In response to Christ’s call to serve God’s children, Fair Oaks is committed to mission work in our neighborhood, in our country, and around the world. We dedicate 13% of our annual church budget to mission work, in collaboration with partner agencies and congregations.
Local
Bethel New Life (BNL) empowers individuals, strengthens families, and rebuilds west side neighborhoods through community driven, solution-oriented, and value centered approaches. BNL deploys a network of wellness partnership programs and initiatives that prepare individuals, families, and neighborhoods to be healthy and well through all stages of life.
Austin Coming Together (ACT) is dedicated to providing backbone support for a 50+ network of non-profit, faith-based, public, and private entities. We facilitate collaboration to achieve more, together. This approach is called collective impact.
A House in Austin offers parenting support for families on Chicago’s West Side, including high quality early learning, nurturing support, and parent education. Fair Oaks provides financial support.
The IWS Children’s Clinic is a full-service pediatric health clinic, providing comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health, and social services to over 5,400 low-income children a year. Our beautiful facility in Oak Park is staffed with medical and dental pediatric specialists and social workers.
Beyond Hunger provides food, nutrition education, cooking classes, and social services to residents of Oak Park and surrounding western areas. Fair Oaks supports with donations of food and money, as well as volunteer work in food collection and food distribution.
Housing Forward transitions people from housing crisis to housing stability through programs including emergency housing, financial assistance, social services, financial literacy education, and employment readiness. Fair Oaks supports with financial donations as well as donations of meals, supplies, and preparation of new housing.
New Moms offers housing, job training, and family support with parenting skills development to young women seeking stability and opportunity for their families. Fair Oaks supports with money and special offerings.
Learning Edge is the new name of the Cluster Tutoring Program. Its mission remains to contribute to the lives of Chicago-area students through free one-to-one tutoring and academic enrichment opportunities enhance by caring, mentoring relationships. Check out its new website to learn more about the program and/or how to volunteer as a tutor. Fair Oaks hosts Learning Edge in our building on Monday nights during the school year and also supports the program through financial donations and with volunteer tutors.
Sarah’s Inn offers support and crisis intervention to victims of domestic violence, as well as education and training in violence prevention for the Chicago area. Fair Oaks provides financial support. Sarah’s Inn was the designated Mission Partner for the 2021 Fair Oaks Market.
The Night Ministry works to provide housing, health care, and human connection to people struggling with poverty and homelessness. Fair Oaks provides funding, supplies and food for delivery by Fair Oaks members.
Community of Congregations is an interfaith organization serving Oak Park and River Forest, as well as surrounding areas. As a member of Community of Congregations, Fair Oaks is involved in ministries such as the Holiday Gift Baskets, multi-faith services and programs.
Refugee One is a resettlement agency supporting refugees in building new lives in the the United States. Fair Oaks, in partnership with Grace Lutheran Church, is supporting an Afghan refugee family who arrived in Chicago in October 2021.
Interfaith Green Network is committed to educating, inspiring and motivating people of all faiths to care for the earth, our common home. Fair Oaks participates through financial support, program development, and through incorporating sustainable practices in our building and our native garden.
Global
Gambia Rising is a small, committed team of Gambians and Americans working to make it possible for deserving Gambian students to stay in school. Every dollar of new donations for scholarships goes directly to support the students; a Board member pays all overhead, and none of our team receive any pay for their work on behalf of those we serve. Currently, we support more than 2,000 students in more than 80 different Gambian schools from nursery school through Gambia College and the University of The Gambia.
Working Water The Gambia (WWG) builds and repairs water wells in rural villages in The Gambia. These sustainable and technologically appropriate wells provide a year-round source of abundant, clean water for communities. Access to a dependable source of safe water positively impacts the lives of every villager by reducing water borne diseases, improving public health and enhancing food security. Additionally, these wells relieve women and girls from the arduous, and sometimes dangerous, daily task of collecting water, freeing them up to attend school or focus on other activities such as food production.
Thailand Mission provides scholarships for high school, college and divinity school students in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Fair Oaks provides financial support and regularly welcomes guest speakers from the schools.
Presbyterian Organizations
Cuba Mission Partners The Havana–Chicago Presbytery Partnership unites the Presbytery of Chicago and the Presbytery of Havana. Together, we work toward a common purpose of overcoming barriers to cultivate peace and justice for all God’s people.
Young Adult Volunteers (YAV) Through PC(USA) and the Chicago Presbytery, Fair Oaks is supporting YAV overseas, theological education, as well as local and global mission projects and disaster assistance.