St. Sabina Annual Christmas Feast for the Homeless and Elderly
Experiencing the Christmas Eve service with the Faith Community of St. Sabina is a night not soon forgotten. Christmas carols begin fifteen minutes before the 10pm mass, which starts with a pre-service pageant and light show. And if youâre wondering why the midnight mass begins at 10pm, well, youâve never been to a St. Sabina service. This spectacular and festive gathering breathes new meaning into what so many believe to be the holiest night of the year.
But the real spirit of Christmas at St. Sabina can be found on the afternoon of Christmas Day, at the annual Christmas Feast for the homeless and elderly in Bethune Hall at St. Sabina Academy. From noon to 2pm, home-cooked Christmas meals are served free of charge, with transportation provided to and from some shelters. Cash and food donations are being accepted now to make this yearâs feast possible, and the church is also looking for people to help with decorating and cleaning up. Contact the church office if youâd like to help or be helped: (773) 483-4300. (Nicole Bond)
St. Sabina Academyâs Bethune Hall, 7801 S. Throop St. Wednesday, December 25, noonâ2pm. (773) 483-4300.
Mind + Hand
Mind + Hand is a nonprofit technological career-training center in West Elsdon, named by the Weekly as one of our âBest of the South Sideâ winners in 2018. They recently hosted a coding bootcamp teaching students to code in Swift, a coding language used for iOS apps, and have announced upcoming apprenticeship programs in digital marketing, data analytics and UX design. But Mind + Hand isnât limited to technical skills; theyâve also hosted workshops on topics like LinkedIn, career interviews, and college applications, helping people land the opportunities that Mind + Hand has helped them become qualified for. They also provide an open, free space for community members to hold meetings, get work done, and work on crafts and projects in their âmakerspace.â They accept donations, but theyâre also looking for support through in-kind contributions and volunteers. If you have some old craft materials or computers lying around, consider dropping them off with Mind + Handâget a head start on your spring cleaning while supporting a good cause. And if youâre interested in lending your expertise, theyâre always looking for professionals who are willing to share their skills with the community. (Sam Joyce)
Mind + Hand, 5400 S. Pulaski Ave., 2nd floor. MondayâFriday, 9amâ8pm. mindhand.org
Roseland Christian Ministries
The lights of Michigan Avenue (and the many excellent stores weâve recommended in our gift guide) offer a variety of opportunities for holiday shopping, but if youâre looking to get your shopping done while also giving back to the community, donât miss the Roseland Christian Ministries Thrift Store. For twenty years, RCM Thrift has offered clothes, furniture, housewares, board games, books, accessories and moreâsomething for everyone on your list. An excellent selection is paired with excellent prices; most clothes are just one to three dollars. The store is staffed by volunteers, so every dollar goes to supporting Roseland Christian Ministriesâ programs: a food pantry, a free lunch program, and a shelter for women and children. (Sam Joyce)
Roseland Christian Ministries Thrift Store, 33 E. 111th Pl. (773) 468-0262. ThursdayâSaturday, 10amâ4:30pm. roselandchristianministries.org
Deborahâs Place
Located in Garfield Park, Deborahâs Place provides housing, wrap-around services like job preparation training, and a caring environment for women experiencing homelessness. The organization was founded more than thirty years by a group of volunteer women, but people of all genders are welcome to help out at Deborahâs Place. Volunteers can assist residents and visitors by serving meals, landscaping and cleaning spaces, facilitating games like bingo, and sorting physical donations to the organization. To start volunteering, simply fill out their Volunteer Sign-up form or contact the External Relations Manager at (773) 638-6538. You can also make a holiday donation of linens, cleaning supplies, or non-perishable foods by dropping your items off at 2822 W. Jackson Blvd. between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Friday. (Lucia Geng)Â
Deborahâs Place, 2822 W. Jackson Blvd. (773) 772-5080. deborahsplace.org