Operation Blessing is huge part of my life. I grew up learning about what volunteering really meant through the hard working and loving people who make up this organization! While my dad was an active part of OB, he recruited me quite early on and blessed with me the opportunity to see, hands-on, what God can do in the hearts of so many people trough the act of simply giving food, praying for and with people, and giving them a sense of hope. God ultimately is the reason for such a thing as hope, and it's because of Him that Operation Blessing has gone so far and achieved expansive goals to reach further and further into the community. More than half my life I have had the blessing to witness various sides of Operation Blessing, whether in action-packing boxes & how joyful daily volunteers are to be there, at give away events & seeing children light up at the site of numberous bikes, at breakfasts where we serve those who both give and receive, at all that goes into newsletters, financing and organizing all of the events, to even recieving food ourselves when money was tight. In the end, this place, the people, the food, it is all there to show others what hope there can be found in God as soon as you walk into that door. If your donating or writing about what OB has done for you or both, thank you, please share and support the amazing things this place is doing!
After the novel Corona virus hit the volunteers and manager Brian Cotrell and Bob Fox kept getting food to those in need, putting others needs first, putting their health on the line, I am one of those volunteers and Operation Blessing is doing an amazing job fulfilling the need of the hungry, I thank God for this ministry serving the south side of Chicago
This year marks 35 years of volunteering, supporting and advocating for this ministry. And 25 years of serving on the board of directors. During this time we have grown from a small local food pantry with about 2,000 sq. ft. serving less than 100 families a week to a regional food pantry, food distribution point, warehouse and outreach serving up to 700 families a week from our 13,000 plus sq. ft. facility, plus our network of sister pantries and partners!
If you are looking for a place to volunteer your time, support financially, or partner with to provide product or services to those less fortunate than us. We look forward to working with you!
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My name is Terry and I am currently serving as President of the board of directors. I have been with Operation Blessing for 30 years. I started volunteering by filling food boxes, doing general repairs, going to the monthly meetings and financially supporting the ministry. About 14 years ago I was elected to the board. During this time I have been part of providing new outreach programs, raising financial support, the purchase of 2 new trucks and in 2014 the acquisition of our new 13,000 sq ft. facility at 4901 W. 128th Pl. in Alsip Illinois.
It is my hope and prayer that you will join us in this ministry outreach to the people of the Southwest suburbs of Chicago. We can always use volunteers, interviewers, fundraisers,
and financial supporters.
Thank you and God Bless you!
Terry Wuethrich
President
I have been coming in to volunteer for years, mostly sweeping and mopping the floor on Saturday. It brings great joy to know that hungry people are being fed. What's even better is that spiritually hungry people are being fed also!! God Bless
My husband and I have been volunteering at Op Blsg for over 20 yrs. I am 76 and my husband is going to be 90 this year. This is a wonderful ministry. We feed people physically with food and mentally, emotionally and spiritually by listening to them with compassionate and love and prayer. When they leave here they are filled with hope and joy. We have grandmothers who come in here and they have their grandchildren and great grandchildren with them because they are the only ones around to take care of them , the parents are either incarcerated, on drugs, in rehab or long gone. These women are exhausted and need all the help they can get. We give them love and understanding and food, sometimes we have clothes. We have many wonderful people who make hats and scarves for these children. When we leave at the end of the day we are filled with joy and feel so blessed that we could help others in some small way. My husband and I love Op Blsg and we love all the volunteers.
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I work at Operation
blessing, a large food pantry in
southwest Chgo.
we serve 50-100 people daily. A few weeks ago a young woman about 18-19yo came to us for food. We asked her for her address and she said she was homeless. She was thin and small, very neat and sweet. She was also timid and frightened. Our hearts went out to her.
After a few minutes discussion we surmised that she was new at being homeless.
she did have a car and a phone. So we gave her names and phone numbers of other places that may be able to help her. There were several of us working with her. One of the other volunteers asked me if I thought she would like to have a shower and a good meal and I said I'll ask her. I did this because he was male and I am female and we didn't want to scare her. This mans wife who is a nurse and very caring was at home and he had ok'd it with her. I asked the young girl if she would like to go to his house with his wife there and have a shower and good meal. Her face lit up and she said she would love to. We wanted to help her and protect her. I asked where she parked her car at night and she said at 24 hr Walmart. I said, "are you safe" and she reassured me she was. Both the other volunteer and I gave her our phone numbers and his address. I gave her mine and said if you ever need help, call me. She continued on her way, got food and left. She never did go for the shower and meal. Maybe she was frightened, after all she really didnt know us. We have not seen her since and we continue to watch for her and pray for her.
Operation Blessing has truly been a blessing for our food pantry at St. Paul in Oak Lawn. We pick up available fresh produce to share with our clients who greatly appreciate it. In response to their generosity I have started to volunteer here. It is rewarding to be involved with a Christ centered group that truly ministers to the community.
I started volunteering a year ago and I have been incredibly blessed by the people I work with. They care about every person whom comes through the door. The people receive a great bounty of food and are warmly treated. Many, many people are served by the wonderful organization.
I've been volunteering here at Operation Blessing for almost 4 years and I can honestly say it makes me feel good to see how much we help the clients coming in.
Had the pleasure of working with these folks.
Everyone here volunteers everything they have
They share everything they can, including their love for others
Very down to earth. An awesome organization that feeds the human body and the soul with the goodness of Jesus Christs message.
