Help Needed for Migrants Arriving in Chicago

Update (1/17/23)

While new arrivals have temporarily slowed down, the ongoing crisis of thousands of people seeking refugee and asylum at our southern border means that the need for resources to welcome desperate individuals and families will be a continuing imperative.  There are still thousands of people living in shelters and hotels. The State has taken over the hotel day-to-day needs. ICIRR member orgs such as World Relief have been providing case management support.

Churches in every District contributed in-kind and cash donations. As just one example, DeKalb First UMC put out an appeal to church members in late September and within a month gathered hygiene items, first aid items, and clothes, with an estimated value over $2,000. The Church delivered these to World Relief Chicago. The DeKalb Church also designated its annual Christmas Offering during the month of December (over $6,000) for immigrant and asylee needs to The Resurrection Project’s Texas Immigrant Rapid Response Fund. 

Sara Aardema, World Relief’s Church Mobilization Director, sent a note recently:

I wanted to drop you a note to say thank you so much for connecting with us at World Relief the past few months to join us in welcoming asylum seekers to our community. We’ve had some great new connections with UMC churches thanks to your help in spreading the word about the needs over the past couple of months. We’re very excited that Glenview UMC is planning to welcome an asylum seeker family through our H.O.M.E. program in the new year! This is such a blessing to have a new church partner sponsor a family through this program.

It’s not too late for Individuals and NIC Churches to provide assistance for “welcoming the strangers in our midst.” Please help by donating in-kind items or cash donations to frontline organizations like World Relief, ICIRR, Casa Michoacan and The Resurrection Project. For more information see the side bar or contact Rev. Jonathan Crail, NIC Refugee Coordinator (jcrail@firstumc.net)

Update from World Relief (11/21/22)

World Relief is one of the agencies helping with case management support at a hotel near O’Hare. They are not currently mobilizing volunteer support or donations for people staying here, as this is all being coordinated through the site.

One way they are looking for help in the community is to find affordable housing leads by connecting with landlords willing to rent to these families and individuals who generally do not have a job or a credit history. Fortunately, there is now a short-term rental assistance program funded by the state that provides 3-6 months of housing so people can move out of the hotels. They are looking for landlord connections in the following areas: Humboldt Park, Little Village, Cicero, Berwyn, Midway area, and Blue Island. Anyone with any leads can email Sara Aardema from World Relief (saardema@wr.org).

Another way to consider providing more extended-term support for asylum seekers in our community is through World Relief’s Asylum Project. They provide legal services, case management, and housing support/community connections to asylum seekers who arrive in Chicago in many ways beyond the group of people who have come recently on the buses. A specific way churches can help a family is through the H.O.M.E. program, which invites churches to provide six months of housing assistance and form a volunteer team to connect with the family relationally. More information can be found here.

update (10/31/22)

Thousands of immigrants (I've heard close to 5000 now) have arrived in Chicago on buses from Texas over the past two months. Your donations are making a difference!

Some of you have asked for the best places to deliver goods.

According to Claudia Marchan from NIJFON,  Casa Michoacan at 1638 S Blue Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60608. M-F, 10-4,  (I heard they take a lunch break from 2-3 p.m.) is a good option because according to staff there the items are taken to the hotels where migrants are staying within 24 hours. They are still collecting coats, thermo shirts and pants, kid's coats, kid's shoes, men's shoes, and underwear for all.

If we collect cash donations, where should we send the money? See below for Financial donations.

update (10/12/22)

Last reports indicate that more than 1,500 migrants have arrived so far on buses to Chicago from Texas and more continue to arrive almost every day. It's projected as many as 10,000 migrants could arrive in the Chicago area by the end of the calendar year. So, there continues to be a significant need to provide a welcome for those arriving.

In collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies, the city of Chicago is taking action to ensure they have access to shelter, food, and other resources. 

Individuals and families are housed in temporary Chicago shelters and hotels in nearby suburbs.

NIC refugee coordinator Rev. Jonathan Crail says World Relief still needs hygiene kits, while the agency has begun to provide direct services to some of the families and individuals arriving on the buses. Click to learn more.

