PADS
OF
E LGIN
T HE J OURNEY T OWARDS
H OME
V OLUME 9, I SSUE 1
Everyone is
excited to see the
arrival of spring,
but few people are
happier than the
folks here at
PADS. After a
winter of record
setting lows and
snow falls, Spring
signals the end of a
season where the
staff and
volunteers worked
around the clock
to keep the shelter
open 24 hours a
day for our guests
in crisis.
Though our usual
hours of operation
are 7pm-7am, any
time extreme
temperatures
present, the
shelter stays open
for emergency
services. For that
reason the Hoeft
Resource Center
stayed open a
record 47 days this
Winter. Many of
our most
vulnerable guests,
including children,
sought refuge from
the strong winds
and freezing
temperatures
outside.
A special “thank
you” to the many
volunteers who
helped make this
incredible effort
possible.
Individuals and
church groups
volunteered time
or donated extra
food and coffee to
serve during the
extended hours.
S PRING , 2014
Still others
collected warm
clothing like wool
socks and long
underwear for
guests who needed
to venture out into
the cold.
With the help of
our community we
were able to
weather this trying
winter and provide
members of our
community with a
safe alternative to
staying on the
streets. Thanks to
everyone, especially
volunteers and staff
members, for their
efforts. Here is to a
warm and sunny
spring!
PADS Board of
Directors
Ronald Barkby
President, Consultant
Susan Angell-Case
Baird & Warner
Dr. Douglas Kramp, PHD
Retired
Dan Fox
Consultant
Susan Moylan
Retired
Charles Falls
Demi & Cooper
Joyce Lueth
First Community Bank
Deb McGuire
Social Worker, LCSW
Beth Kruger
DeVry University
Jennifer Sellers Wong
Attorney at Law
V OLUME 9, I SSUE 1
P AGE 2
SPRING AND SUMMER SAVE THE DATES!
May 3rd:
July 11th, 12th, 13th
Bethlehem Lutheran
Church Strawberry
Festival
Greekfest Parking
Fundraiser
working with children.This is
our biggest fundraiser of the
summer!
Volunteer a few hours to help
run the parking lot at this
annual fundraiser.Then head
over to the fest to enjoy a
gyro!
For more information or to
volunteers for summer
events please contact that
PADS office at 847-6089744!
This seasonal celebration,
featuring the best strawberry
treats you’ll have all year,
supports the church and local
missions including PADS.
May 18th 11-2pm
August 16th, 17th,
23rd, 24th
PADS Annual Volunteer
“Thank You” Party
Day Out With Thomas
the Train Fundraiser
Come enjoy food and
entertainment as we honor the
efforts of our fabulous
volunteers.
This yearly event spans two
weekends in August in Union,
IL.Volunteers fill various fun
jobs around the museum
DIRECTOR’S LETTER: REDISCOVERING JOY IN THE JOURNEY
The year 2013 was very trying
for many PADS staff members.
WE grieved the deaths of staff,
friends, and family. We
experienced the effects of
failing relative’s health and
domestic violence. But above
all, we saw more guests than
ever before and sheltered a
record number of children.
The miserable weather of the
winter of 2014 seemed to be
telling us that we would be
seeing more of the same (more
suffering people and the same
or fewer resources from
government). While this was
clearly the case, so was the
amazing response from
volunteers, staff, board
members, local businesses and
individuals to meet the need.
The words of a particular song
called “Shout to the North”
keep running through my head:
“Rise up Church on broken
wings, fill this place with songs
again, of our God who reigns
on high. By His Grace again
we’ll fly.”
the journey. We have
welcomed several new
volunteer groups and received
a number of surprise
donations. A brightening of the
shadows that have surrounded
many clients has begun with
the glimmer of warmer
weather, and even though our
nightly numbers have risen, we
are seeing fewer children
overall.
Beginning with the first week
of January, continuing with the
amazing response to our
Winter Harvest fund raiser and
through today we are
beginning to rediscover joy in
It is our hope that this Easter
Season will continue to show
promise for the area’s most
needy. –Dennis Hewitt,
4/2/14
V OLUME 9, I SSUE 1
P AGE 3
Please enjoy photos from our annual Stars Dance for PADS of Elgin dance contest!
Contestants (clockwise from top left) Tim and Laurie Williams, last year’s champions
Laura Kay and Zach Bernardoni, Sarah and John Slater, Anna and Marc Moeller,
Margaret and Brandon Fox, and this year’s winners Marlene and Dave Daubert! Congratulations to our dancers, who raised over $20,000. View more images and video of
the contest online at facebook.com/padsofelgin. (Photos courtesy of James Harvey)
Name_______________________________________
I would like more information on:
Address______________________________________

Upcoming events
City_____________

Volunteering in the shelter

Volunteering for special events or in the
PADS office
State____
Zip_________
Email___________________________
Phone___________________________
I would like to donate to PADS of Elgin to help fight
homelessness in my community, please accept my gift of:
__$25 __$50 __$75 __$100 __$200 __Other
Please make all checks payable to PADS of Elgin
Please fill out this form and
return to:
PADS of Elgin, Inc.
1730 Berkley St.
Elgin, IL 60123
PADS
OF
E LGIN
PADS of Elgin, Inc. is committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness by
addressing the needs of the local homeless population. PADS provides temporary
overnight shelter and counseling services to individuals in need.
1730 Berkley St.
Elgin, IL 60123
Phone: 847-608-9744
Fax: 847-608-9746
E-mail: [email protected]
Office Hours: Mon-Friday 9:00-4:00
www.padsofelgin.org
PADS has been the catalyst in fostering community and social service agency
partnerships that effectively and efficiently provide coordinated services in support
of short-term as well as longer-term customized care targeting client growth,
development, and self sufficiency.
No Winter lasts forever; no Spring skips
its turn.
-Hal Borland
G ET I NVOLVED W ITH PADS
There are many different
ways to volunteer with
PADS.
Individuals are needed to
help at shelter sites.
Volunteers check in the
guests, distribute blankets
and sleeping pads, and assist
serving coffee and snacks.
Volunteers are also
encouraged to assist with
organizing and operating
fundraisers and special
events.
PADS operates
several such events a year,
including The Illinois Railway Museum’s Thomas The
Tank Engine Event, and The
Winter Harvest Dinner
Dance and Auction.
Finally, PADS accepts
donations of food supplies
and personal items. These
items are distributed to our
guests to help fill basic
needs. Some examples of
required items are listed to
the right. For details and
sizes needed for clothing
items please contact the
PADS Office.
To Volunteer in any way
please contact the PADS
Office at 847-608-9744.
OF
E LGIN
PADS Ongoing Needs
Toilet Paper
Creamer
Paper or Foam Dinner orLuncheon Plates
Coffee
Powder Laundry Soap
Peanut Butter
Kool Aide Packets
Jam or Jelly
45 Gallon Plastic Garbage Bags
Sugar (Packets or Bulk)
Travel Size Foot Powder*
8oz Foam Coffee Cups
Travel Size Kleenex*
Plastic Spoons
Backpacks
Plastic Forks
Men’s Sneakers
Napkins
*Personal hygiene products in
travel size only, please
Foam Cereal Bowls