Mundelein Church expands charity work

Ron Kempka says he loves that people donate food and clothes to the needy during the holidays.

As noble as that is, the computer programmer from Crystal Lake says it doesn't go far enough.

With that in mind, Kempka, 43, is leading an effort for a weekly food and clothing distribution that will run throughout the year.

A member of The Chapel's campus in Mundelein, Kempka and more than 100 volunteers are opening the "People to People" ministry in an old wood frame building in that village. The center will be open Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon.

Kempka felt the ministry was a natural expression of his Christian faith.

"This is rooted in having compassion for the needy," Kempka said. "It is a way to show the love of Christ. That's the root of it."

In addition to food and clothes, volunteers from the church will offer home repair work and after-school tutoring for students. The hundreds of giveaway items have been donated by church members.

The distribution center is located in a wood frame building just west of the former Little Big Horn lounge on Route 176 near the intersection at Route 83.

Chapel Pastor Rick Smith said needy families are being identified through social workers from Diamond Lake Elementary District 76, police departments and other agencies.

Smith said church members also hope to develop relationships with the families that come for help in addition to handing out items.

"We want to get to know these folks and form friendships," Smith said.

Today's event is a type dry-run before the center opens in the first week of June. At that point, the center will supply free food and clothing on Sundays and Wednesdays.

The donations are not limited to Mundelein residents, but open to all. Church leaders say people interested in receiving the help need to contact the office at (847) 201-2777 ahead of their visit.

Nearly 5,000 people attend the nondenominational Chapel in five locations. The church in Mundelein became part of the group in 2006. The network includes the main church in Grayslake along with churches in Barrington, Libertyville and the Lake County jail.

Smith said Christians need to be concerned more about people than rituals. The distribution center is one way of showing that concern.

"We want to make the church a relevant part of the community," Smith said. "We believe meeting people where they are, showing that we care about the details of their lives."