About Us

Contact Ministries impacts lives through Christ love and compassion.

ABOUT US

Contact Ministries (CM) is a non-profit, faith-based, human and social service organization with a deliberate mission to provide free, on-site program services and community resources to poverty-level families and individuals with the sole intent to increase their economic self-sufficiency and reduce their dependency on public assistance.

Our goal is to see transformation in the lives of the people we serve. We believe churches and organizations, working together, can accomplish more for Christ. Contact Ministries provides a full range of services to meet a variety of needs for our clients, in an effort to provide them with the best chance for successful lifestyle changes.

Contact Ministries is often the point of initial contact with other community service agencies. This is an important first step that allows CM to rapidly identify and respond to recognized problems and make appropriate decisions with assistance and referrals to other agencies for specific programs.

Our emergency shelter is the only one in Sangamon County or the surrounding 28 counties, offering women and women with children of all ages up to age 17 safety, security and support.

Our Emergency Shelter is open to single women and women with children of all ages (up to age 17) 7 days a week from 5:00pm to 8:00am, 365 days a year. It is short-term emergency/crisis shelter, although temporary, it provides a safe place for our clients to sleep, have an evening meal, take a hot shower, do laundry, and obtain access to additional services and programs.

Once staying with us a resident will meet with a case manager to begin their journey to restoration through safety and support. Life skill classes, counseling, money saving and housing are some of the services we offer to ladies. This is all done in an effort to help maximize the potential for stabilized independent living upon leaving our shelter.

The Contact Ministries Transitional Shelter for women with children, displaced by homelessness, is a safe-haven with a concentrated 6-month program with required life skill classes (i.e. budgeting, parenting, nutrition, job skills, etc.), case management with weekly goals and mental health counseling services available. Long-term self-sufficiency is the ultimate goal for our women and children. The Transitional Shelter is open and staffed 24 hours per day, 7-days per week, 365 days per year.

To seek residency in either shelter you must have a valid photo ID for all adults and a birth certificate/medical card or other form of identification for every minor accompanying you..

OUR FACILITY

Located at 1100 E. Adams Street in Springfield, Illinois, Contact Ministries is often the point of initial contact with other community service agencies. This allows our staff to rapidly identify and respond to problems and make appropriate decisions with assistance and referrals. Our facility provides a safe and stable environment for homeless women, and women with children of all ages (up to age 17) who find themselves in a crisis homeless situation.

Many things can lead to homelessness — mental health, addictions, eviction, family tragedy, domestic violence, a major health condition, it is truly an endless list. Our walk-in services offer assistance with a variety of programs. Our shelters offer women and women with children of all ages (up to the age 17) programs and services that can change their lives.

We have numerous programs. To learn more about our programs, click here.

OUR FACILITY

Located at 1100 E. Adams Street in Springfield, Illinois, Contact Ministries is often the point of initial contact with other community service agencies. This allows our staff to rapidly identify and respond to problems and make appropriate decisions with assistance and referrals. Our facility provides a safe and stable environment for homeless women, and women with children of all ages (up to age 17) who find themselves in a crisis homeless situation.

Many things can lead to homelessness — mental health, addictions, eviction, family tragedy, domestic violence, a major health condition, it is truly an endless list. Our walk-in services offer assistance with a variety of programs. Our shelters offer women and women with children of all ages (up to the age 17) programs and services that can change their lives.

We have numerous programs. To learn more about our programs, click here.

Our History

Contact Ministries was founded in 1978 by five Springfield churches- First United Methodist Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church, First Congregational Church, First Christian Church and Christ Episcopal.

These churches felt many of those in need in Springfield and the surrounding communities had trouble accessing the social service system, and that one central location providing information could better help the less fortunate acquire services. Thus, Contact Ministries became an informational, referral and advocacy agency for the needy in our community.

Our History

Contact Ministries was founded in 1978 by five Springfield churches- First United Methodist Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church, First Congregational Church, First Christian Church and Christ Episcopal.

These churches felt many of those in need in Springfield and the surrounding communities had trouble accessing the social service system, and that one central location providing information could better help the less fortunate acquire services. Thus, Contact Ministries became an informational, referral and advocacy agency for the needy in our community.

OUR CLIENTS

Contact Ministries serves the most vulnerable and usually very traumatized people in society, women of all ages and children of all ages.

Many things can lead to homelessness — mental health, addictions, eviction, family tragedy, domestic violence, a major health condition, it is truly an endless list. It often times starts with an unexpected event in their life. Our programs are designed to help our clients overcome their past and begin walking toward a better future .

OUR CLIENTS

Contact Ministries serves the most vulnerable and usually very traumatized people in society, women of all ages and children of all ages.

Many things can lead to homelessness — mental health, addictions, eviction, family tragedy, domestic violence, a major health condition, it is truly an endless list. It often times starts with an unexpected event in their life. Our programs are designed to help our clients overcome their past and begin walking toward a better future .

OUR PARTNERS

Contact Ministries is a member of the Springfield area Continuum of Care and United Way of Central Illinois. These alliances make it possible to address the needs of our local citizens such as mental health, homelessness and poverty to name a few.

Together with the help of many local churches, businesses and organizations we work towards a common goal of providing assistance to all who are in need. We believe that we are all better when working together.

OUR PARTNERS

Contact Ministries is a member of the Springfield area Continuum of Care and United Way of Central Illinois. These alliances make it possible to address the needs of our local citizens such as mental health, homelessness and poverty to name a few.

