Wayside Ministries needs your help with annual campaign

Submitted by Wayside Cross Ministries

Wayside Cross Ministries recently began its annual campaign. Wayside Cross, founded in 1928, has an annual campaign fundraiser every year. It is the single biggest event dedicated to support the organization. Donors are asked to complete their donations by the end of November.

James Lukose, executive director of WCM, stated, “We rely on the annual campaign for one-third of our total funding each year and we have over 135 volunteers working on the campaign this year, for which we are very grateful.”

Some of the workers are second and third generation volunteers, and there are volunteers who have worked on the campaign for 30, 40 or even 50 years.

At this year’s kickoff event, Wayside Cross Ministries honored Bob Dahlstrom of Batavia, a volunteer for more than 30 years who has raised many thousands of dollars for the ministry.

Wayside’s six ministries are:

Ÿ Master’s Touch, a Bible-based, Christ-centered residential program for men who have lost control of their lives due to addiction or other destructive behavior.

Ÿ Lifespring, a residential program for women and women with children who want to recover from addiction, abuse or financial distress.

Ÿ New Life Corrections, a ministry that reaches out to youth and adult offenders with the transforming power of the gospel through a network of volunteers.

Ÿ Elgin Wayside Center, a program where the church, individuals and businesses can connect with the homeless who come for food, clothing and laundry, and receive much more.

Ÿ Urban Youth Ministry, a Christian ministry that provides activities for Aurora’s at-risk youth between the ages of 6 and 18.

Ÿ Hope Outreach, an integral part of Wayside’s daily ministry that teaches residents moral integrity, accountability, and a sense of purpose in work through duties in the WCM warehouse, in maintenance, in the kitchen and the WCM resale store, 34 N. Lincoln Ave., Aurora.

Individuals may donate online at www.waysidecross.org or by calling (630) 723-3427. Ask for Birnie Harper, annual campaign coordinator.