Palatine center warms those in need
Yanin Nava of Palatine faced a familiar worry this year, as temperatures started to dip: how to keep her young children outfitted in clothes for the winter.
"My kids grow so fast," says Nava, a single mother of three, who works as a translator for a landscaping company. "Sometimes your budget gets really low."
Nava was one of the more than 1,300 people who came to the Palatine Opportunity Center to select from hundreds of donated winter coats and jackets, clothes, jeans, boots, shoes, hats, gloves and scarves, and new packages of underwear and socks.
A grassroots organization known as PATH, or Palatine Assisting Through Hope, sponsored the third annual "Day of Giving," opening it up on Friday night and continuing it on Saturday this year.
"The coats were in hot demand, and snow pants were at a real premium," said Andy Konopka of Inverness, of PATH.
More than 300 people came through on Friday night and then more than 1,000 showed up on Saturday, with more than 600 alone coming through during the first hour.
"We know that with this economy, families are not always able to afford such basic needs such as winter clothing and coats," said Rich Tyack of Palatine, of PATH. "This year, it seems to be even more of a crisis."
Kathy Millin, executive director of the Palatine Opportunity Center, knew the demand for the clothing would be high.
"It was pretty heavy all through the morning, but everyone was very considerate and patient," Millin said. "And there were lots of thank yous."
Organizers said it as a real community event, with donations from local businesses, schools, churches and the Palatine Police Department.
Palatine police officers Patricia Kaczorowki and Michelle Sierzega delivered 300 coats and jackets from their ongoing coat drive, while more donations came in from Prince of Peace Lutheran and St. Theresa churches, both in Palatine, Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Lake Villa, Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance in Itasca, and Associated Material Handling in Addison, to name a few.
Teens on hand to help during the distribution came from Palatine High School's Students Against Destructive Decisions club and Fremd High School's student council, as well as community supporters of PATH.