The Night Ministry community gathered in support of our mission at Lacuna Lofts in Pilsen. With our special guest host, Lou Manfredini of HouseSmarts, WGN Radio 720, and WGN TV, we raised more than $347,000 to assist Chicago's unhoused residents. See photos from Lighting Up the Night 2024.

During the evening, we honored the Family of Rev. Barbara Bolsen, Chicago Transit Authority, and Alicia Pond for their service to The Night Ministry and the Chicago community. Learn more about our honorees.

Learn about past Lighting Up the Night Benefit Evenings.

Sylvester Farmer, Health Outreach Bus Driver, drops off a meal and socks outside a client’s tent.

It’s 4 p.m. on a Tuesday when The Night Ministry’s Health Outreach Bus pulls into the parking lot of a public park on Chicago’s Northwest side. Lining the park's perimeter are several tents, whose occupants make their way toward the vehicle to receive resources like food, water, harm reduction supplies, and medical care as well as assistance with their housing needs.

That’s just what the Bus program does. But something is different this afternoon. On any other day that the Bus is out on the streets, the vehicle is stationed in the middle of neighborhoods such as Pilsen, New City, and South Shore. But one day a week, the Bus is now adopting the model of the agency’s Street Medicine Program by visiting a round of encampments to provide services to their residents.

The move comes amidst growth in the number of Chicagoans who are living unsheltered. And it represents The Night Ministry’s ability to pivot its operations to respond to the changing needs of the city’s unhoused population and maximize the impact of its services.

“By taking this on, the Health Outreach Bus is becoming more flexible and mobile,” said Edward Davis, Bus Outreach Supervisor. “But whether we are visiting neighborhoods or encampments, we follow a schedule, so people know where we’ll be and when. That’s something the people we serve rely on.”

“People recognize us because we’re such a mainstay in the community,” he continued, “and that helps greatly in connecting to encampment residents.”

Juan Roca, Manager of Outreach Operations, agrees. “The clients are very appreciative. They say, ‘Thank goodness you’re coming here, because not many other services do.’ The Night Ministry’s persistence means a lot to them,” he said.

The change also represents a larger trend among The Night Ministry’s Health Outreach services: staff crossover among the Bus, Street Medicine, and CTA Outreach programs.

The result is a greater continuity of care for the agency’s clients and increased reliability of services.