There are many opportunities to volunteer here... Please join them bringing warmth and value T our less fortunate brothers and sisters
Operation Blessing has been such a huge help to me and my family. Such nice people volunteering there.
I volunteer at a few different food pantries, but Operation Blessing does so much more than just feed people. They feed people body, mind, and spirit through Jesus Christ. It is a blessing to be able to give my time to Operation Blessing, please contribute so that they can continue their mission.
I came in two years ago in need of assistance. The staff took such good care of helping me with food and counseling. They then invited me to volunteer on a regular basis. I love coming in and helping everyone in need.
I have been volunteering in operation blessing for around 5 years as part of the counseling team and through the years I have seen many people come and receive the help that they need. We do as much as we can to make it happen, whether, it is by giving them food or by listening to their problems and leading them to Christ (if the choose to). And just as myself, there are many other volunteers who give their time to be here in order to help everyone who comes through our doors. So please, help us keep blessing those in need by donating to this organization and keeping its doors open.
I've been a volunteer here at Operation Blessing for a few years now, and was invited to a position on the Board of Directors. This organization is truly a blessing from God, it is so amazing to see the positive impact we have on our clients daily. I hope to be able to keep giving back to our clients and Operation Blessing for years to come.
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I have visited Operation Blessing and I am always impressed by the dedication and hard work of the volunteers. The food pantry is clean and well organized. And I can’t say enough about the compassion these volunteers have for the people who come thru the doors.
Operation Blessings reaches out into the community to eliminate hunger. They are dedicated people that give from the heart! Their volunteers amaze me with their donations of time and talents! Operation Blessing also shares their blessings with other food pantries, so more families are helped through them.
Operation Blessing has been a blessing to my family. I don't know how we would have gotten by with out their assistance and spiritual guidance. God Bless them.
Truly a blessing to its community! Without this organization there would be a lot of hungry people. I commend there volunteers that make it all happen.
I have volunteered here for over 15 years. In that time I have seen countless lives helped by the generous amounts of food given out and lives changed by the love and prayers from those within these walls!
Hi, my name is Christine. Originally I started as a client getting food assistance. Then I was receiving spiritual guidance through the women's meetings they have on Friday afternoons, which has helped me tremendously in my walk with the Lord. The people that I have met here have been extremely helpful in many areas of my life. After seeing all the great things they do for the community, I knew I had to get involved. I then started helping in the back getting the food organized and set out for clients. I thoroughly enjoy being around the other volunteers here and bringing the joy of Christ not only to my fellow volunteers, but the the clients. I share the love of Christ, and my serving him in this way brings me much joy!
If any of you reading this wants to serve the Lord, please consider joining us here, as help is always needed, and then you can bring more joy into your own life! Praise God for all that's being done here.
I started volunteering here in July of 2017 and was only coming in 2 days a week, and now I'm coming everyday. It's such a great organization that I began bringing my two grandsons to volunteer and they are treated just like family.
Operation Blessing does so much more than just feeding people they nourish the mind body and soul.
Operation Blessing is a great place! You can be assisted in English or Spanish, the staff is helpful and they have a heart for the people in need.
I volunteered here for a year and have always been greatly blessed by Operation Blessing! Please come, visit and be surprised by the Lord.
I have been volunteering at Operation Blessing for years. I have prayed for many many people and have seen God moving in their lives. Changing and transforming them making them and their situations better and better. It is truly amazing. We bless many struggling people (some homeless) with food also. Some people have no food at home, and there are sadly children in the home. We are, also, able to supliment families with food when they are having difficulty paying their other bills until their situations improve.
Last Christmas my son lost his job and with 3 children at home and no money coming in he was in a tight spot I sent him over to Operation Blessing and they came thru with the assistances that he needed to get thru his hard time. Helping with food to feed his family, and prayer he was able to ease his mind during the Holiday 's . Without the assistance of Operation Blessing he was facing dark days and a lot of worry. He is so thankful for Operation Blessing help and because of it his children had a Merry Christmas, and now he has a great new job and all of this would not have happened without the help of Operation Blessing!
I volunteer at a couple of food pantries, but Operation Blessing goes above and beyond giving them food, they also supply food to numerous food pantries and affordable recovery and the guild house both in Blue Island supplying thousands of pounds of food each month, they also care for each individual that needs food, praying for their needs and for their salvation, I give Op Blessing 10 stars
This is an excellent opportunity to serve the Lord and really make a difference in peoples lives. Not only by feeding them food but also with prayer and lots of love. I have met a lot of amazing people there not only the other volunteers but the people who come in for the food. I am the one who is truly blessed.
Hello
My name is Frank Sorice and I am the Executive Director of Operation blessing. I have been at the ministry for seven years. The opportunities are endless when you see the many needs that walk into our doors each and every week and over thirty five years. The lives changed, the testimonies of needs being met, physical, health needs and especially spiritual needs, warms the heart. With all of the negativity in the news and in our communities we can be a light in the darkness and show the Love of God in a very tangible way. We have seen the miracles of the Lord also in in a physical way as we went from a two thousand foot rented facility to a thirteen thousand square foot building that we are buying. We have two trucks, a walk in cooler, two fork lifts and outstanding helpers. We could not do it without the support of many people who volunteer their time to be a blessing. Truly we operate by the grace of God as he has been faithful through all these years when it seemed that we would be closing the doors. Praise the Lord!!!!