Augustana Lutheran Church of Hyde Park

BY KYLE DUFF, PASTORAL INTERN

ANNUAL INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING SERVICE

The HPKIFC is hosting their annual Thanksgiving Day Interfaith celebration, the morning of Thanksgiving Day, Thursday November 24th at Rockefeller Chapel with the theme: Savoring Our Common Humanity. The council is currently looking for additional ushers from the various faith communities to support the in-person event. If you or other members of your family are interested, please contact Intern Kyle or Pr. Nancy to get you in contact with the coordinator through the Council. 

MINI GRANT OPPORTUNTITIES

The HPK Interfaith Council is currently offering small grants and also collaboration/partnership opportunities to individuals and organizations for initiatives serving the Kenwood, Hyde Park, Woodlawn, and greater South Side communities in the areas of housing, healthcare, hunger, anti-violence, youth, or education. If you or someone you know is currently involved or feeling called to start an initiative consider applying for a grant from the Interfaith Council to support your mission! More info can be found at: https://hpkinterfaith.org/mini-grants/

SUPPORT FOR RECENT MIGRANTS TO CHICAGO

The Parliament of the World’s Religions (PoWR) is committed to supporting our host city’s efforts to advance justice, freedom, and human rights. Since Wednesday, August 31st, the City of Chicago has welcomed hundreds of migrants bused from Texas to Chicago. And they invite residents, communities, and organizations in the PoWR network to learn how they can support migrants in crisis. The Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council moved at their October meeting to contribute $1,000 to support the migrants. Additional physical locations are also being requested at this time.

The City of Chicago is currently in urgent need of donations of the following items:

• New clothing for adults (including cold weather clothing)
• Men’s sizes small, medium, and large – in particular medium
• Women’s sizes small, medium, and large—in particular medium
• Men’s underwear
• Women’s underwear
• Women’s sports bras
• Long sleeve shirts (men, women, unisex)
• Sweatshirts/sweaters (men, women, unisex)
• Sweatpants (men, women, unisex)
• Pants (men and women)
• Socks (men, women, unisex)
• Shoes (closed toe gym shoes) (infants, boys, girls, men and women)
• Shoelaces
• Winter coats (men, women, children, infants)

The City has identified a number of aldermanic offices as drop-off locations and will continue to update it as more become available. Note food is not being accepted.

Donations can be dropped off at:
Ald. Sophia King, 4th Ward
435 E. 35th St. Chicago, IL 60616

More info can be found here: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/texas-new-arrivals/home.html

PARTICIPATE IN THE ANTI-VIOLENCE TASK FORCE OR MONTHLY INTERFAITH COUNCIL MEETINGS

The Anti-Violence Task Force of the Interfaith Council is still open to new representatives and volunteers to engage in their ongoing work. Please reach out to chair Rev. Veronica Johnson for more info at: vjohnson@hpuc.org. Meetings of the HPKIFC are always open to the public and we would also always welcome another representative from Augustana to serve on the council for the monthly meetings. Please let Pr. Nancy or Intern Kyle know if this interests you.