November 1-7
Please bring in a pair of denim jeans or gently used coat for female Adults to Enzee Boutique and receive 20% off your purchased item.
Location: 140 N. York Road, Elmhurst, IL
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday 10am-6pm; Wednesday & Thursday 10am-8pm; Saturday 10 am-5pm; Sunday 12-5pm
Month long drive in November
Bring in an adult sized gently used OR new winter coat (especially XL, XXL and up) and receive a 10% discount.
Location: 909 S. Lombard Ave, Oak Park, IL
Hours: Monday – Friday 10am – 6pm; Saturday 11am – 5pm
The Entire Month of NOVEMBERReceive a 10% discount on all regular priced products when you bring in an ADULT pair of gently-used or new shoes.
Run Chicago, 7512 W. Madison Street, Forest Park, IL
What a blessing it is to serve as a volunteer at The Closet (Emergency Clothes Closet at Calvary). I am physically challenged by osteoarthritis, but I am continuously energized by the energy displayed by the intergenerational volunteers each Saturday. In other words, the energy of the young and the not so young is contagious. The commitments, patience, caring and understanding nature of the volunteers are awesome. I am sure that it makes our Father proud. I work in the closet downstairs filling client orders that the shoppers bring down. The shoppers are eager to please the clients, sometimes making multiple trips to the closet seeking a client’s choices of color and style with nary a frown or complaint.
I am grateful for the godly administrators of this great project and for the shift captains, volunteers, computer people, and childcare providers who work so diligently to serve others. I feel privileged to work along side them. “For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” — 2 Corinthians 9:12 RSV.
THIS Thursday – October 28th
The Gap in Oak Park will be doing a drive to benefit the Emergency Clothes Closet. If you bring in an item of adult only clothing (jeans, sweatshirts / hoodies, winter coat, etc.) you will receive 25% off your purchase. This excludes sale merchandise and 1969 Adult Jeans. Certain other restrictions do apply and we ask that the customer see an associate for more details.
If you were looking for an excuse to shop, well now you have one! So, what do you need and what could you donate?
COATS FOR $16Just a quick news flash that today, Saturday, October 9, OLD NAVY is having a SALE on their WINTER COATS. Regularly priced at $49.50, they can be purchased today for $16! We suggest that you consider picking up a few and donating them to The Closet! We will have a great need for winter coats as we open next weekend!
Everyone has needs. The basics of food, shelter, and clothing are physical necessities for life. But there are other realms in each person’s life that yearn for hope, desire mercy, and crave love. So when Calvary started an outreach attempting to impact the community and the needs of its people, I was interested in being a part of it.
The Emergency Clothes Closet was a borrowed idea given new birth at Calvary. I was amazed to see people of all ages come together to get this venture up and running. After space had been carved out and systems were in place things could finally begin.
Initially, I helped sort clothes and stock the shelves for the coming months. I loved the opportunity to work along side others in the church at a task that seemed to really matter.
Later, when the doors of the closet opened I was able to be a personal shopper. Who would have known that 3 hours could go so fast? Thankfully, wearing comfortable shoes, I would trot between the client and the closet looking for the best items I could.
I marveled at the light heartedness, yet depth of the task before us. We were giving clothing, but ultimately we were giving Christ. I know that sounds funny, but any time we were able to show kindness, demonstrate mercy, listen intently, pray fervently, and love our neighbor…we were giving Christ. I once heard someone say, there is nothing I would rather do then help someone. What greater task could we be involved in? I can’t think of any.
On Saturday, April 3, 2010 I had the opportunity to share a life changing experience with my daughter while volunteering at The Closet.
It first began when I arrived at the Church at 9:00 a.m. and realized I didn’t have my reading glasses. I live close to the Church so I immediately returned home to retrieve them. My daughter initially signed up to volunteer on Saturday’s but due to the typical teenager’s sports schedule, homework load, etc. she was never able to volunteer. This particular Saturday when I returned home she asked with enthusiasm if she could return to the church with me to volunteer at The Closet. I thought to myself “this is strange” but didn’t entertain the thought any further.
