Among change and growth, various churches in DeKalb remain a constant source of benevolence and charity to the community.

One is the Newman Center, 512 Normal Road, NIU’s on-campus Catholic Church.

The Rev. Steve Knox said one of the services to the community that primarily is a student-volunteered program is preparation for the Thursday night meal at nearby homeless shelter, Hope Haven, 1145 Rushmore Drive.

The Newman Center occasionally works through Safe Passage, the local food pantry, or other service organizations in an effort of both students and parishioners to better the DeKalb area.

“We have a public service Saturday when we get a bunch of students together and we might paint over at Safe Passage or the DeKalb Area Women’s Center,” Knox said.

The Newman Center also has a relationship with Habitat for Humanity. Either locally or through a student-based Spring Break trip to various parts of the country, the center maintains its call to service through this cause.

“They have a work day so we send volunteers over to help them out with whatever the needs are,” Knox said.

Jason Maus, office manager at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 302 Fisk Avenue, said the church, in addition to assisting Hope Haven with meals and Habitat for Humanity, has a meals on wheels program and holds clothing drives for the needy within the city.

“We work in conjunction with lots of organizations,” Maus said.

Maus included the church’s food pantry, which is a place for those in need of food to pick up non-perishable foods typically donated by parishioners.

Every week, and at every Mass, the churches gather their usual collections from parishioners to support the health and well-being of the church.

“We’ve certainly got to take care of our needs,” Knox said. “But at the same time, God calls us to generosity toward other people, and service as well.”

Knox said as a way to answer God’s call, the Newman Center donates 10 percent of its weekly tithes to various organizations or benefits either around the city or throughout the country.

Pastor Judy Harris of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 615 N. First St., said the church also donates a certain percentage of its sacrificial tithes to Safe Passage, Habitat for Humanity and Hope Haven, among others.