Demand still high at local nonprofit agencies

Recently, the Courier News has run a few articles focusing on some of the agencies we at United Way of Elgin support. Both articles center around the increased demand that started last year and currently remains just as high. With the economy just starting to turn, it seems it will be a while before these service agencies can start to balance out and return to more “normal” levels, or at least pre-recession levels.

Some highlighted facts from the articles:

• PADS provides meals and emergency housing for an average 40 to 55 Elgin area men, women and children each night.
• The fastest growing segment of shelter users at PADS is children.
• The homeless liaison at U46 has worked with 250 students this year, which is 110 more than last year, and last year’s numbers included flood victims—this year there have been no such natural disaster causes.
• 60 percent of the adults that PADS assists are “working poor”– men and women who, when at the shelter, get up early, help clean and then go to their jobs
• From January through July, the Crisis Center handed out more food than it did in the previous 12 months.
• The crisis center shelters about 40 women and children a night, with the average stay about 15 days per guest.
• 35-45 families a week get food from Two Rivers Head Start
• The Salvation Army recently experienced its largest-ever number for requests in a single day, 172, and had to turn 4-5 families away.
• The Salvation Army and other agencies are working toward the possibility of opening a food warehouse specifically to supply Elgin and South Elgin pantries.

The full articles can be read here:

Season of Need, A challenging winter ahead for agencies that help the homeless

Pantries Brace for Shortage of Food

If you’d like to help, a few volunteer opportunities are listed below. Click the link to sign up or find out more information:

Food Sorting and Distribution, Salvation Army, every Thursday and Friday to sort, pack and deliver food to needy families.

Reruns too, Resale Shop, Community Crisis Center, accept donations, assist customers, and organize merchandise.

Lobby Assistant, Community Crisis Center, Assist mornings in the lobby by greeting guests, filling food bags, handing out coats, hats, gloves and diapers. Providing a much needed smile!

Volunteer at an Emergency Shelter, PADS of Elgin, Distribute linens and food, help check guests, and assist in other shelter activities.

Tags: Crisis Center, Elgin, emergency shelter, Food pantry, PADS of Elgin, Salvation Army, U46, United Way, United Way of Elgin, Volunteer Opportunities