MISSION
“Leading people to find and follow Jesus” is why we exist as a church. Our heart is to intentionally lead family and friends, coworkers and neighbors to find Jesus, and then to follow Jesus step by step, each and every day.
VISION
We accomplish our mission by leading the world to
Encounter Jesus, Become Like Jesus, and Unleash the Hope of Jesus
back into a lost and wounded world.
HCC Local Outreach serving groups are motivated to unleash the hope of Jesus because we have experienced firsthand what it means to be the lost and wounded. Our strategy is to show up and show up again to meet the tangible needs of our neighbors. Our goal is to build trustworthy relationships that, when given the opportunity, we have earned the right to share the love of Jesus with our neighbors. We focus on three main areas: Alleviation of Poverty, Child Welfare/School Outreach, Mental Health Supports. Our dream is for more and more people to Love God and Love Their Neighbors without the need for events and programming. We are in awe of Jesus allowing us into His presence any time we see someone hungry, thirsty, lonely, in need of clothes, sick, or without freedom. (Matthew 25:25-40). What follows is a guide for where HCC is invested. However, we are always curious about where God is leading His people. Once you read through these options and are still looking for ways to be obedient to God, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. If we have the contacts and resources, we will get you connected to serving the lost and wounded in our community to honor what God is doing through you.
Alleviation of Poverty
Harvester Christian Church is committed to alleviating poverty in St. Charles County by unleashing the hope of Jesus through generosity and justice. We partner with local organizations to provide essential resources such as food, clothing, and household goods to families in need. Through initiatives like cooling & warming centers, food distribution efforts, and financial assistance programs, we seek to meet immediate needs while also empowering individuals toward long-term stability. Our mission is to serve with compassion, advocate for those experiencing hardship, and create pathways for lasting transformation in our community.
Emergency Weather Response (EWR) Team
Description– Harvester Christian Church is a part of a county-wide network with the Emergency Weather Response (EWR) Warming Center Team to provide shelter, warmth, and care for individuals experiencing homelessness during extreme cold weather. Volunteers serve by offering meals, hospitality, and a safe place to stay, demonstrating Christ’s love through compassionate action. This ministry ensures death prevention to our neighbors in need find warmth, dignity, and support during the harshest winter nights.
Tasks: Provide overnight warming center for our unhoused neighbors, safe sleeping accommodations for the night at HCC, the week of January 18-24, 2026, and February 15-21, 2026. On-call serving occurs if HCC is activated when the temperature drops below 20 degrees between November and March. Teams of at least 3 volunteers of both genders provide hospitality to our overnight homeless neighbors during 4- or 8-hour shifts between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Volunteers also needed to provide meals, clean up, laundry, and set up/tear down of cots and bedding. During the summer, HCC provides a cooling center for four separate weeks during the summer if there is a heat advisory where the temperature is expected to reach 100 degrees+ for two or more days. Teams of volunteers of at least 3 volunteers of both genders provide hospitality to our unhoused neighbors during three or six-hour shifts between noon and 6 p.m.
HCC Crew Leader: Mike Coumerilh
How to get involved: email Jillian jhohensee@harvester.cc or go to https://harvestercc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/133/responses/new
HCC Food Pantry
Description: Harvester Christian Church’s Food Pantry Ministry provides essential groceries to individuals and families in need. Through generous donations and dedicated volunteers, the pantry offers a variety of non-perishable and fresh food items to help alleviate food insecurity in our community. This ministry serves as a tangible expression of Christ’s love, ensuring that no one goes hungry and that every family has access to nutritious meals.
Tasks: Volunteers needed to pick up from 3 area stores on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings. A substitute to cover the area pickups on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday would be helpful. Cart pushers are always welcome on Tuesday mornings from 8-10:15 am.
Where & When: Primarily Tuesday mornings 6:00 a.m.- 10:30 a.m. The Food Pantry is located at door 25 in the main building. Other opportunities are available throughout the week to support this ministry.
How to get involved: Email Sherry Bollinger, HCC Food Pantry Director, sbollinger@harvester.cc
The Sharing Shed
Description: Harvester Christian Church’s Sharing Shed Crew partners with The Sharing Shed to provide essential household items and furniture to individuals and families in need. Volunteers serve on the third Saturday of each month by receiving donations, assisting clients with selecting items, and delivering furniture to homes. This ministry reflects Christ’s love by meeting practical needs and offering hope to those facing challenging circumstances.
