- Overview
- Who we are
Itasca Community Outreach Team (ICOT)
Our impact to the community
The Itasca Community Outreach Team (ICOT) was born out of necessity. Itasca needed it and God ordained it. The co-founders are involved with the other three quarters of the continuum of care in Itasca for locals in dire need. The three co-founders prayerfully discerned that there were families and individuals that, after being vetted, ICOT needed to be "Lending a Local Hand" to empower them back on their feet without creating a sense of entitlement. At a local October breakfast, ICOT announced its existence after already lending a local hand, arm-in-arm with local churches, individuals, and organizations to several in need. This included a widow and her young daughter, among others. ICOT has received funding to create a website that will enable willing people of Itasca to partake in serving those in need through ICOT or the other three local Itasca social service supports (food pantry, walk-in ministry, and homeless shelter). The Itasca continuum of care is called "Itasca Cares".
In November of 2013, two Itasca volunteers met with a pastor at the local Starbuck's to discuss the creation of a new organization to complete the continuum of care in Itasca. The pastor was Greg Norwine of the then new-to-town Orchard Evangelical Free Church of Itasca. One volunteer was Itasca resident Ellen Glatz of First Presbyterian Church of Itasca (lead volunteer of her church's homeless shelter, the Itasca Food Pantry, and the Itasca Walk-In Ministry). The other volunteer was Itasca resident Erik Engel (coordinator of the Itasca Homeless Shelter). After describing the concept to Pastor Greg, he suggested the name contain key words like "community" and "outreach" in order to begin to create a brand that people could understand.
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Our Mission
To restore individual(s) back to self-reliance through a process of empowerment by working alongside local churches, businesses, and interested individuals.
We three co-founders discover a potential family in need through a referral. We meet with them and vet them. We discern whether or not to take on the case after prayer. We tap into local churches and other local resources to meet the need. We seek to empower them back on their feet and not to a sense of entitlement.
- Discover
- Vet
- Pray & Discern
- Engage
- Empower
Our Story
Itasca Community Outreach Team (ICOT) started by wrapping around a recent, local widow and her primary school daughter. She was faced with losing her home due to a refinance tied into work that needed to be done on her home.
How You Can Help
Make a donation to Itasca Community Outreach Team.