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October Service Challenge

- jOIN OUR October SERVICE CHALLENGE!
  
  Through October, our parish celebrates a month dedicated to service! We’re inviting everyone: individuals, families, classes, and small groups, to go out and take an actionable step in living out Jesus' command to love our neighbor.
  
  Join our challenge and help us reach our goal of 1,000 hours of service as a parish!
  How to participate:
  Choose an opportunity to serve. Here is a list of ideas for how children, teens, families, small groups, or individuals can serve in our community. See opportunities here.
  Go out and serve! Dedicate your time fully to the people and needs you’re serving. Remember, even a short period of focused service can make a big difference!
  Take a photo while serving. Capture a moment of your service to share the joy and impact of your work.
  Submit your hours on our website and upload your photo. This helps us celebrate your efforts, track the collective impact of our parish, and encourage others to get involved. Submit hours and photo here.
  Check out our social media! See your photo featured on our Facebook and Instagram, and inspire friends, family, and fellow parishioners to join in. Share your experience to spread hope and show how God works through acts of service.
find an opportunity to serve
- Jesus teaches us to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). Loving our neighbor means more than being kind - it means helping people who are hungry, lonely, sick, or in need, and standing up for fairness and justice.
  
  The Catholic Church calls these teachings the Catholic Social Teachings. They are simply a guide to living our faith in the real world, helping us see how Jesus’ words can shape our actions every day. By serving others, we follow Jesus’ example and put love into action.
  
  Below are opportunities to serve in our parish and community. Every act, big or small, is a way to love your neighbor and make a difference! Click on the dropdown sections below to find a service opportunity for you this October!
- Children
  Collect non-perishable food items to donate to local food pantries or shelters, such as Libertyville Township Pantry. Learn more here!
  
  Organize a winter clothing drive (coats, gloves, hats, scarves) for people in need.
  
  Assemble hygiene kits (toothbrush, soap, shampoo, etc.) for shelters or outreach programs.
  
  Pick up litter in your neighborhood or local park.
  
  Create birdhouses or feeders to help local wildlife.
  
  Help with chores, meal prep, or organizing at home.
  
  Read to younger siblings or help them with schoolwork.
  
  Sort toys, clothes, or books to donate to those in need.
  
  Cook or bake extra meals to share with neighbors, an elderly person, or someone in need.
  
  Offer to rake leaves or pull up dead plants in a garden.
  
  Make flannel blankets for the St. Joe's Bed Ministry families.
  
  Pray for the sick, elderly, or those struggling; send them a note saying you’re praying for them.
- Families
  service opportunities for families
  
  Take a tag from the walls in the Church (Available starting September 26-27) and donate needed maternity and baby items to Aid For Women. Bring your gifts to the Narthex October 10–11, before and after all Masses.
  
  Get involved in the St. Joseph Christmas Joy Jamboree! Be part of the magic this holiday season by helping plan and prepare for our December 13th celebration, which will feature a Christmas pageant, fun family activities and games, and so much more. Planning is already underway, and we would love your help to make this event unforgettable. The kickoff meeting will be on October 28. Please contact Liz at [email protected] if you are interested!
  
  Provide a meal or groceries to Lake County Haven, a local women's shelter. Learn more here!
  
  Cook or bake extra meals to share with neighbors, an elderly person, or someone in need. Learn more here!
  
  Pack meals for children in need at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville. Learn more here!
  
  Collect food donations and deliver them to the St. Joe's Food Pantry. See our Facebook page for a list of our top items needed each week. Learn more!
  
  Call or video chat with someone who may be lonely or isolated.
  
  Join a Libertyville Township Open Space volunteer workday to help care for local prairies and natural areas. The October 10 workday will be at Oak Openings from 9 AM–noon. Learn more here!
  
  Prepare meals for those in need at Holy Family Soup Kitchen. Sign up here!
- Teens
  service opportunities for teens
  
  Join the St. Joe's Youth Group for their Service Day on October 11th! Sign up here!
  
  Sort food, stock shelves, and serve our neighbors in need at the St. Joseph Food Pantry. Learn more here!
  
  Serve meals to neighbors in need through Catholic Charities. Sign up here!
  
  Sort food items for neighbors in need at the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Sign up here!
  
  Pack meals for children in need at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville. Learn more here!
  
  Volunteer at the St. Joe's Fall Fest on Friday, October 30th. We will need help with set-up, clean-up, and other tasks during the event. Please contact Liz at [email protected] if you are interested!
  