Tasks: Volunteers are needed to receive heavy household items on behalf of The Sharing Shed, sometimes to clean and refurbish donations, serve as a personal shopper for Sharing Shed clients, deliver or set up items for Sharing Shed clients.
When & Where: The Sharing Shed 923 E. Terra Lane, O’Fallon, MO
Third Saturdays 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
HCC Young Adults Crew Fourth Wednesdays 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Saturday HCC Crew Leader: Lisa Rogers
Wednesday HCC YAM Crew Leader: Stephanie Lake
How to Get Involved: email Jillian jhohensee@harvester.cc or go to https://harvestercc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/258/responses/new
School Outreach/Child Welfare
Along with our Child Welfare, and making sure kids are being loved and cared for and not taken advantage of, we have partnered with many schools in St Charles County to provide help in many different ways. From loving and caring for teachers and staff. providing needs for events throughout the school year to feed students who may not have the means to do so at home. We believe in the next generation and we believe that schools should be cared for and served in to unleash the Hope of Jesus into all the hallways.
Family Friends
Description: Harvester is known for caring for the least of these. One of the ways we do this is to provide support and encouragement for Harvester Christians who have made the decision to be Safe Families for Children Host Families, Foster Families, or Adoptive Families. Family Friends encourage and strengthen these families by praying, or dropping off diapers, or providing an occasional meal or babysitting for a few hours or offering transportation to appointments or school.
HCC Crew Leader: Blaire Ballard
How to get involved: email Jillian jhohensee@harvester.cc or go to https://harvestercc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/590/responses/new
Food Backpack Ministry
Description: Harvester Christian Church’s Food Backpack Ministry provides essential food supplies to children facing food insecurity in our community. Each week, volunteers pack and distribute backpacks filled with easy-to-prepare meals and snacks to ensure that children have enough to eat over the weekends. This ministry partners with local schools and organizations to identify students in need, demonstrating Christ’s love through practical care and generosity.
Task: Weekly packing and delivery of food backpacks for local school children experiencing food insecurity.
Where & When: HCC Food Pantry Door, times vary for packing and delivery to schools
HCC Crew Leaders: Shelly Swart and Susan Nash
How to get involved: email Jillian jhohensee@harvester.cc
Monthly School Outreach Pray & Prep Prayer Meetings
Description: Harvester Christian Church’s Monthly Pray & Prep for Schools outreach brings volunteers together to support local schools through prayer and service. Each month, volunteers gather to pray for students, teachers, and staff while also preparing materials, gifts, and encouragement to bless the school community. This ministry is a hands-on way to demonstrate Christ’s love, build relationships, and make a lasting impact in local schools.
Tasks: Pray for our local schools, teachers, administrators, families, and students. Tasks could include handwriting thank you notes, assembling small gifts, organizing prepping for school outreach activities
Where & When: Annex Door 10, typically *first Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
HCC Crew Leader: Katy Pursell
How to get involved: email Jillian jhohensee@harvester.cc or visit https://harvestercc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/591/responses/new
School Crews
Description: Harvester Christian Church’s School Crews consistently partner with Barnwell Middle School, Becky-David Elementary, Hackmann Road Early Childhood, Harvest Ridge Elementary, and to support students, teachers, and staff throughout the year. Volunteers serve through consistently showing up to provide teacher appreciation, practical help with grounds maintenance, deep cleanings of the building, or supporting specific school events like Culture Nights or Kona Ice Fundraisers. These crews are demonstrating Christ’s love in tangible ways by building relationships within each school community and ensuring they feel encouraged, valued, and supported.
Tasks: Could include monthly teacher appreciation events or actions, quarterly grounds maintenance and clean up, providing volunteer support for school events at the schools.
