Sometimes, a casual conversation can plant the seed for a surprising new relationship, not just between individuals but between communities. That situation recently arose between the North Suburban YMCA in Northbrook and a community service-minded church in Mundelein, when a chance inquiry from a church parishioner led to a useful donation from the Y and a new friendship between the organizations.
The Christian Faith Fellowship Church’s House of Restoration operates a food and clothing pantry out of its facility at 510 North Lake Street in Mundelein. Approximately 50 people a week rely on the church’s pantry to supply them with basic needs. However, the church desperately needed a large vehicle to transport food donations from local Costco stores. They also hoped to expand the church’s community outreach, especially their programs to keep young people out of gangs.
Ron Bernardi of Sunset Foods, a longtime NSYMCA board member, learned from an acquaintance, church elder Juan Carlos Rodriguez, that the church wanted to purchase an inexpensive used van. Bernardi then contacted the Y, which was planning to replace an extra-large Ford Econoline used to shuttle students to afterschool programs. The Y’s leadership decided to donate the van outright, enabling the Church to greatly improve its service to the community.
“This van will serve so many purposes for us,” noted Pastor Anthony Jarencio. “In addition to making it possible to transport larger food donations, we will be able to provide door-to-door transportation for young people to our programs. This will be a great help in our efforts to keep our youth out of gangs and off the street.”
Howard Schultz, Executive Director/CEO of the Y, commended the Church for its sense of mission. “This church has worked so hard to support its community, and we’re happy that our donation will enable them to reach more people. We’ve learned from experience that good partnerships between organizations make all of us stronger.”
Pastor Jarencio looks forward to a mutually helpful relationship with the YMCA, starting with a donation of baked goods for an upcoming Y event. “We know that the Y is committed to helping youth in the community and we hope there will be ways we can support each other in the future. It was a blessing that this situation brought us together.”
About the North Suburban YMCA:
The North Suburban YMCA is a not-for-profit entity and relies on donations to fund capital improvements and transform the facility. All board members are community volunteers, who donate their time, talents and financial resources. Located at 2705 Techny Road in Northbrook, the YMCA has served area families in its twelve-city region for over 40 years. The Y is about youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, providing programs and services that meet the needs of our community and are accessible to all. For more information or to make a donation, call Barb Flanagin at 847-272-7250, bflanagin@nsymca.org, or visit www.nsymca.org
