AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS
Serving the Unborn
byJaniceGerzevske,LWMLNIDPresident
ServinghasbeentheNorthernIllinoisDistrictthemefor2019—Nu-
merousexamplesofservinghavebeendisplayedatourLentenInspi-
raPonandwillbepartoftheFallGatheringatHolyCrossinCaryon
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LWML NID
A COMMUNICATION FOR WOMEN OF THE
NORTHERN ILLINOIS DISTRICT OF LUTHERAN
WOMEN IN MISSION
CONTENTS Presidents’s msg p 1 - 2 Pastor Howell p 2 Convention News p 3 - 7 Grant Info and Updates p 8 - 9 Locations WANTED p 10 Calendar & Announcements pg 11
www.LWMLNID.org
NID-Bits
See more on Young Women Retreat page 4
Featured Grant:
Voice of Care AdultandYouthtrainingprogramsforthosewhoare“differently-abled.”
SeeStorypage6.
AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS
September28,2019.
Oneofthewaysto
serveothersisto
servethosewho
havenotyetbeen
bornorarenew-
borns.StJohn,
Wheatonsupports
CaringNetwork
whichisthefirst
stepforwomenfac-
inganunplanned
pregnancy.They
welcomewomen
withuncondiPonal
love,counsel,andresourcesthatofferthelightoftruth—
changingheartsandsavinglives.OverPmetheirteamhas
honeditsskills,sothattheybringtheverybesttoolsinto
thecrisisofanunplannedpregnancy—thelatestinultra-
soundtechnologyandcounselorsskilledinintervenPon,
addressingthecomplexissuesthatcompelamotherto
seekaborPonasheranswer.Inalmostfourdecades,Car-
ingNetworkhasbeenusedbyGodtosavemanythou-
sandsoflives!
Toassistthosewhohavemadethechoicetohavetheir
baby,theLWMLgroupheldababyshowerforCaringNet-
work.Thosewhocouldnota_endtheeventduetoa
scheduleconflict,broughtgiastothechurchbeforetheshower.The
eveningoffellowshipandeducaPonwasenjoyedbynearly50ladies.
Followingtheevent,itwasesPmatedthatapproximately$1800
worthofitemsweregiven.IfyourLWMLhasheldaneventtoserve
theleastofthese,pleaseshareyourstoryandpictureswiththeladies
ofourdistrictinfutureissuesoftheNID-Bits.Picturesandshortde-
scripPonscanbesenttoTeenaDorn,vpcommunicaPons@LWML-
NID.orgbeforetheOctober19,2019Nid-Bitsdeadline.Pleasebesure
tosendyourchurchandZonenumber.
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AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS
Christ Cares! Ma_hew25:40
Ihadthewonderfulopportunitytomeetwithahomelesscoupleacouple
ofweeksagoasourchurchwalkedthestreetsofourcommunity.Iwasdeeplytouchedbytheirstrong,posiPveaitudetowardlifeandbeliefinChrist.Now,thesewerepeopleinneedofasecondchance,inneedofhelpandprayer,forgo_enbymanyofuswhoa_endworshipeachSunday.Thesetwohadnochurchhomebecausetheyfeltunwelcomedinthechurchestheyvisited.“AllwewanttodoisworshipandgivethankstoourLord,”themansaid.TheybothagreedtheywerenotwelcomedbecauseoftheirpresentsituaPon.Theywantednopity,theyjustwantedtoworshipandpraiseGodforlife.Wow!WhereistheloveofGoddisplayedto“theleastofthese?”Howcanwe,whoclaimtohavearelaPonshipwithGod,turnourbacksonanyoneinneed?
WhileJesuswantsustobecompassionateandcaringtoallpeople,thispas-sageisabouthowwetreatthosetheworldseemstothinkaretheleast,butwhomJesusvaluesasHisdisciples.Theleast,thelast,andtheleaoutbe-cometheprimaryoneswhocometoJesusandfindlife,love,andlasPnghope.
