Crisis center honors victim advocates

Elgin's Community Crisis Center held its 17th annual "Partners in Peace" breakfast Friday to recognize those that provided outstanding service to domestic violence victims.

This year's honorees were 16th Circuit Judge Patricia Piper Golden; Vincent Gambino, professor emeritus at Roosevelt University; Ecker Center for Mental Health; the Hanover Park Police Department; and Rita Wiley, legislative community liaison.

Pam Fettes, a domestic abuse survivor who received counseling at the crisis center, was a guest speaker at the breakfast.

The event was held this year at the Elgin Country Club.

The annual breakfast helps kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, said Sharon Burner, domestic violence program coordinator at the center.

"People in all areas of the community work with victims of domestic violence," Burner said. "It's important because a domestic violence program can provide a lot of really important services."

The Community Crisis Center was founded in 1975, and provides resources and support to victims of sexual abuse or domestic violence, and those facing economic hardships.

Services include medical, legal and welfare support, emergency shelter, individual and group counseling, and assistance with food, clothing, rent and utilities.

"The crisis center can't do this alone," Burner said. "We really need all these partners working together. This is a community problem."

For more information on domestic violence, you can visit the crisis center online at www.crisiscenter.org, or call the 24-hour crisis hotline at (847) 697-2380.