WHO is Open Arms Mission?  Community volunteers + community donations = meeting the needs of neighbors experiencing challenges.  This is our formula for serving neighbors in need residing in Antioch and Lake Villa Townships since opening our doors in 2000. Our philosophy is “neighbor helping neighbor” with the focus to assist weekly with needed food, milk, meat and some daily living necessities. We are a 501(c)(3) with a five-member Board of Directors. Our volunteers and donations come from individuals, churches, businesses, clubs, organizations, schools, corporations and community service groups.

WHO is eligible?  With the compassionate volunteering of our many community members, we serve an average of 275 families, individuals each week. Anyone who expresses a need is eligible, we turn no one away who needs food (if they are out of our area, we give them food and then refer them to their local food pantry). Our clients include fixed income (Seniors on S.S. – disability – death benefits – individuals living on Pensions, etc), low-income (may work part time – earning minimum wage and supporting a family, etc), no-income (individuals and families who have lost jobs – ill and unable to work – single Moms raising children , etc) and some who are suffering with or being rehabilitated from drug or alcohol use and unable to secure, hold a job. The Mission is not about the client’s reason; our focus is to make certain that no one goes hungry in our community. Some families might utilize more than one pantry in their area – such as a Township Emergency Pantry (this is a monthly service), their Church or a Lake County Food Pantry.

Is this enough? Food is a start. Each week when a client comes to the Mission they spend some time with an Intake Volunteer who is there to listen and learn about their individual needs. We listen to find if there might be a community professional or another agency we can refer a family to for additional assistance. We have partnered with local professionals to ensure clients who do not have insurance can get much needed family counseling. We are one of six food pantries in Illinois that can assist clients in applying for Express Food Stamps. We have a small budget to help with emergency situations (prescriptions, utilities, rent, gas, etc.). We utilize all other Lake County Agencies in any way that we are able. And sometimes we are there just to listen and let clients know that another person cares!

WHAT do our clients receive?  Keep in mind, Open Arms Mission supplements client weekly food, we do not meet all of their food needs.  Here are some examples:

A family of 4 receives 2 cans of soup, 1 can of fruit, 1 bag or box of pasta, 1 jar of pasta sauce, 1 box of cereal,  2 boxes of a prepared meal, 1 mac & cheese, 1 jar of peanut butter & jelly, meat (average 1 to 3 lbs), gallon of fresh milk and bread. Through Emergency Food Program each family receives 1 can of beef stew, peaches, and sometimes juice, peanut butter. 

For a family of 8 we would double the pasta and pasta sauce, cereal,  mac & cheese and meat. If we have it in stock, each family receives snacks, laundry detergent, toilet paper, bar soap, deodorant, shampoo, tooth paste and tooth brushes.

Our delivery clients will receive the same items minus the meat and milk (we do not have refrigerated delivery). 

For our Seniors we deliver non perishables and some fresh produce and they shop for free.

Students receive a back pack with eight kid friendly meals such as cereal, pop top cans of mac & cheese, and snacks to carry them from Friday night through Monday morning.

The items we provide at no cost could be supplementing Food Stamps (Food Stamps are for food only, no other daily living necessities such as toilet paper, cleaning items, etc) or it could help reduce the cost of groceries allowing a family, individual to purchase gas, pay utilities, purchase medication, etc.

WHERE?  We are located in Antioch, 1548 S Main St. (Rt 83) just South of A-Z Rental.

WHEN?  Most clients come to the Mission Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday afternoons between the hours of 4:30 and 6:15. We have four teams that deliver to the homebound each Thursday. We have an individual who delivers weekly to Seniors who reside in a subsidized apartment building. We have a School Social Worker who comes each week to pick up 40 (pre-packed by volunteers) backpacks filled with eight weekend meals and snacks for at-risk children. We have volunteers who help with Special Programs.

HOW can you help?  Most important, keep our clients, volunteers and donors in prayer. We are blessed with great volunteers and donations and will continue by the Grace of God. Next, if you need food assistance, come on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. If you want to volunteer email us or call and ask for Tabatha who can answer your questions. If you want to donate you can mail in a donation to P. O. Box 79, Antioch, IL 60002 or make an online donation. Cash donations are very important: we purchase in volume, allowing us to purchase an average of 9 lbs of food for a $1.00. Any questions, feel free to email me directly. Remember, we are all volunteers and do our best to be there for our neighbors and your questions.

Here to Serve,

Marytherese Ambacher

OAM Executive Director

Hunger is a today issue that isn’t going to go away tomorrow.
 

11th Annual Nostalgia Auto Show

All raffle proceeds and donations will benefit Open Arms Mission Food Pantry

June 14, 2009

9 am-3 pm

(More Info)

Click here to read our brochure

Click here to read the Winter Newsletter

NEW  Click here to view a Power Point presentation about Open Arms Mission