Update (9/20/22)

More than 750 asylum seekers from Central and South America have arrived on buses sent from Texas since Aug. 31, according to the city of Chicago. In collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies, the city of Chicago is taking action to ensure they have access to shelter, food, and other resources. 

The city expects to receive hundreds more migrants from Texas. Under the direction of Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard, the Lone Star state has also bused over 8,000 migrants to the nation's capital since April and over 2,200 migrants to New York City since August 5, according to the state's website.

Individuals and families are housed in temporary Chicago shelters and hotels in nearby suburbs.

Immediate donation needs include:

• Small size clothing (especially socks and underwear/sports bras)
• First Aid kits (Band-aids, Bandages, etc)
• Medications for adults and children (e.g. Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, etc)
• Personal Hygiene items (toiletries, feminine products, etc)
• Duffle Bags/Small Suitcases

For a more comprehensive list of needed items see these websites:

• City of Chicago - Chicago.gov/support
• World Relief Chicagoland - worldrelief.org/chicagoland/bus-response
• Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) - download flyer

NIC Collection sites by district

NIC Refugee Coordinator Rev. Jonathan Crail is organizing with churches across the conference in each district to serve as donation collection sites to be centralized locations to bring the items to the city.

Lake North:

• Galilee UMC, Highland Park
  1696 McGovern St, Highland Park, IL 60035
  Contact: Pastor Jake Cho
  pastor.jakecho@gmail.com
  617-678-5815
  Hours: By appointment only (Call Pastor Cho)
• Glenview United Methodist Church

  727 N. Harlem Ave., Glenview, IL 50025
  Contact: Ethel Doyle
  lareth@aol.com
  847-729-1015, 847-975-0361
  Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. or by appointment (Call Ethel Doyle)

Lake South:

• St. Andrew UMC, Homewood
  18850 Riegel Rd., Homewood, IL 60430
  Contact: Carolyn Funk
  shevokas@comcast.net
  708-957-1923
  Hours: Monday 10-1, Thursday 10-2, Friday 4-6
• First UMC in LaGrange
  100 W Cossitt Ave., La Grange, IL 60525
  Contact: Hattie Koher
  youth@fumclg.org
  847-682-7896
  Hours: Drop off box outside church office 9-4 pm (other times available by request)

Prairie North:

• Faith UMC, Freeport
  1440 S. Walnut Ave., Freeport, IL 61032
  Contact: Lisa Hunziker
  815-232-6533
  FaithUMC@faith-umc.com
  Hours: 9-1 M-F

Prairie Central:

• Aldersgate UMC, Wheaton
  1753 S Blanchard Street, Wheaton IL 60189
  Contact: Daniel Cochran
  Cell 401-864-2441
  Aldersgate.Wheaton@gmail.com
  Hours: By Appointment with Daniel

Prairie South:

• Sycamore UMC
  160 Johnson Ave., Sycamore, IL 60178
  Contact: Debbie Elleson
  815-895-9113
  Debbie@sycamoreumc.org
  Drop Off Hours: M-F, 10-2
• Sugar Grove UMC
  176 Main St., Sugar Grove IL 60554
  Contact: Rev. Tammy Scott
  630-254-4127
  revtammyscott@gmail.com
  Office open Mondays & Thursdays 8:30-Noon.
  Bin located near rear entrance for after hours donations!
• Channahon UMC
  24751 West Eames St, Channahon, IL 60410
  Contact: Lana Stafford
  lantwin@sbcglobal.net
  (815) 467-5275
  Drop Off Hours: T-F 9:00 to 1:00, Saturday by appt

Chicago Donation Drop-Off Locations

• Rincon Family Services - 3942 W. North Ave, Chicago; M-F, 10 am -4 pm
• World Relief Chicagoland - 3507 W Lawrence Ave. Chicago, IL 60625, M&W, 10 am - 3 pm
• World Relief Chicagoland - DuPage County, 191 S Gary Ave. Ste 130., Carol Stream, IL 60188, M-F, 8:30 am -5 pm
• City of Chicago Drop-Off Locations: chicago.gov/city/en/sites/texas-new-arrivals/home/donationlocations.html

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