Our last Rotary Club meeting was a joint one with the Deerfield Club. It was fun to get together and share a report on a joint project of our two clubs – “Coats Off Your Back” – to support PADS (Providing Advocacy, Dignity & Shelter).
John Cavanaugh, Northbrook Rotary, who has coordinated the annual program for several years mentioned there are about 20 collection barrels around town. But says “as businesses close (eliminating access to barrels) we are doing the best we can.” Deerfield has a dozen barrels placed in their town.
PADS speakers included Attorney Richard Greenswag, one of their long time volunteers and Emeritus Board Member, who introduced a touching video about a homeless couple. This video provides a vastly different face of homelessness. Especially now.
Some images of homeless people imply that homeless people are all mentally ill, often dirty, disheveled migrants. But today – especially with the job losses during the pandemic - this may not be the case at all.
A letter sent to PADS from “Craig” who received services this year gives you an idea:
“I never thought I’d be in a situation where I would wind up on the streets not knowing where my next meal would come from, or where I’d be sleeping that night, but it happened to me on April 3rd, 2020. I was freezing and hungry sleeping under a playground play area in a park along the banks of Gages Lake, feeling helpless and in despair. Not only that, but a worldwide health crisis was also about to hit Lake County………Many who think PADS is nothing more than a place where the homeless hang out, they are sorely mistaken. PADS provided me with a chance to start fresh and look to each day as a blessing.
Also speaking was Jamie Roberts, MA, PADS Director of Development & Communications who “believes that philanthropy makes incredible things possible and is responsible for raising funds, creating awareness, and fostering community engagement & support for PADS in the hope that one day everyone in Lake County will have a place to call home.
She has spent her career garnering support for a wide range of social justice organizations and causes, and is thrilled to be a part of the PADS team where she works to create a community where everyone has sturdy foundations in stable housing and the opportunity to not only survive, but to flourish.”
552,830 Americans are homeless and needlessly suffering tonight
1 in every 588 Americans is homeless.
194,467 people will sleep on the street across the USA tonight (HUD 2018).
The ten states with the highest homeless rates account for 55% of the homeless population - CA, NY, FL, TX, WA, MA, OR, PA, IL, CO.
18% are chronically homeless (HUD 2018).
7% are unaccompanied youth under 25 (HUD 2018).
7% are veterans (HUD 2018).
Donation bins can be found in Northbrook at the Village Hall; Library; Sunset Foods; Orange Theory; Waterway, American Weathermakers and the Methodist Church.
Find out more for ways to help the homeless at https://www.padslakecounty.org/
The American Legion Post in Northbrook is collecting NEW, UNWRAPPED toys for The U.S. Marine Corp Annual Toys for Tots campaign
According to the Marine Corp Foundation’s site, “Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major Bill Hendricks.”
Toys are needed for all ages of children and are distributed for the holidays through requests from any non-profit organization serving families or children. In 2019, in Lake County 71,311 were distributed to 24,932 children, and Chicago served 48,955 children. This year many locations are behind in their donations, so help is appreciated.
DEADLINE: Donations must be dropped off ON Tuesdays in December 1st, 8th & 15th, when the Post is open between noon and 6:00 PM at 1354 Shermer Rd. Ste. B.
Gary Moriello has volunteered to let us drop of at his home (call him first) and he and Mitch will take them over if it works better for you. For more details contact The George W. Benjamin American Legion Post #791 at (847) 564-9558 or email Tom Coogan <tommyciii@msn.com>
Report from Gary & Bev: Regarding Operation Santa Claus, ALL CHILDREN ARE COVERED, and thus not one child will be left out! Forty-four members of Northbrook Rotary participated in OSC 2020, which is approximately two-thirds of our membership. Also, the members of Deerfield Rotary sponsored over a dozen children! FYI, the schools are still planning how to distribute the gifts to the children, so we do not have any additional information on that part of this project.
IMPORTANT NOTE: What we DO need right now is for members who took wish lists - to deliver those completed gifts - to our house (4275 Lindenwood Lane, Northbrook) by this coming Monday, 11/30/20.