Jesus'promiseisthatHewouldcareforusandHeis!HeisaskingustocareforthoseinHiscommunity,noma_ertheircircumstance!ThisiswhatChristdoes,HecaresforHisdisciples!
Convention : Mobile in Brief byDonnaGutzler
ThespireoftheMobile,AlabamaconvenPoncenterglowedpurple,themarqueeproclaimedahuge“WELCOME”,andthefriendlysmilesoftheconvenPonvolun-teersinsidewereaswarmasthetemperatureoutside.That’showover3,400LWMLsistersandguestsweregreetedatthe38thbiennialconvenPonfromJune20-23.Thetheme:“InPraisetotheLORD!”
•TherewasaBiblestudyledbyDonnaPyleontheArkoftheCovenantbeingre-turnedtoJerusalemduringtheReignofDavid.Thechallenge:DowelongaaerGodanddesiretobewhereHeis?•The544voPngmemberssetanewmissiongoalof$2,100,000forthe2019-2021
biennium,choosing21missiongrantstoreceivefundingincludevariousministriesandmissioninAfrica,Asia,GuatemalaandtheU.S.Seethecompletelistat:lwml.org/mission-grants.
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Rev.JeffreyP.HowellPastorofSt.PaulLutheranChurch-GrandCrossing,Chicago,IL
AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS
• VoterselectedaPastoralCounselor,newofficers,andanominaPngcommi_ee:President-DebbieLarson(RockyMountainDistrict),VPofOrganizaPonalResources-MarieChow(WA-AK),VPSpecialFocusMinistries-Be4yKnapp(NorthWI),Treasurer-KarlaKoehler(NENorth),Counselor-Rev.BrianNoack(AtlanPc).ThenominaPngcommi_eeiscomprisedoffivewomen,chairedbyBrianneStahlecker(NESouth).
• KeynoteSpeakerRev.BrentSmith,MissionDevelopmentCounseloratMissionCentralbroughtusareportonhowmitemonieshavebeenspentinplaceslikeSriLanka,Thailand,HongKongandtheSyrianRefugeesinGermany.AlsonoPngthemajorityofChrisPansliveintheglobalSouth(AfricaandSouthAmerica)!
• ForamorecompletereporPngoftheconvenPon,SeeDonna’sarPcleinOurNorthernIllinoisDistrict.
Young Women at Convention! bySherrieSmith,YoungWomen’sCoordinator
LWMLNID’sYoungWomenRepresentaPvesCaitlin,HannahandEkatrinajoined78otheryoungwomenfromacrosstheUnitedStatestoexperiencetheLWMLconvenPoninaveryencouraging,refreshingandenlighteningway.
ItisexciPngtothinkaboutthefarreachoftheingatheringitemsandservantacPvityprojects.Themitegrantsvotedinbythedelegateswillreachevenfar-
ther.Readingaboutgrantrecipi-entsisonething,butactuallyhearingtheirtesPmoniesissome-thingelseenPrely.Seeingaroomfullofcountries’flagsdrovehomehowfartheLWMLreaches.Theexhibithallprovidedavisualim-ageofhowmanyorganizaPonsoperateundertheLCMSumbrel-la.
SeeingtheseaofpeopleintheconvenPonhallwasajoyfulexpe-rience.BeinginaroomfullofbrothersandsistersinChristthatlovetheLordandwanttoserve-Himlitafireintheyoungwomentoserveothers.Whatfunitwastoraisetheirvoicesinpraisewithover3,000fellowLutherans
TheconvenPonrefreshedtheirspiritsandenlightenedtheirunderstandinginawayperhapsonlypossibleatagatheringofsuchscale.TheireyeswereopenedtoseehowlargeandpowerfultheLWMLis.
OurYWR’ssteppedoutoftheircomfortzonesanddidnewthings.Theysloweddownfromtheirbusylivesandtookstockofwhatisimportant.Thisexperiencewillblessthemforyearstocome.
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Hannah,Caitlin,PresidentJanGandEkatrinaatthe2019LWMLconventioninMobile,Alabama.
AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS
Caitlin,HannahandEkatrinaarehonoredtorepresenttheNIDonsuchajoyfuloccasion.TheyarethankfulforLWMLNID’sgenerosityandcare.TheLWMLconvenPonenergizedthemtoshareLWML’sjoyandexcitement.TheypraythatGodconPnuestomovethemtosupportthemissionsandserveasdevoutlyastheamazingwomenthathavepavedthewaybeforethem.Caitlin,HannahandEkatrinawanttolivetheirlivesinpraisetotheLord!
SeeeachYoungWoman’sstoryisfoundfollowingthisarPcle.
EkaterinaEkaterinaGrassmick,LWMLNIDYoungWomanRepresentaPvefromTrinityLutheranChurchTinleyPark,IL
Isteppedintothesouthernsummerheatandinstantlywiltedali_le.Myglassescompletelyfoggedover.IcrossedtheskybridgeandenteredtheconvenPoncen-ter.Aah,muchbe_er.Iperkedup,andmyvisioncom-pletelycleared.TheconvenPoncenteraircondiPoningwasmuchliketheconvenPonitself:refreshinganden-lightening.
Refreshed:ThepackedpewsonChristmasandEasterarealwaysali_lebi_ersweet;itiswonderfultowor-shipwithsomanypeople,butIwishsuchcrowdsat-tendedeveryweekend.ThepackedconvenPonhallchairsweresimplysweet.LookingattheseaofpeopleintheconvenPonhallwasajoyfulexperience;every-onetherechosetotakethePmetotraveltoMobileandspendfourdayscelebraPngandworkingtospreadoursharedfaith.ItisexciPngtothinkabouthowfartheingatheringitemsandservantacPvityprojectswillreach;evengreatershallbethereachoftheMitesgrantsthedelegatesvotedtofundinthecomingbiennium.AndasforthecelebraPng,whatfunitwastoraisemyvoiceinhymnsofpraisewithover3,000fellowLutherans.
Enlightened:LiketheaircondiPoningclearingmyglasses,theconvenPonhelpedmeseefartherafield.WhileIknowmostofwhatmychurch’sLWMLdoes,myknowledgeofnaPonalacPviPeswasmorelimited.Readingaboutgrantrecipientsisonething,buthearingabouttheministriesfromthoserunningthemissomethingelseenPrely.Inthesamevein,seeingaroomfullofcountries’flagsreallydrovehomejusthowfartheLWMLreaches.ThebriefPmeIwasabletospendintheexhibithallprovidedavisualimageofhowmanyorganizaPonsoperateundertheumbrellaoftheLCMS;hearingorreadingaboutoneataPmedoesnotdojusPcetothescopeoftheSynod’sministries.
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LWMLNIDYoungWomen’sRepresentativeEkatrinaandLWMLNIDPresidentJanGatthe2019NationalConventioninAlabama.
AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS
Allinall,theconvenPonrefreshedmyspiritandenlightenedmyunderstandinginawayperhapsonlypossibleatagatheringofsuchscale,andIwashonoredtohelprepresenttheNIDonsuchajoyfuloccasioninMobile,Alabama.
HannahHannahSolyomLWMLNIDYoungWomenRepresentaPvefromTrinityLutheranChurch–Lom-bard,IL
AsabrandnewLWMLYoungWomenRepresentaPvea_endingthe2019Na-PonalConvenPon,Iwasunsureofwhattoexpect.MyexperienceupunPlthatpointwiththeLWMLwassomeinvolvementthroughthewomen’sgroupatmychurchandthelastdistrictconvenPonin2018(whichmygrandmavolun-
teeredmetoa_end).Clearly,IdidnotknowawholelotaboutwhattheLWMLwasaboutoralltheamazingmissionstheyleadandprovidefor.ThenIa_endedtheconvenPonandmyeyeswereopenedtohowlargeandpowerfulthisorganizaPonis.
