What is Big Brothers Big Sisters?

Service and Social Justice Opportunities

Respond to the Gospel's call to actively live out a faith that promotes service, peace and social justice.

On-Campus Service Opportunities
Local Service Opportunities
National Service Opportunities
International Service Opportunities
Post-Graduate Service Opportunities


ON-CAMPUS SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES



Best Buddies


Best Buddies is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters


Make a difference and mentor at-risk children from local elementary schools on campus every Wednesday.
  • Help tutor a child with their homework
  • Create meaningful friendships
  • Held on campus at the Sancta Alberta Chapel
Fall Informational - September 14th
Spring Informational - January 25th
See Romeoville Patch article: Bigs, Littles Get the Red Carpet Treatment.




Empty Bowls


A grassroots movement to end hunger.

Empty Bowls' goals are to raise money to help organizations fight hunger, raise awareness about the issues of hunger and food security and help bring about an attitude that will not allow hunger to exist.

3rd Annual Empty Bowl Project during Hunger Week
Nov 1st, 2011 at 2 PM in Sancta Alberta Chapel


Past Recipients:
2010 - The Night Ministries Chicago, IL & Hunger Week
2009 - Daybreak and Morning Star Mission both in Joliet, IL & Hunger Week

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month


Each November during Hunger and Homeless Awareness Month, the Lewis community is invited to learn about hunger and homelessness issues and encouraged to volunteer in the local community through the following opportunities:

Hunger Week - So Others May Eat (S.O.M.E.) Events
Oct. 31st - Nov. 4th
  • Oct. 30th - Package food for the homeless at the Chicago Food Depository, 12:30 - 5 p.m.
  • Oct. 31st - Everyone CAN Make a Difference Food Drive (food drive begins)
  • Oct. 31st - Mass to start off Hunger Awareness Month, Chapel, 8 p.m.
  • Oct 31st - Nov. 4th - Penny Wars in Charlie's Place, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Nov 1st - Empty Bowl's Presentation (A Culture & Civilization Event), 2 PM in S.A. Chapel
  • Nov. 3rd - Hunger Banquet - Empty Bowl's Project, UDR, 12 noon
  • Nov. 19th - The Night Ministries - Volunteer to make sandwiches for the homeless and distribute in Chicago.
  • Nov. 23rd - Help distribute Thanksgiving baskets at Morning Star Mission, all day.
  • Nov. 28th - Christmas Giving Tree- Adopt a needy individual or family for Christmas. Gifts due Dec. 5th.
  • Clothing and Food drive all month long

STAND


STAND meets every Monday, from 5-6 PM in the Morton Boston Room (Student Union). Everyone is welcome to attend. STAND also holds regular movie nights and runs the annual STAND for Rights Week. STAND envisions a world in which all people enjoy every human right instituted in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other sources. STAND's mission is to stand up against violations of human rights through investigation and action, as well as to educate others on issues of injustice.




Catalyst Team


The Catalyst Team dedicates the fall semester to become a leader for social justice on campus. They accomplish this through service projects, prayerful reflection and spreading the good news to others. In spring, the team leads the Catalyst Retreat for their peers.







LOCAL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES



Morning Star Mission


Help serve the poor in a local soup kitchen in Joliet. Transportation is provided, but volunteers must sign up ahead of time.

4 - 6 PM on Sept. 23rd, Sept. 30th, Oct. 20th, Oct. 24th, Nov. 15th and Nov. 23rd
Additional opportunities to work with Morning Star Mission include:
  • Tuesday, Nov. 22nd - Thanksgiving Food Basket Distribution
    8:30am - 11:30am
  • Tuesday, Dec. 20th - Distribute food and Christmas gifts to individuals and families
    8:30am - 11:30am
  • Adopt a Child Easter Basket Drive - You may select to adopt a homeless and low-income child of Morning Star Mission ranging from infant to 16 years old. Baskets Due March 16th.

Feed My Starving Children


Help end world hunger with this non-profit Christian organization that provides food for hungry people worldwide.
Oct. 21st, Oct. 28th, Nov. 11th

Chicago Food Depository


The Greater Chicago Food Depository obtains over 30 million pounds of donated food each year. Volunteers package food for homeless shelters. It is a great opportunity to have fun, meet new people, and serve your greater community.
Oct. 30th 12:30PM - 5PM

The Night Ministries


Help make sandwiches and feed the homeless of Chicago with the Night Ministries.
November 18th

Christmas Giving Tree


Adopt a low-income homeless family or individual for Christmas by purchasing some basic necessities like a warm coat, clothes, blanket, toiletries, etc. Select a family or individual off the Christmas Giving Tree, located in Sancta Alberta Chapel starting on Nov 20th. Gifts are due Dec 4th.

Saint Joseph's Table


Join us for a potluck meal! Everyone is welcome to come to this on-campus community potluck meal, whether or not you bring a dish to share.
March 19th, 2012


NATIONAL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES



Habitat for Humanity


Help eliminate poverty housing. This ecumenical Christian housing ministry works in partnership with people to build simple, decent and affordable shelter. So far, more than 55,000 houses have been built for nearly 300,000 people!
May, 2012



Eco-Justice Immersion


Learn about caring for God's Earth by working on an environmentally sustainable farm in Racine, WI. You will get a chance to work with farm animals including: alpacas, goats, chickens, rabbits, ducks, geese and honeybees. You will also help plant in the community gardens while learning about ways to reduce human strain on Earth.
May 13th-18th, 2012, Racine, WI





INTERNATIONAL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES



Diocesan University Mission to Bolivia


Serve the poor for 2 weeks in the capital of Sucre, Bolivia. Every year since 1998, Lewis faculty, staff and students travel to Sucre, Bolivia with the Diocese of Joliet to work with the impoverished children and youth in the barrios, orphanages and streets, as well as deliver donations of school supplies, toys and medical supplies to the local hospital, parishes and communitites.
Application process begins in October, 2011.
Mission trip will take place Summer, 2012.

Diocesan University Mission to the Philippines


Build a house for the poor on this two week trip to Bacolod City, Philippines. Join us on a two week immersion of students, faculty and staff from the three Catholic universities in the Diocese of Joliet. Volunteers will build a house with Gawad Kalinga - an organization that provides housing for the poor.
Application process begins in August, 2011.
Mission trip will take place Jan. 1st-14th, 2012.


POST-GRADUATE SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES



Lasallian Vounteer Program


Respond to Christ's call to serve others, especially the poor. This 1-2 year commitment involves working in the field of Christian education or human development services in the United States. For more information, visit the Lasallian Volunteers site or contact Alina Rivas at (815) 836-5049.

"I graduated from Lewis in 2008 with a BA in Theology, and decided to join Lasallian Volunteers and give back a year of my time. I am serving in Brooklyn, NY at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School as a Campus Minister. I love seeing our students own their faith, when they can define 'this is what I believe and why I believe it'. I have learned so much in my year of service, and hope I can continue the work of St. John Baptist de la Salle after leaving the Lasallian volunteers."
- Michelle Hoffman


Vocational Opportunities


Consider ministry options beyond Lewis. Have you considered life as a professed religious? Consider a long-term volunteer commitment or seek out a connection to a parish or faith congregation. Look for the "Visions" resource booklet in the Ministry Center for more information, or talk with a ministry staff member. Note: Lewis University has a special connection to Br. Stephen Markham, FSC, Director of Vocations/Formation for the Christian Brothers of the Midwest, at (630) 323-3725.

Contact ministry@lewisu.edu with any questions or to sign up.