Effort to help homeless marks 25th anniversary

Twenty-five years after a small group of citizens and churches founded PADS or Public Action to Deliver Shelter in an effort to lift up the homeless and dispossessed in the local community, Journeys|The Road Home continues that mission.

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, about 100 volunteers and supporters gathered to celebrate the milestone.

The nonprofit agency that provides services and shelter to families and individuals that have lost, or are in danger of losing, their homes in North and Northwest suburban Cook County held a combination annual board meeting and silver anniversary celebration at Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center in downtown Palatine.

The evening began with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and was followed by recognition of the original volunteers and all 27 churches that have participated in the PADS program, including Meadows Baptist Church in Rolling Meadows, which hosted the first PADS site. There was also a slideshow presentation on the history of the program.

"In watching the presentation on the first 25 years of PADS and how this all came to be, I was so moved by the truly enormous generosity and caring of the people who saw the homeless in our community and worked tirelessly to help them," said Lisa Eckert, board president. "They were true pioneers. So to all of them I say 'thank you' on behalf of so many who have been helped by their strength and perseverance."

Eckert said that the PADS churches provide homeless people with "not only hot meals and warm beds, but hope and dignity to all who enter."

"Over the years we've been able to help thousands of people in our local community who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless," said Beth Nabors, executive director. "Last year the number of Journeys' clients who were at-risk for homelessness was higher than the number of people we saw who were actually homeless. This year that difference has leveled out."

"We continue to see a large number of families with children in our Hope Center," said Nabors. "It's hard not to become emotional when kids come in. No parent ever dreams of this for their child. But thankfully they do have a place to go where there are truly loving and compassionate people and resources to help them get back on their road home."

Eckert acknowledged the work of the staff and the board, and also welcomed in a new young professionals auxiliary board elected that night.

"The Journeys Young Professionals Auxiliary Board is comprised of young professionals ages 21-40," said Eckert. "They will play a vital role in spreading the word about Journeys to a younger demographic and will also have their own fundraising goals. We are really excited to have them as part of our board and know that the number of their group is still growing."

Journeys will hold its biggest fundraiser of the year, the 10th annual Bid for Hope, on Nov. 14 at Medinah Country Club. For information, visit www.journeystheroadhome.org.