McHenry Co. PADS expands day center, transportation hours into weekend

Starting on Saturday, Dec. 10, McHenry County PADS, a program of Pioneer Center for Human Services, is expanding its day center and transportation services to fill a greater need in the community. These services will begin operating seven days a week throughout the cold weather season until April 30 of next year, a major change for homelessness services in the county.

"The PADS team is very passionate about helping the community of people we serve. It is very exciting that we were able to expand our services to fill the need," said Carrie Freund, PADS manager. "It's going to be life changing for the community and more importantly, the people we help."

Every day the program's Day Center in Woodstock will open at 7 a.m. to provide shelter from the cold, a warm meal, connectivity to case managers and access to showers and laundry facilities. The Day Center on average sees 30 to 35 individuals using its services on any given day. In addition, the program's transportation services are expanding to include Saturdays and Sundays so that individuals have access to rides to and from emergency church site shelters who host on average 30 to 40 people a night.

When asked how these changes would affect them, clients at McHenry County PADS shared the following:

"I really think that it's a great idea that we now have transportation on Saturday and Sunday. It gives us all somewhere to go now on the weekends and not be stuck outside in the cold." - Traci Hill

"It is very helpful to me because now I have a warm place to go during the day." - Kevin Lewis

"Helps on clients with cars on gas. It helps so we don't have to freeze in the cold weather if walking to different sites because a lot of people can't afford taxis." - Stacy Rudolph

"The extra hours are a very good thing that will help when the temperature falls. Also, the bus will help us from the cold and snow" - Anonymous

Each year, McHenry County PADS provides services to nearly 300 men, women and children who have become homeless. Daily reports on the organization's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/mchenrycountypads, have shown about 30 to 40 people utilizing the services each day this winter so far.

"The Pioneer PADS team welcomes this opportunity to further serve those that are homeless. The people we serve are important community members that want the best for their families, want to succeed and have much to offer to our community," said Sam Tenuto, interim president and CEO of Pioneer Center.

Individuals interested in helping support the work of McHenry County PADS should consider making a donation to the program's year-end appeal at www.GiftofShelter.org.