Update: Bruce Johnson’s Run Across the US for the Crisis Center

Bruce Johnson run for Crisis Center

Bruce Johnson is one month into his run across the country for the Crisis Center of Elgin, from Florida to California. He’s made it through Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and is currently in Arkansas. In a few days he’ll hit Texas. He averages around 26 miles a day (a marathon every day!) and today will reach his 800th mile.

The incredible distance aside, he’s endured a lot on his adventure, from nearly being run over by a semi on day 12 to a twisted ankle and shin splints to being attacked by dogs. However, he’s had some incredible moments as well, like on Day 18 when a homeless man saw he was running across the US, and without knowing the cause donated $5. You can follow his daily journals on his website.

Most importantly, though, his run is raising money for Elgin’s Community Crisis Center, and he’s up to $7,001 raised as of today. He is regularly visited by local media in towns he runs through, and so it’s possible that is helping to drum up support for his run. And as usual, Elginites are pulling through with donations for this great cause. The donation site is asking for $12 donations, to cover the cost of 1 foot of the run. You can donate here.

You can also keep up with Bruce on his Twitter and Facebook, where he currently has over 1,700 fans.

And if his effort doesn’t inspire you to donate, his reason for running should be motivation enough: “I run for the Crisis Center because I know how it feels to have no place to go; to be abused by the people who are supposed to love you; and, to try to make a new and better life for yourself.”

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.

Elgin citizens Live United for the holiday season

Decorations are up around Downtown Elgin, local radio stations are starting to play holiday music, and people are starting to think it’s that time again! And what we like best about the holiday season is that people are in the spirit of giving. More people are using our Volunteer Opportunity tool than any other time of year. People are calling in to United Way of Elgin to find out what they can do to help families in need. So here are a few things the Elgin area is doing this holiday season. We’ll add more to the blog as we find out about them!

Salvation Army Bell Ringers: We all know the holidays have arrived when we see the familiar red kettle campaign. Volunteer beginning Friday, Nov. 21 to ring bells locally with a friend, your family, or by yourself.

Holiday Toy Drives: Two local agencies, the Community Crisis Center and Salvation Army, are hosting Holiday Toy Drives. You can volunteer to help sort donations, or to give them to families at the event. Read more here.

Operation Jingle Bells: Operation Jingle Bells gives local families in need gifts of up to $500. Promoted by the Courier News, the fund grants the wishes of various families recommended by township organizations or nonprofits. Priority is given to families with young children, senior citizens, or the disabled. In the past it’s paid for anything from providing toys for families who can’t afford them to fixing a home heater to providing an emergency button for a senior with health issues. Read more here.

Toys for Tots Drop-off: The Marine Corps League Elgin Detachment 077, in partnership with Kim’s Black Belt Academy, has designated the academy as a designated Toys for Tots drop-off center. Now through December 20, you can drop off new unwrapped toys. Drop off on M-Th, 4pm – 9pm and Sa, 9am – 3pm. To make a donation, make checks payable to Marine Corps League Elgin Detachment 077 (Toys for Tots). You can mail them to Kim’s Black Belt Academy, 5 South Spring Street, Elgin, IL 60120.