Learningaboutalltheservice,missions,andgivingthattakesplacebecauseoftheLWML’seffortswassomethingthatI,alongwithothera_endeesandYWRs,gottolearnandbeexcitedabout.Themissionsraisedandtheservicedonetrulyamazedme!Ineverknewhowfarthosemiteboxeswent.HavingfellowshipwiththebrothersandsistersinChrist-especiallytheyoungwomenrepresenta-Pves-withasynchronizedobjecPvetoserveandloveGodandHispeoplewasanamazingexperi-ence.GeingtoknowmanyoftheyoungwomenwhoshareaChrisPanfaithandhaveapassionforservingotherswasablessingthatIhopeconPnuesforyearstocome.ItwassoinspiringandmoP-vaPngtohearaboutsomeofthewomenwhohavebeeninvolvedforseveralyearsandarenowinrolesofleadershipintheLWML.IpraythatGodconPnuestomovemetosupportandworkwiththemissionsasdevoutlyastheamazingwomenthathavepavedthewaybeforeme.
Aaera_endingtheconvenPoninthebeauPfulanduniqueMobile,Alabama,Iameagertobringthejoyandexcitementhometomychurchandsociety,andtosharetheloveofservicewiththosearoundme.IalsowouldliketothanktheNorthernIllinoisDistrictforthegenerositythatallowedmetoa_endthe2019LWMLConvenPon,alongwiththewonderfulJanGerzevskeandSherrieSmithwhowereespeciallycaringfortheirYWRs.
CaitlinEscobedoLWMLNIDYoungWomenRepresentaPvefromSt.John’s,LaGrange,IL
DrivingintoMobile,AlabamaforthefirstPmewasinteresPng.Comingfromthefast-pacedcityofChicagoIjustimaginedthatthiswouldbethesame.Peoplerunningeverywhere,tallbuildings,trafficformiles,butIwaspleasant-
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AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS
lysurprisedbytheslownessofthisbeauPfulcity.Thepeopletheremoveataslowandrelaxingpace,stoppingtoenjoythesmallthings.Theyaren’tworriedaboutthePmeandknowthattheywillgettotheirdesPnaPonwhentheyaremeantto.Whenpeoplegreetyouitiswithasmileandaslowmo-lasses-likeaccentsaying“Ma’am”or“Sir.”Therewashardlyanytrafficandthedriverswerekindenoughtoletyouintotheirlaneifyouneeded.ItwaslikenothingIhadexperiencedandIimmedi-atelyfellinlovewiththiswayoflifeinthesouth.
IhadnoexpectaPonsfortheNaPonalLWMLConferencebecauseIhadnoideawhattoexpect.Inaway,itwasgoodbecauseIwouldhavetostepoutofmycomfortzoneanddothingsthatIhadn’tdonebefore.ThehighlightformewasbeingabletoexplorethecityofMobilewithotherYWR’sandfriendsfromourlocalNID.IlovedbeinginaroomwithwomenwholovetheLordandwanttoservehimthroughmissionandthisreallyhelpedconPnuetolightthefireofservicetootherswithinme.AnyonewhoknowsmeknowsthatIamaverybusyperson,butbeinginMobileandbeingattheconvenPonhelpedmetoslowdownandtakestockinwhatismostimportanttome.TheconvenPonenergizedmetocomehomeandfocusonservicetoothersthroughmyworkandgetmoreinvolvedwiththeYoungWomenintheNID.
IamsothankfulthatIhadthechancetogotothisconvenPonandslowdown,evenifjustforaweekend.
Say Yes!LaurenOlsen,[email protected]
LWMLNIDConvenPon2020willbeherebeforeyouknowit!
WearesPlllookingforcandidatesforthefollowingposiPons:VicePresidentofChrisPanLife,VicePresidentof
CommunicaPons,VicePresidentofSpecialFocusMinistries,RecordingSecretary,FinancialSecretary,Conven-
PonChairman,andNominaPngCommi_eefromNorth,South,East,andWestRegions.Pleasefeelfreeto
readthedescripPonsofeachposiPoninourbylawsh_ps://www.lwmlnid.org/wp-content/uploads/LWML-
NID-bylaws.pdf.
