Area Seed Packing Event

The Challenge: Help pack 2.5 million seed packets for 500,000 Zimbabwe families to plant family gardens.

The Zimbabwean villages who received meal packs from Willow Creek over the past two years experienced much needed relief from the hunger and malnutrition that had threatened their families’ health and growth. But now how can we continue to support Zimbabwe families in need? Church leaders there have told us, “We must stabilize our communities through renewable food programs. Can you help send us seeds?”

Join the Willow Creek Celebration of Hope this April to provide food security for 500,000 families in Zimbabwe by helping to pack 2.5 million seed packets for family vegetable gardens.

Our area's packing site will be located in at "Elgin - Nationwide Freight" just north of I-90 & off Randall Road, near Burnt Toast, on April 17-18.

The serving opportunities will be announced at the Easter services but I wanted to give you the “inside scoop” so you can register early to ensure your spot. You can register starting on March 26th by clicking on this link. http://community.willowcreek.org/coh.aspx.

Local Impact Students - Mission trip to Zambia!

Our Student Impact House group had a number students leave today for Zambia, Africa. Join us in praying for the health & safety for the team/leaders and may their impact be truly global! Our local Dundee Crown students going are Nick Reedy, Jared Niequist, Kathleen Palahniuk, & Sarah Miles.

There are also a few kids from Crown going to South Africa, but I don't know their names! I'm sure all the parents would welcome prayers.

Neighborhood to Neighborhood - Algonquin to Africa Video Conference

Check out what this neighborhood group is doing! They've partnered with a village in Kenya, Africa, to help give them a "hand up", as the village works to pull itself out of extreme poverty.

On Saturday, 3/13, they will be doing a live, 2-way video conference, from the village of Gambella. The event will take place at the main Algonquin/LITH fire station, and they have invited you to join them!

Check out their blog for details, and RSVP information: http://algonquin4gambella.org/post/428481596/live-video-conference-from-gambella

Perviously posting about this: http://wcccdundeecrownarea.blogspot.com/2009/11/neighborhood-to-neighborhood-algonquin.html

Shelby Bohlin Update

As many of you know Shawn & Lisa Bohlin are members of Willow Creek and Shawn is on staff. Their 7 year old daughter, Shelby, has been battling leukemia for the last several months.

There is a fundraiser going on at Chili's Restaurant on one of the following days: March 12th - 21st, at any of these locations listed: West Dundee, South, Elgin, Algnquin, Crystal Lake, Hoffman Estate & McHenry. With the a fundraiser voucher that you can print below Chili's will put 10% of your bill into a fund for her medical bills.

The voucher(s) can be printed from your browser (or I can email you a .pdf) and be shared with family, friends, and co-workers. They can be distributed anywhere except on the Chilis premises. There's no limit on how often you can go.

Also, there is a fund for Shelby at Harris banks. Feel free to make a donate there to help the family with medical costs. Simply visit Shelby's CaringBridge page for details on how. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/shelbygrace