450 children from nearly 200 families with brand-new shoes, socks, underwear, and two bags of school clothes, helping them start the year with confidence.
- Our Weekend Backpack Program supports over 100 local students who receive free school lunches by providing supplemental food every weekend, helping ensure no family goes hungry.
- Through our Bridging the Gap Program, we walk with families during difficult seasons by providing help with housing, utilities, and critical needs.
From Tragedy to Stability
One of my favorite Reclaimed moments this year was helping a single mom find a home and get her car repaired, bringing much-needed stability after she lost her home and family members in a tragic accident.
After coming to the church seeking help, both the mom and her children were baptized. They now attend the Minooka and Seneca campuses regularly, and mom is involved in a Life Group. When asked in art class what she was thankful for, one of the children drew a picture of the church. Praise God for the work He is doing through His people!
—Patrick Erzinger, Missions and Outreach Pastor
Back to School, Surrounded by Hope
Each August, we partner together to create an opportunity for kids to head back to school with dignity and confidence through The Big Give for Kids, a free back-to-school shopping experience for families in our communities. What may look like a clothing giveaway on the surface is, in reality, something much deeper—a reminder that no family walks alone.
Families are welcomed into a morning designed to feel joyful and stress-free. Tables are filled with clothing, haircuts are offered, and every child is invited to choose select gently used clothes, empowering them to select items they love and feel good wearing. New packs of socks and underwear are also available on a first-come, first-served basis. To the kids, it feels like shopping. To their parents, it feels like relief. And to all involved, it becomes an experience marked by dignity, joy, and care.
As children excitedly move from table to table, parents watch with gratitude, many sharing how meaningful it is to receive support during a season that can feel overwhelming. The room buzzes with laughter, conversation, and smiles. In those moments, generosity becomes more than a response to need; it becomes a bridge to connection and community.
Each year, we believe for even more. More clothes. More families served. More communities reached. And more moments where children leave knowing they are valued and seen. Our hope is to continue expanding The Big Give for Kids, creating spaces where kids can begin the school year with confidence, dignity, and hope and where the love of a caring community is felt long after the shopping bags are full.
Regional
Dance the Night Away creates a welcoming space where 165 guests with special needs are celebrated at a free, prom-style event—an unforgettable evening centered on joy, dignity, and belonging.
Through our partnership with Ms. Pearl’s Good News Daycare, we help provide free childcare for single mothers who are pursuing education or employment. Because Ms. Pearl operates entirely through donations, every gift directly supports moms taking courageous steps toward stability and a better future for their families.
We also invest in the next generation by helping fund Little Galilee Christian Camp, opening the door for more students to experience God in a powerful, immersive environment where faith is strengthened and lives are changed.
Significant resources were invested to launch church services at Sheridan Correctional Center, bringing the hope of the Gospel to 70+ men each week in person and hundreds more through secure tablets.
A Celebration of Belonging
“The world isn’t made for people with special needs, but for one night, we change that. We create a space where they can have fun, dance, sing, and celebrate in a way that’s completely curated for them.”
-Patrick Erzinger, Outreach and Missions Pastor
Dance the Night Away is a free, prom-style celebration created to honor and celebrate individuals with special needs. This unforgettable evening welcomes guests into a joyful, inclusive space where they are the stars of the night.
From music and dancing to formal attire and photo-worthy moments, every detail is thoughtfully designed to create an atmosphere of dignity, belonging, and pure fun. Guests are cheered on by volunteers and caregivers, ensuring a safe, supportive environment where everyone can fully enjoy the experience.
More than just an event, Dance the Night Away is a reminder that everyone deserves to be seen, celebrated, and included. It’s a night filled with laughter, confidence, and connection, where joy takes center stage and memories are made that last long after the music fades.
Sheridan Correctional Facility
“I truly appreciate all that The Village Christian Church has been doing for Sheridan, blessing us with the services God has granted them to share with the world and with us here as well. I want to take the reins back in my life so I can learn to love myself more and be there for my son and my family.
I’ve been out of touch with reality for a long time, and I feel as though I ignored the moments when the Lord was trying to speak to me. His presence feels unfamiliar and uncertain to me now. I appreciate each and every one of you for the work you do, and I will be praying for the entire Village. Thank you!”
– Daniel, Inmate at the Sheridan Correctional Facility
Global
Each year we pack over 100,000 meals in partnership with Lifeline Christian Mission, delivering critical food relief to individuals and families facing starvation.
Funds raised through Christmas ornament sales helped support Heart for Africa, providing care and education through a school and orphanage in Eswatini, Africa.
Delivering Hope to the Hungry
We believe everybody serves and the annual meal pack event is the perfect was to help our hungry, global neighbors. Each year we coordinate an effort for volunteers to pack more than 100,000 meals each year in partnership with Lifeline Christian Mission, helping deliver critical food relief to individuals and families facing starvation around the world.
The annual effort brings together people of all ages to make a tangible difference, transforming a few hours of service into life-sustaining meals for communities in crisis. Through this ongoing partnership, thousands of families receive nourishment and hope in some of their most vulnerable moments.
What may seem like a simple act of packing meals becomes a global impact — proving that when a community comes together, it can help change the story for those in desperate need.
Heart for Africa
Reclaimed partners with Heart for Africa to provide self-sustainable homes for orphans and vulnerable children in eSwatini, Africa.
Since its founding in 2006, Heart for Africa has been committed to one bold mission: bringing lasting hope to vulnerable communities through sustainable solutions and compassionate care.
They tackle critical challenges such as hunger, abandoned children, poverty and limited access to education, offering practical and meaningful support.