IfaaerprayerfulconsideraPonyouwouldliketobeconsideredforoneoftheseposiPons,pleasefilloutthe
NominaPonFormath_ps://forms.gle/QgkJ4XdyuHPimNxbA.Ifyouprefertohaveapaperformmailedto
you,pleasecontactmeat815-353-9414andIwillbegladtosendyouaform.
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AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS
Voice of Care
VoiceofCareisaministryhelpingthechurchprovidespiritualcaretopeoplewith
disabiliPesandthosewhocareforthem.Thisoutreachmissionwasestablishedin
1976andincorporatedin2003asVoiceofCare.ArecognizedserviceorganizaPonof
theLutheranChurchMissouriSynod,VoiceofCaretrainschurchworkersandlay
volunteerstoserveinfivetypesofdisabilityministries:CongregaPonalLife,Disabili-
tyAwareness,FacilityMinistry,OutdoorMinistry,andRespiteEducaPonandSup-
portTools(REST).Because90%ofpeoplewithdisabiliPesarenotconnectedtoa
churchhome,thereisagreatneedtolearnhowtoserveandevangelizethosewho
are“differently-abled.”
VoiceofCare,inpartnershipwithREST,offersavolunteerrespitecaregiver
trainingprogramforadultsandteenagers.Thisuniqueserviceenablesvolun-
teerstoprovidetemporaryrelieftofamilycaregiversinplannedseingsand
emergencysituaPons.RESTtrainingpreparesvolunteerstobuildcaringrela-
Ponships,handlecrises,andovercomecommunicaPonobstacles.RESTparPc-
ipantswilllearnsafetypracPces,acquireanoverviewofdisabiliPes,anddiscoverhowtocreatea
posiPveatmosphereinrespitesituaPons.VoiceofCarecanbringRESTtrainingandresourcemateri-
alstointerestedchurchesandministrygroups.RESTtrainingpavesthewaytoshareGod’slove
throughthegiaofPmeandservice.ThroughtheLWMLNID,VoiceofCarecantailortheRESTpro-
gramforLutherantraining,providepersonalizeddatareporPngandmanuals,andcustomizetraining
feeswithintheNorthernIllinoisdistrict.
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DianaMaanum,LWMLNIDVicePresidentofGospelOutreach
AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS
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2018-2020GrantsUpdateJuly24,2019
Mitesdesignatedformissiongrants-$120,000AmountPaidRemaining
1.EquippingtheChurchtoReachPeoplewithDisabiliPes$17,4745,468.5612,005.44*
2.LifeforSt.Ma_hew,SavingaHistoricHouseofWorship$18,000018,000.00
3.HaiPanFeedingProgram,Trinity/HOPE$2,500 2500.00 0
4.PostAborPonCrisisHotlineExpansion$10,000 010,000.00
5.GraceLutheranSchool,GraceChrisPanAcademy,Chicago$18,000 018,000.00
6.Food&ClothingCo-op,
ConcordiaTheologicalSeminaryFortWayne$10,000 10,000.00 0
7.ExteriorCabinRenovaPons,Walcamp$14,562.3511,213.79 3,348.56
8.NaPveAmericanYouthProgram,
Washington’sOlympicPeninsula,LutheranIndianMinistries$18,00013,566.914,433.09
9.ReachingVisuallyImpairedInmateswithGod’sLove, LutheranBrailleWorkers$8,000 0 8,000.00
10.HaiPLutheranMissionSociety(parPalfunding)$3,463.65 0 3463.65
TOTAL$120,000PAID$42,749.26
Remaining $77,250.74
Amount available for funding 9,528.65
*Highlightedinthisissueonpage5.
AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS
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L o c a t i o n s
W A N T E D
LocaPontohosttheFebruary15,
2020BoardofDirectors
MeeVng(HostedinWestRegionin201
9)
Location to host the Lenten Inspiration sometime in Feb-
ruary/March 2020 (Hosted in the South Region in 2019)
Location to host the July 18, 2020 Board of Directors Meet-
ing (Hosted in East Region in 2019)
Location to host the September/October Fall Gathering
2021 (Hosted in the North Region in 2019)
Contact President Jan Gerzevske ([email protected]).