HCC Crew Leaders:
Barnwell Middle Rachel Vandermeulen
Becky David Elementary: Lisa Kearney
Hackmann Rd Early Childhood Shannon Sebastian
Harvest Ridge Elementary Rachel Vandermeulen
How to get involved: email Jillian jhohensee@harvester.cc or visit https://harvestercc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/592/responses/new
Annual Pack A Pack Initiative
Description: Harvester Christian Church’s Annual Pack A Pack initiative equips students in need with essential school supplies for a successful year. Each July, volunteers come together to pack backpacks with notebooks, pencils, and other necessary items, ensuring that every child starts school prepared and confident. These backpacks are then delivered to community and ministry partners. This event is a powerful way to serve local families, demonstrate Christ’s love, and invest in the next generation.
Tasks: Collecting school supplies through your small group, neighbors, and work. Sorting school supply donations each week of the campaign, packing backpacks, and delivering to local schools and community partners.
Where & When: Primarily in Annex Door 10, various times in July and August.
How to get involved: email Jillian jhohensee@harvester.cc or visit https://harvestercc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/594/responses/new
2025 Pack A Pack Events
Boys and Girls Club O’Fallon Unit Back to School Bash
1 Club Way St Peters MO
Saturday July 26, 2025 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.
Boys and Girls Club St Charles Unit Back to School Bash
923 Lindenwood Ave St Charles MO 63301
Saturday August 2, 2025 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
HCC Good Neighbor Market
2950 Kings Crossing-Annex
Friday, August 8, 2025 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Good Neighbor Serving Opportunities
Sometimes the Lord just blatantly makes it clear to us what He means by “love your neighbors.” He provides opportunities for our neighbors to get to know us better, or one-off opportunities to serve our neighbors. Here are a few of those opportunities.
Elections
Description: HCC provides two polling places during election cycles. 2-3 times a year, we are afforded an opportunity to meet a practical need in our community to provide a safe and welcoming space for our neighbors to cast their vote.
Tasks: Volunteers are utilized as greeters and simple hospitality on Election Days. We open doors, aid our neighbors with limited mobility, and offer simple snacks as they come and go from our campus.
How to get involved: email Jillian jhohensee@harvester.cc or visit https://harvestercc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/520/responses/new
Good Neighbor Serve Group
Description: HCC receives numerous calls each month for simple repairs to elderly or single parent homes.
Tasks: As needed and if we have the skills required, requests have been tasks such as leaf removal, yard care, snow removal, deck repair, dry wall repair, and simple home maintenance repairs.
How to get involved: email jhohensee@harvester.cc or visit https://harvestercc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/496/responses/new
Administrative Ministry Volunteers
Description: Administrative Ministry Volunteers play an essential role in the life of Local Outreach, contributing to the effective administration and coordination of ministry tasks and activities. This is a fantastic opportunity to use your skills to serve the community and support the church’s mission.
Tasks: This volunteer position involves administrative tasks that help ensure the smooth running of Local Outreach responsibilities, activities, and events. Tasks could include database entry, sorting and organizing supplies, event preparation, and copying and printing.
When & Where: HCC offices and Local Outreach Workroom
How to get involved: Email Jillian Hohensee jhohensee@harvester.cc
Local Outreach Communications Crew
Description: LO Communication Crew Members work to ensure that every Harvester Christian Church member knows where, how, and why to serve — so that together we can lead people to find and follow Jesus through acts of generosity and justice in our community.
Tasks: LO Communication Crew Members contribute short blog articles or stories highlighting the impact of Harvester’s community and ministry partnerships, volunteers, and serve events. They also assist in creating, reposting, and sharing HCC Local Outreach content.
When & Where: Primarily remote with the exception of documenting serving opportunities.
How to get involved: Email Carissa Figgins at cfiggins@harvester.cc
National Disaster Response Team
Description: The Natural Disaster Response Team are HCC members who have expressed an interest in using their gifts and talents in the event of a natural disaster in St Charles County, such as flooding, tornado, or fires. Members are encouraged to seek out and complete ongoing training, such as Psychological First Aid, Chainsaw certifications, donation management, CPR/First Aid, and other relevant preparedness trainings.
