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Nick Bruenning, a senior at Roosevelt, connects with a man at the corner of State and Madison streets. Since he started volunteering with the program, he says he’s learned the names and stories of a few of his neighbors while sharing dinner at Grace Place’s monthly community meal.
Led by Ben Adams, campus pastor, in collaboration with volunteer student leaders, “Takin’ it to the Streets” started in 2012. Here, a student prepares peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Grace Place Episcopal Church, Chicago, is the home base for the program. Renaldo Webb (middle), a member of Grace Place, assists with sandwiches. “Takin’ it to the Streets” distributes an average of 60 meals each week to people on the streets.
Mary Strickler, a junior at Roosevelt University (middle, in black), talks with Renaldo Webb and a neighbor from the streets after giving him a bag meal.
Mary and Renaldo pass out bag lunches to a couple sheltering themselves from the rain. The group hands out food and clothing every Sunday, rain or shine. “We go because we know that people will be on the streets in any condition,” said Ben Adams, campus pastor.
Mission & Ministry

Neighborly love

College students from Chicago’s South Loop are meeting their neighbors in a most unusual way: each Sunday night, they walk a shopping cart through the streets and hand out sandwiches and clothes to people in need. The program, called “Takin’ it to the Streets,” is part of South Loop Campus Ministry, a join initiative of the ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod and the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. (Photos/Chris Ocken)

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