Prefer to have meetings in a different region than the previous
meeting, ie North, South, East and West
Suggestion is to have a zone in the region host an event.
AUGUST•SEPTEMBER•OCTOBER2019 LWMLNID.ORG NID-BITS
Calendar
• Sept28th(Saturday)—LWMLNIDFallGatheringatHolyCrossinCary-SAVEthedate!
• January17-19—YoungWomenandYoungatHeartRetreat,Walcamp
• LWMLNIDLentenInspiraCon2020—Lookingforavenue/date!
• Sept11-12,2020—LWMLNIDConvenConatHolidayInn/Gurnee-DailyLedbytheSpirit
• June24–27,2021—LWMLConvenConinLexington,Kentucky
Announcements• ZonescansendmeeSngannouncementstobepostedonInstagramandFacebooktoTeenaDornat
• MakesureyouaresignedupandencourageyourZonestosignupforFacebookandInstagramaccountssotheymayreceivethesenoScesandthelatesthappeningsinthedistrict!Instagram:LWMLNID,Facebook:
www.facebook.com/LWMLNID/ORyoucanreachtheLWMLNIDfacebookpagethroughtheicononthewww.LWMLNID.orgwebsite.
• NOTICE-IfyouhaveconvenSonpicturestoshare,sendthemtowebmaster@LWMLNID.orgtheywillbearchivedintheFlickr2019AlabamaConvenSonfolder.
AKached:
• FallGatheringRegistraCon
• GFTHFallGathering
• Retreatflyer2020savethedate
• LWMLNIDConvenCon2020SavetheDate
YoucanreachNID-BitsEditor,[email protected]
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Fall Gathering
Registration and coffee: 8:30 am Gathering: 9 am
Closing service ends at 3 pm
Registration Fee: $25.00 (payable to LWML NID, includes a light breakfast and lunch) Register on line at www.LWMLNID.org (go to ‘Register for an Event) or return form and payment to: Loretta Platter 7602 Bristol Lane Unit E Hanover Park IL 60133
Bible Study Leaders: Pastors Swanson and Howard
Keynote Speaker: Annette Budzban - Christian author, speaker, life coach Bible Teacher and nurse. Her column Inspirations is featured weekly in the Lake and Cook Daily Herald newspapers. Her writings appear in the New York Times Best Seller, Chicken Soup for The Soul books, Guideposts books and magazine, as well as various other magazines and devotional guides. During a troubling illness, her strong faith in Jesus Christ led her to search for answers and she discovered a hidden talent and new purpose and direction for her life. She enjoys speaking to others on how to live with passion and purpose and the importance to dream BIG and believe God has a dream for their lives.
Gifts from the Heart: Bethesda Thrift Shop, Crystal Lake, Il
Registration deadline: Tuesday, September 10, 2019 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Name Dietary Needs
Please circle all applicable Address Gluten Free
City St Zip Lactose Free
Email Phone Vegan/Vegetarian
Congregation Zone
Saturday, September 28, 2019 Holy Cross Lutheran Church
2107 Three Oaks Road Cary IL 60013
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers and sisters of
mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40 NIV
GIFTS FROM THE HEART for The Fall Gathering
Saturday September 28, 2019 9:00 AM
Holy Cross Lutheran Church 2107 Three Oaks Rd. Cary, Il
Bethesda Thrift Shop
Please bring your gently used clothing and clothing accessories
Must be clean and in good condition (no holes, etc.)
Volunteer
Volunteers of all ages are needed to fill our cashier, sorting and general retail
positions. Other opportunities include light carpentry, building maintenance and
general cleaning tasks. Volunteers may select from daily, weekly or monthly time
commitments.
To inquire about volunteer opportunities, call Bethesda Thrift Shop at
815-455-2325 to speak with a store manager.
2020 LWML NID CONVENTION