PADS shelters need nighttime volunteers in Northwest suburbs

Journeys/The Road Home is in need of volunteers to staff its overnight PADS shelters that serve the homeless population in Northwest Cook County. According to Journeys Shelter Director Pat Harrington, no experience or special background is required, just a compassionate willingness to help others.

"Journeys has a severe shortage of PADS volunteers this year," Harrington said. "With overnight temperatures starting to get colder, our PADS season will begin Oct. 1 and run through April 30, and without both male and female volunteers at each of our sites, we will be unable to serve the large homeless population in our area. Please consider giving even one or two evenings of your time a month.

"Last year our PADS shelters served nearly 1,000 clients, many of them not just single men, but women, children, and families. We are the only provider of temporary shelter and social services in North and Northwest Cook County that helps the homeless and at-risk. We provide meals, safe shelter, and assistance to stabilize a difficult situation."

Harrington said that Journeys coordinates 18 PADS sites, all of which are located at area churches. Volunteers are needed in the early evening hours for the setup and first shifts which run from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m., but she said the need is especially critical for the overnight shifts. One male and one female volunteer are needed for the second shift from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. and the third from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. Responsibilities for these two periods include: maintaining the intake desk, admitting approved late arrivals, packing lunches on the second shift, and making breakfast and awakening clients on the third shift.

Volunteers are required to attend one 90-minute training session that includes learning how to interact with the homeless. More information is at www.journeystheroadhome.org.