
The Ruth Project

The Lord and His people have exceedingly and abundantly done it again! The Farm needed a multi-purpose tractor for heavy-lifting, digging, and transporting. We’ve had to rent equipment for each big project. Now, thanks to Ditch Witch Midwest, The Ruth Project was gifted a brand-new 2025 Ditch Witch Skid Steer! What began as an investigative inquiry ended with this incredible donation. We are speechless! Thank you to these gentlemen who have a heart for the modern-day orphan.
Nearly 200 gathered at The Farm for our 2nd Annual Foster FUN Walk. It could not have been a more beautiful day! Kids and families raced off the FUN Bus to start walking their mile walk — four times around the Activity Path. Enthusiastic, fun-loving volunteers hooted encouragement as Walkers passed by. Bubbles, an egg hunt, and carnival games added to the festivities. Over $25,000 was raised thanks to all our generous sponsors and hard-working families! A huge thanks also to our very engaging volunteers who made this day SO much fun!
On Good Friday, we hosted our beloved ministry partner Village Church of Bartlett at The Farm for their Good Friday Encounter. Nearly 160 came to observe this holy day through Bible teaching, a service project, and an overview of The Ruth Project by walking the Activity Path. This included hunting for eggs holding tiny sheep representing our Tela, the blemished lamb, and our own need for salvation. Thanks to the wonderful VCOB staff, who made this an incredibly meaningful event for all of us!
The Ruth Project is forming a sweet partnership with Selah Home, a new home in Yorkville providing immediate love and care to foster children. We hosted the team, led by Shari Chapman, for a tour and luncheon before their team created their own prayer walk around the Activity Path to prepare for their launch this summer. We can’t wait for Selah Home to become a Ruth Family and join in on all our Support Events and activities. What a wonderful opportunity with wonderful new friends!
We love hosting student field trips at The Farm! It’s a wonderful way to educate children about the needs and struggles of children their age living in their communities. What an investment of compassion and care in the next generation!
This school year we hosted second graders from Harvest Christian Academy, fifth graders from Christian Heritage Academy, and high schoolers from Summit School in Elgin. Each visit included a jaunt around Activity Path to learn about fostering and The Ruth Project as well as service projects such as bagging animal feed and fence-painting. We ended each with a picnic lunch in the maple grove before saying farewell. We already have repeat visits scheduled with these schools and will be expanding our reach to even more schools in our community.
The Ruth Project is very excited to welcome Ainsley Klemm to our team! Ainsley joins Hannah Learned as our second Boutique Co-Coordinator, working as partners to intentionally care for our foster families and their children at the Boutique. Ainsley has a BA in Christian Ministries and is pursuing her MA in Ministry and Leadership. Her love for the Lord and His Word and sharing both makes Ainsley a great fit for The Ruth Project! We look forward to her teaming with Hannah to continue running the Boutique as a well-oiled machine and loving our families well. Be sure to say “hi” to Ainsley when you see her!