Buying this card shows you do care

Want to help the Elgin community, but you don't have time to volunteer?

And the tight economy probably doesn't mean you have a lot of extra money to donate?

The folks at the Renz Addiction Counseling Center in Elgin has a solution for you.

The center in late 2007 launched a program called "Care to Share."

In an nutshell, a percentage of gift cards purchased at for local stores is donated to Renz.

Say you buy $100 in Jewel gift cards to do your grocery shopping.

You still get $100 worth of groceries and Jewel donates 2 percent, in this case $2, to Renz.

It's that simple, and the percentage donated ranges from 2 percent to 15 percent. The only downside is you have to pay Renz, a not-for-profit group, for the cards in advance and pick them up a week after your order.

Deb Howe, Renz director of marketing, said the group started Care to Share with its 47 employees late last year.

Now, they hope the public will want to help in buying the cards for gifts for others or even everyday expenses.

"You're not spending any more money," she said. "It's a terrific way to donate through these cards."

Wal-Mart, Carson Pirie Scott, J.C. Penney, and Kohl's Department stores, Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Borders, AMC Theater, Dominick's, and Amoco are some local participating stores.

Fine and fast food restaurant gift cards can also be purchased.

Elgin resident and Renz Center employee Lora Tovar said she uses Care to Share gift cars for items like gas and food.

"I can support Renz Center while at the same time get things I would buy anyway," she added.

For more information about the Care to Share program, visit Renz Center's Web site at www.renzcenter.com or call Lysette Pullman at (847) 742-3545, ext. 246, or e-mail her at lpullman@renzcenter.com.

Cold doesn't fit the mold: So it's -2 degrees with a wind chill that's even worse and you guess homeless shelters would be packed.

Not exactly.

At the Elgin's Public Action to Deliver Shelter, or PADS, last weekend's cold spell actually resulted in below average nightly attendance.

Dennis Hewitt, Elgin PADS executive director, said the number of people staying overnight was in the high 40s to low 50s.

"We were about average," he said. "Over the weekend, they can find a family that will take them in from the cold. During extremes, relatives reach out to loved ones."

The high mark since PADS opened its new facility at 1730 Berkley St., was 73 people in early 2007. The facility has a capacity of 60.

Follow the money: For the sixth year in a row, the village of South Elgin was recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association for outstanding work.

Village President James Hansen praised the efforts of Finance Director Arthur Skibley and his staff.

"It's almost become old hat for you," Hansen said. "They're going to have to come up with something harder for you guys (to earn)."

hhitzeman@dailyherald.com