About the Ministry

Our Community Clothing Ministry provides a self-service free “store” for new or gently used, clean clothing, coats, shoes, boots and other essentials for men and women in need. Various community social workers/ trained professionals accompany our friends to the store where they can select the items they need. As with our food pantry that was recently converted to self-service, we feel that allowing people to make a choice in even the simplest of things like socks can provide them with a sense of dignity and self-respect especially during challenging times.

We are thrilled to be able to give back to our community not only with our food pantry but now the Community Clothing Ministry. We are a Church On The Move!!!

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How It Started

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, our giving congregation felt compelled to find more ways to help our community in addition to our long-standing food pantry. One Sunday, Elk Grove resident Moniczka Stajniak came to speak to us about her Friends on the Street organization. Her personal mission is to help “houseless” people in the northwest suburbs. As Moniczka says, all people have home in their hearts, but some people, unfortunately, do not have a building, so they are not homeless – they are just houseless.

Moniczka along with other service organizations that we have connected with help advocate for them and provide resources to keep them in their homes.

Our growing awareness that Moniczka had been storing all the clothing, food and supplies in her garage that was quickly becoming unmanageable, prompted us to think about what we could do. She inspired our congregation to move into action and a clothing store was created.  As we have grown, we have started working with multiple organizations, expanding our outreach to connect with more and more clients.

We knew we had a role to play in addressing this serious issue of houselessness, so Elk Grove Presbyterian Church said “Yes, we can help; We have plenty of space and willing volunteers” and thus, our Community Clothing Ministry was created!

Donations Needed`!

If you’d like to help our Friends on the Street, clean, gently used or new clothing can be donated at the donation box at Elk Grove Presbyterian Church.  We are currently accepting only Men’s size XL and XXL and Women’s L and XL items.  Monetary donations are also appreciated in order to purchase items such as thermal underwear and undergarments that must be new.