We served several clients that morning, all of whom were grateful and appreciative. Around mid-morning we served a couple that seemed to be a little nervous and shy. As we shopped for them throughout the morning, they became a bit more relaxed and talkative. I was then informed by one of the Shift Captain’s that they were homeless.
The young lady was very hesitant about trying on her new shoes and began to apologize for the odor coming from her current shoes. I told her it was not a problem and we were happy to help. All the while, my daughter was graciously smiling as she assisted her in trying on clothes. You should have seen the look on her face when my daughter retrieved several pair of socks to go with her new gym shoes. The young woman smiled and said she couldn’t believe how they had been treated. Everyone from the greeter to the technical team made them feel welcome. She began to open up and shared with us that they were homeless. She gave examples of how they are treated at some of the places where they seek shelter or food and some of the volunteers are not kind to them at all.
It was then that I realized my prayers were being answered because I pray that our clients will see Christ in us as we serve them.
As they began to slowly pack their belongings I felt the urging from inside to ask if they were hungry ~ something I’ve never felt led to ask a client. The young woman replied that they hadn’t eaten anything all day. To be honest, I was trying to finish up with them so I could get home and enjoy lunch with my daughter (not to mention we had already gulped down a nice breakfast). Besides, we HAD to get done volunteering so we could make our weekly trip to the mall.
I felt convicted saying “ok – see you later, hope you find some food somewhere”. I thought about the verse in the Bible where it say’s – When I was hungry you fed me and just allowed the Holy Spirit to guide me from there.
I asked if they would like to meet us at Subway for lunch and they agreed. I didn’t have a purse so we came home to get some money and then head to Subway. When we got home, I realized the young woman asked for some foot powder and deodorant which we didn’t have at the Church. We gathered a bag of personal items for her and you would have thought it was Christmas when she opened the bag.
As we were walking to Subway, I thought to myself how nice it would be if they could be seated and served a full course meal at a restaurant with soup, salad, etc. When we got to Subway, the Lord had an unexpected task for us. They had so many bags of belongings, they needed help carrying them. I have never imagined myself walking down Lake Street literally with a homeless person NOT TO MENTION carrying their bags. It was the best experience ever!! We were laughing and talking like we were old friends.
We went to the restaurant and shared a booth with the homeless couple. They shared their experience from being employed to being homeless and asked my daughter about school, sports, college plans and it was the best experience I’ve ever encountered!
After a two hour lunch we then went to Subway so they could have a sandwich for dinner.
My daughter was able to witness all of this and be a blessing to them as well, all because I simply left my glasses at home. I don’t think any of this was a coincidence.
To God be the Glory !
Elmhurst, IL—Luisa Castellanos, York Community High School honor student, is nationally renowned for her funky and unique niche of indie fiber plush toys has exhibited at galleries in Seattle, San Francisco, Boston and New York. Castellanos is the youngest exhibitor at Elmhurst Art Museum’s 14th Annual Art in the Park: A Juried Show of Fine Art, Craft, and Design presented by Suburban Bank & Trust on May 1 & 2 from 10:00am-5:00pm. Luisa’s new line of plush toys “Pock-it Palz” are featured at the new Chicago based Whole Foods among other Whole Foods in the Chicagoland area. Nothing slows this 16 year old down…. Her newest project is the mural design art work of her plush toys on the walls of the new Brain Freeze Ice Cream store in Elmhurst at 110. W. Park. Her line of “Pock-it Palz” will also be sold there. Check out Luisa and all her “Pock-it Palz” friends at Art in the Park. She will have a raffle for her 3 foot plush toy and the proceeds will go to the Emergency Clothes Closet.
For further information, please visit Elmhurst Art in the Park or contact RGL Marketing for the Arts,
Enzee Boutique in Elmhurst is having a denim drive for the ECC from April 7-15. Each pair of jeans that you donate, you will receive 20% off an item in the store. She will host a reception on April 15th from 6-8pm. Please spread the word to your friends and family.
Enzee Boutique is located at 140 N. York Rd. in downtown Elmhurst. http://enzeeboutique.com