How To Get Involved: email jhohensee@harvester.cc
More Ways to Stay in the Local Outreach Loop
Like and Share posts from HCC Outreach- St Charles Campus Facebook Page
Like and Share posts from HCC Food Pantry
Subscribe and follow HarvesterCC Outreach Blog
In the Harvester app: Log in to the app. At the bottom right-hand corne,r click “Resources.” On the next screen, click “Volunteer Toolbox.” Click on any group you are assigned to see the calendar and message about needs, events, or serving opportunities. If you would like to be added to any group, such as Food Pantry, School Outreach, EWR Warming Center, Safe Families/Foster/Adopt, Natural Disaster, Food Backpack Ministry, Elections, or Sharing Shed, please email our Ministry Coordinator, Jillian Hohensee, at jhohensee@harvester.cc
2025 HCC Local Outreach
Community & Ministry Partners
Harvester Christian financially supports many local community and ministry partners. We ask our partners if appropriate to provide meaningful ways for Harvester Christians to become actively and consistently involved in these partnerships. Read through descriptions below and pray how God might be calling you to use your gifts and talents to serve these local organizations.
Bad Boyz Jail Ministry: Our mission is to bring the lost and hurting to Christ by offering mentorship, encouragement, and the hope of salvation. We share the gospel with incarcerated individuals, provide personal Bibles, and foster spiritual growth through fellowship and Bible studies. Upon their release, we guide them toward local churches and community involvement, continuing to mentor their journey in faith. By partnering with others and demonstrating faith through good works, we aim to inspire positive change and lead more hearts to accept Jesus. https://badboyzjailministries.com/
Boys and Girls Clubs of St Charles County: The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Charles County is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Our kids today have more opportunity, access and paths, but they also face more challenges, risks, more danger. Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Charles County is dedicated to being more than just a place to go; we’re a place to become. Because here, at the Club, every child finds a place to belong, to grow, and to become their best selves. To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Charles County, visit www.bgcstc.org
Faith Haven House is St Charles County’s first housing option for homeless men. At Faith Haven House, our residents can start the rebuilding process. Faith Haven House serves homeless men in our community to help them transition to a stable living environment. Throughout the transition, they will receive a network of support with available resources. https://www.faithhavenhouse.org
Joni and Friends bring practical help and gospel hope to people living with disabilities around the world. We reach out to families living with disability with Gospel-adorned hope. We extend Gospel-centered care through Community Support, Respite, Retreats & Getaways, and Crisis Response. We connect families with Christ-honoring, disability friendly churches where they find a place of belonging. For more information and to support Joni and Friends – Missouri Area Ministry, please go to: https://joniandfriends.org/missouri/
REACH St. Charles- Our desire is to offer Help and Hope through a variety of resources. Our goal is to connect individuals in St. Charles County with resources to address their specific need(s), on a case-by-case basis. We provide food boxes, holiday meal boxes, distribute meals, supplies, and clothing to the homeless, as well as contact organizations and agencies to help meet various needs as they arise. We find that relationships build trust, which allows us to address fundamental needs, helping to client to achieve Purpose, one step at a time. https://reachstcharles.org/
Safe Families for Children seeks to bring the church and community together to keep children safe and families together. Safe Families for Children is rooted in faith, fueled by radical hospitality, disruptive generosity, and intentional compassion, to build a network of caring and compassionate volunteers to support families facing social isolation. Our goal is to support and strengthen families, prevent child abuse and neglect, and reduce the number of children unnecessarily entering the child welfare system. There are multiple ways to volunteer with Safe Families including hosting children, babysitting, mentoring parents, or simply providing supplies. Check out https://www.bethany.org/sffc to learn more or contact mwitte@bethany.org
The Sharing Shed is a furniture bank dedicated to providing furniture and household items to families in need. Generous community members donate these items, which our volunteers carefully clean, organize, and present in a warm, inviting environment. This thoughtful approach allows the families we serve to experience a glimpse of the love and acceptance freely available through Jesus Christ. For more information visit our website thesharingshed.org. https://www.thesharingshed.org/
The Sparrow’s Nest is a nonprofit organization in St. Charles County that provides no-cost childcare and support services to low-income, at-risk families. Focused on empowering parents and nurturing children, the organization offers a cooperative childcare program, pregnancy help services, and resources like a material goods closet. Its mission is to embrace the God-given dignity of all human life by empowering young families with resources to realize their full potential. https://thesparrowsneststl.org/