Hope Haven Meals

Newman is responsible for providing and serving the evening meal every Thursday night. Sign-ups are located on the Volunteer Opportunities bulletin board in the Newman lobby. Feel free to contact Cathy Dean at jsa@newmanniu.org with any questions.
Notes for Meal Makers
If you are simply dropping off dinner:
  • Meals must be brought to Hope Haven no later than 6:30 p.m.
  • Bring food items in disposable/reusable containers if possible. It is your responsibility to pick up any personal containers, should you wish to keep them.
  • Include re-heating instructions if necessary.
  • 50-60 people are served from 7 p.m. until midnight each night at Hope Haven, sometimes more during cold weather.
  • Be aware that residents may request more than one helping during dinner.
  • Remember: There is no such thing as TOO MUCH FOOD!
Notes for Meal Servers
​If you are staying to serve dinner to the residents:
  • Please arrive at Hope Haven at 6:30 p.m.
  • Dinner is served “cafeteria style” beginning at 7 p.m.
  • Meal servers will help clean up the kitchen, to wash and put away dishes after dinner.
  • Plan on being at Hope Haven until approximately 8:30 p.m.
  • Remember: There is no such thing as TOO MANY HANDS!

THANK YOU … your help is greatly appreciated!

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Do you love to knit or crochet, or would you like to learn? Use your talent to provide comfort to those in need! Prayer is worked into every shawl, so the recipient is literally wrapped in prayer. Please join us for this ministry!
Also, if you have a yarn stash that needs to find a home, we would be happy to take it off your hands. Yarn donations are always needed.
Questions? Contact Colette Foley at: 630-640-8159

St. Vincent dePaul Society

The local conference of St. Vincent de Paul has been expanded to include our own Christ the Teacher University Parish, and it is now called the St. Vincent de Paul – Christ the Teacher / St. Mary Conference. There are many ways to get involved with this worldwide Catholic organization committed to alleviating the the suffering of the poor:
  • Work a food pantry shift Tuesdays 3 to 6 p.m.
  • Help unload food trucks, two mornings a month
  • Help stock the pantry shelves
  • Pick up bread donations from local shops and grocery stores
  • Pick up food from the Illinois Food Bank located in Geneva, Illinois.
  • Join another volunteer in a home visit
  • Monitor the help line
  • Help with fundraisers
  • Help with the clothing drive in April and November
  • Help at the SVDP Clothing, Furniture and Toy Store located in Maple Park, Illinois.
The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry has served thousands of clients. In addition, the Society’s Home Visit teams have provided thousands of dollars in emergency financial assistance to hundreds families in DeKalb and the surrounding communities.


Service Saturdays

Service Saturdays are events that occur on Saturdays during the NIU school year that are designed to help the DeKalb, Sycamore, and NIU communities.  Here at the Newman Center we offer many different volunteer opportunities that change based on the time of year and the need we plan to fufill.
These various service events include:
  • Bingo at the Nursing Home
  • NIU Cares Day
  • Rake & Run
  • And much, much more!
If you are interested in joining one of these weekend events, please visit our facebook page at Newman Catholic Student Center at NIU for more information, dates, times and locations for our events!

Links to Get Involved!