Photos

St. Joseph Parish ministry builds beds for children in need

Volunteers work in the shop near St. Joseph Church in Libertyville making beds for children in need as part of the St. Joseph Bed Ministry on March 28, 2023. The ministry, which started in fall 2018, has made and delivered over 1,200 beds. Every Tuesday evening during the builds, parish and community volunteers gather to construct beds that are later assembled in a child’s room in his/her home with a donated mattress, pillow and bedding so it is ready to be slept in. The bed ministry relies on donations for bedding, which includes sheets, pillows, blankets and comforters. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
One of two workshops for the ministry in Libertyville. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Samples of finished beds are on display in the window of the workshop which is located in a strip mall near the parish at 126 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Samples of finished beds are on display in the window of the workshop which is located in a strip mall near the parish at 126 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Volunteers work in the shop. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Volunteers are greeted with safety gear consisting of goggles, gloves, masks and ear plugs as they enter the workshop. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Susan Speth and Don Rentsch work with the drill presses. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Volunteers work at one of the many sanding stations in both workshops. Each piece of wood must be sanded smooth to prevent children getting cut or splinters. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Volunteers work in the shop near St. Joseph Church. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Gary Jenner and Al Cowsky sand wood at their station while Dan Palmeri and Maurice Griffin look over the shop. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Maurice Griffin feeds wood into a planer as Gary Jenner sands wood. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Kate Cornell, Mary and Tommy Lutz lend a hand loading wood on their spring break. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Kate Cornell, Mary, Sean and Tommy Lutz load wood as the Lutz children's mom, Justine, looks on from the doorway. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Volunteers feed wood into a planer at their station in the workshop. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
An example of a bed hangs over volunteers working in the second workshop. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A sign is displayed on the door at the second workshop. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Ian Steward and Curt Feiereisel cut boards at their station. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Chuck Palid, John Kolb and Dennis Valentini assemble beds. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

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