Pastor Al Fund

The Pastor Al Fund is used at the discretion of the Cornerstone pastors to meet a need for a family or individual in a financial crisis. Some uses have been for rent, medical/dental needs, utility bills, car repairs, gasoline and groceries. Recipients have been quoted to say this one-time donation came at a time that literally saved their lives. This fund helps Cornerstone be the hands and feet of Christ to those in a crisis situation.

A favorite tradition of the church is the Palm Sunday Bake Sale, all proceeds going to the Pastor Al Fund. You can serve by baking or by buying special spring treats!

Led by Kay Lincicome

Soup Kettle

The Elgin Soup Kettle offers breakfast six days a week and dinner every night at different local churches. These free home-cooked meals are available to anyone in need.

Cornerstone hosts the Soup Kettle at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on the first Friday of every month. (Holy Trinity Lutheran Church is located at 357 Division Street, Elgin, IL 60120.) Host responsibilities include setting up, cooking, greeting guests, serving food, and cleaning up. Volunteers can work either a full-shift (4 p.m.-7 p.m.) or partial-shift (just to help cook, for example), and can choose to stay in the kitchen behind the scenes if COVID makes interacting with folks uncomfortable. Everyone is required to wear a mask while in the building.

For more information, visit Elgin Co-op Ministries.

Sign up to volunteer by emailing Pastor Melissa at seniorpastor@umc-cornerstone.org.

Led by Pastor Melissa

Fox River Valley Initiative (FRVI)

FRVI is a broad-based organization of religious and civic institutions organized across Kane County Illinois. Primarily funded by member institution dues, FRVI does not accept public money. Fiercely non-partisan, FRVI leaders work with all public officials and key community leaders of good will to address social issues impacting the families and communities within its institutions and local geographic area. FRVI is currently working on issues of criminal justice reform, affordable/supportive housings, the Opioid Crisis, Gun Safety measures and more.

For more information, visit FRVI.

Led by Bill Werst

Food for Greater Elgin (FFGE)

Founded in 2011, FFGE is the second largest food pantry in Kane County. Its goal is to combat food insecurity in the most effective and supportive ways possible. FFGE is a client-choice pantry, where folks have the opportunity to choose what their family will eat, including fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, and fresh milk. By working with Northern Illinois Food Bank, for every dollar given, FFGE can provide $8 worth of food to our brothers and sisters who are food-insecure.

Volunteers are needed to serve during the shopping opportunities, too, which happen four times during the week, both daytime and evening hours.

For more information, visit FFGE.

Led by Linda Lowery

Spirit Lake Ministry, North Dakota

The Spirit Lake Ministry is a Mission in support to the peoples of the Spirit Lake Nation. We at Cornerstone have been in partnership with Epworth UMC to build Christmas Shoeboxes that get filled with small toys and gift items and shipped to the Ministry Center to bring joy to Native American children and their parents alike!

We collect empty shoe and boot boxes and content gift items all year long. For a shopping list, see the big red bin in the collection center by the entrance doors.

For more information, visit Spirit Lake Ministry.

Led by Michelle Hayes

Pickleball Court

As part of Cornerstone’s community outreach, a pickleball court is available at the church for any community members interested in playing.

Regulation pickleball court lines are painted near the back of the church parking lot. The court is available for free on a first-come, first-served basis (no reservations). The court is lit in the evening until 9 p.m.

Please note: People playing pickleball play at their own risk. Players need to provide their own pickleball equipment including net, paddles, and balls.