Together with the help of many local churches, businesses and organizations we work towards a common goal of providing assistance to all who are in need. We believe that we are all better when working together.

OUR TEAM

Cindy Drum: Executive Director
217-759-3939 ext. 11 – info@contactministries.com

  • Worked at contact ministries since 2008
  • S. in business economics from Illinois college
  • Recipient of volunteer of the year at contact ministries ’05-’06 & ’06-‘07
  • Loves to watch high school football and attend horse shows
  • Favorite bible verse: “but Jesus said, ‘let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like these children.’”

Stacy Coon: Director of Operations 
217-753-3939 ext. 14 – info@contactministries.com

  • Worked at Contact Ministries since 2016
  • Retired EMT/firefighter for 20 years
  • Degree from Midstate College
  • Loves spending time with children and grandchildren and volunteering at church
  • Favorite bible verse: “this I declare about the lord: he alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my god, and I trust him.” Psalms 91:2

Tracy Deal: Emergency Shelter Director
217-759-3939 – info@contactministries.com

• Worked at Contact Ministries since 2014
• Bachelors in psychology
• Masters in Mental Health
• MSW in Social Work
• Loves spending time with grandchildren
• Favorite bible verse: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Jennifer Jones: Volunteer Coordinator
217-753-3939 ext. 12 – info@contactministries.com

  • Worked at contact ministries since 2018
  • S. elementary education
  • Loves to cheer on her children in their activities
  • Favorite bible verse: “this is the day that the lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

OUR TEAM

Cindy Drum: Executive Director
217-759-3939 ext. 11 – info@contactministries.com

  • Worked at contact ministries since 2008
  • S. in business economics from Illinois college
  • Recipient of volunteer of the year at contact ministries ’05-’06 & ’06-‘07
  • Loves to watch high school football and attend horse shows
  • Favorite bible verse: “but Jesus said, ‘let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like these children.’”

Stacy Coon: Director of Operations 
217-753-3939 ext. 14 – info@contactministries.com

  • Worked at Contact Ministries since 2016
  • Retired EMT/firefighter for 20 years
  • Degree from Midstate College
  • Loves spending time with children and grandchildren and volunteering at church
  • Favorite bible verse: “this I declare about the lord: he alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my god, and I trust him.” Psalms 91:2

Autumn Tibbs: Fiscal Officer
217-753-3939 ext. 16 – info@contactministries.com

  • Worked at contact ministries since 2013
  • High school graduate and full-time mother
  • Encourager and teacher to young mothers with similar life stories
  • Enjoys restoring and remodeling her fixer upper house of ten years with her husband
  • Favorite bible verse: “and we know, in all things god works for the good of those who love him”. Romans 8:28

Tracy Deal: Emergency Shelter Director
217-759-3939 – info@contactministries.com

• Worked at Contact Ministries since 2014
• Bachelors in psychology
• Masters in Mental Health
• MSW in Social Work
• Loves spending time with grandchildren
• Favorite bible verse: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Jennifer Jones: Volunteer Coordinator
217-753-3939 ext. 12 – info@contactministries.com

  • Worked at contact ministries since 2018
  • S. elementary education
  • Loves to cheer on her children in their activities
  • Favorite bible verse: “this is the day that the lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BOARD MEMBER

BOARD POSITION

EMPLOYER/ASSOCIATION

Kolin O’Brien

Board President

CES & First United Methodist Church

Jennifer Isringhausen

Vice President

Isringhausen Imports & Cherry Hills Church

Cindy White

Secretary

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church

Vickie Lohse

Treasurer

Lohse Healthcare Consulting LLC

Randy O’Brien

Past President

CES & First United Methodist Church

Pastor Roger Grimmett

Board Member

First United Methodist Church

Darryl Jones

Board Member

Greater All Nations Tabernacle

Rev. Dr. Blythe Denham Kieffer

Board Member

Pastor/Head of Staff & Westminster Presbyterian Church

Therese Romanelli

Shelter Committee

Orthopedic Center & Cherry Hills Church

Mark Sexton

Building Committee

Landscape Concepts & First United Methodist Church

Jennifer Sears

Board Member

Drake Scruggs Equipment & Cherry Hills Church

Joe Fierstos

Board Member

AT&T & Westminster Presbyterian Church

Laura Nestler

Board Member

Laurel & Wiggins Marketing

Debbie Miller

Board Member

DSM Property Management & Cherry Hills Church

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kolin O’Brien

Board President

CES & First United Methodist Church

Jennifer Isringhausen

Vice President

Isringhausen Imports & Cherry Hills Church

Cindy White

Secretary

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church

Vickie Lohse

Treasurer

Lohse Healthcare Consulting LLC

Randy O’Brien

Past President

CES & First United Methodist Church

Pastor Roger Grimmett

Board Member

First United Methodist Church

Susie Hoffman

Board Member

Cherry Hills Baptist Church

Darryl Jones

Board Member

Greater All Nations Tabernacle

Rev. Dr. Blythe Denham Kieffer

Board Member

Pastor/Head of Staff & Westminster Presbyterian Church

Therese Romanelli

Shelter Committee

Orthopedic Center & Cherry Hills Church

Mark Sexton

Building Committee

Landscape Concepts & First United Methodist Church

Jennifer Sears

Board Member

Drake Scruggs Equipment & Cherry Hills Church

Joe Fierstos

Board Member

AT&T & Westminster Presbyterian Church

Laura Nestler

Board Member

Laurel & Wiggins Marketing

Debbie Miller

Board Member

DSM Property Management & Cherry Hills Church