  Provide a meal or groceries to Lake County Haven, a local women's shelter. Learn more here!
  
  Sort, package, and distribute new diapers to moms and families in diaper need on Wednesday mornings with Catholic Charities (with an adult). Learn more here!
  
  Assemble hygiene kits (toothbrush, soap, shampoo, etc.) for shelters or outreach programs.
  
  Pick up litter in your neighborhood or local park.
  
  Cook or bake extra meals to share with neighbors, an elderly person, or someone in need.
  
  Offer to rake leaves or pull up dead plants in a garden.
  
  Make flannel blankets for the St. Joe's Bed Ministry families.
  
  Make cards or treats for people living in local nursing homes. They LOVE this! :)
  
  Volunteer at Cook Memorial Library - middle-school students can participate in library volunteer activities. Learn more here!
- Adult Individuals
  service opportunities for adult individuals
  
  Make lunches for those experiencing homelessness at the Chicago Franciscan Outreach shelter. Join us every first and third Wednesday at 10 AM in the St. Joseph Formation Center. Sign up here!
  
  Take a tag from the walls in the Church (Available starting September 26-27) and donate needed maternity and baby items to Aid For Women. Bring your gifts to the Narthex October 10–11, before and after all Masses.
  
  Consider helping out with our Children's Faith Formation program on Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, or Tuesday evenings. We are looking for people to help supervise and support our students and catechists. Please contact Jasmine at [email protected] for more information.
  
  Lead the rosary at Thrive Nursing Home on Thursday mornings. Contact [email protected] for more information.
  
  Provide a meal or groceries to Lake County Haven, a local women's shelter. Learn more here!
  
  Sort food, stock shelves, and serve our neighbors in need at the St. Joseph Food Pantry. Learn more!
  
  Build beds for children in need with the St. Joseph Bed Ministry on Tuesdays at 6 PM. Contact Dan at [email protected] if you are interested in learning more.
  
  Serve meals to neighbors in need through Catholic Charities. Sign up here!
  
  Sort food items for neighbors in need at the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Sign up here!
  
  Participate in the Respect Life Sunday National Life Chain to pray for the Sanctity of Human Life on Sunday, October 4, at 12:30 PM outside the St. Joe's Formation Center. Contact Ginny at [email protected] for more information.
  
  Volunteer to help set up or clean up after parish events (festivals, fundraisers, socials). Contact Liz at [email protected] if you are interested in this.
- Small Groups
  service opportunities for small groups
  
  Provide a meal or groceries to Lake County Haven, a local women's shelter. Learn more here!
  
  Sort food, stock shelves, and serve our neighbors in need at the St. Joseph Food Pantry. Learn more!
  
  Build beds for children in need with the St. Joseph Bed Ministry on Tuesdays at 6 PM. Contact Dan at beds@stjoseph-libertyville.org if you are interested in learning more.
  
  Help welcome people as they come to Mass with our Welcome Ministry! Contact Kelly at [email protected].
  
  Serve meals to neighbors in need through Catholic Charities. Sign up here!
  
  Sort food items for neighbors in need at the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Sign up here!
  
  Assemble hygiene kits (toothbrush, soap, shampoo, etc.) for shelters or outreach programs.
  
  Pack meals for children in need at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville. Learn more here!
  
  Join a Libertyville Township Open Space volunteer workday to help care for local prairies and natural areas. The October 10 workday will be at Oak Openings from 9 AM–noon. Learn more here!
  
  Prepare meals for those in need at Holy Family Soup Kitchen. Sign up here!
- Pop-up service opportunities at st. joe's food pantry
  
  Not sure where to start? Try volunteering at the St. Joe’s Food Pantry! These opportunities are open to adults 18+ who aren’t currently involved with the Food Pantry but would like to give it a try during our October Month of Service Challenge.
  
  Opportunities are available for adults (18+) on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings at the food pantry, 200 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Libertyville.
  
  Sign up here!
- did you serve? let us know!
  
  Thank you for taking part in the challenge! Now that you’ve completed your service, please submit your time and a photo of your experience. Your stories inspire others and help us celebrate the impact we’re making together!
  
  Upload Time & Photo
- We’re glad you’re following Jesus with us!
  
  Inspired and ready for more? Explore ways to grow in faith & serve in our parish community.
  
  Get Involved!