Event at auto repair shop to benefit homeless

A benefit bash this weekend for Bridge Communities will bring the concept of "hanging out in the garage" to a whole new level.

The Garage Party on Saturday, Feb. 7, is at Gearhead Auto Repair in Glen Ellyn, a fitting locale for an event to raise money for the Auto Donation Program for Bridge Communities, the largest transitional housing program in DuPage County. Tickets, $40 each, include appetizers, a cash bar and entertainment by the Local Favorite band.

"It's a neat tie-in," said Bridge Communities co-founder Mark Milligan. "The proceeds are used to help repair donated automobiles. Our clients are all homeless people living in DuPage County."

The donated wheels assist needy families is obtaining and keeping steady employment.

This is the second year for the garage party concept, and last year's event at Gearhead drew hundreds of people to the Glen Ellyn auto repair business, allowing supporters to grease the wheels of Bridge Communities without getting their fingernails dirty.

By helping Bridge Communities, supporters are helping local children. Milligan explained that all the clients Bridge works to assist have at least one minor child.

"We have about 75 families in care at any given time," Milligan said.

"Our work with the kids doesn't often get mentioned. We work really hard with them to get them back on track in school," he said.

There are four major goals for Bridge Communities when it comes to lifting families out of homelessness, Milligan said. First, stabilize the families. Then, raise the family income and eliminate debt. Finally, teach the family to use resources to the best of their ability.

"We have a marvelous track record," Milligan said. "For the families who complete our program, 95 percent are able to obtain permanent housing. That's a remarkable percentage in homeless statistics."

Joyce Hothan, executive director of Bridge Communities, agreed that the unique and fun location of the auto repair shop is a perfect fit for the event. She credits the party organizers, known as the Bridge Builders.

"The group we call Bridge Builders is a group of women in Glen Ellyn who have adopted Bridge," Hothan said.

She explained that in the summer of 2003, she got to know Stephanie Pierce. Pierce had sent in a donation with a note in it that she'd like to help Bridge Communities in some way. There are ways to volunteer with Bridge that include mentoring homeless families, but that is not what Pierce had in mind.

"In our conversation she said, 'I have a lot of friends in Glen Ellyn who would like to do something to help.'" Hothan said.

Out of that meeting, the Bridge Builders were born. That fall, a fundraising event at the Lake Ellyn Boat House raised $3,000. The group of women, led by Pierce, have held at least one fundraising event per year to benefit Bridge.

"It's been growing ever since," Hothan said.

Hothan is grateful for the ideas, manpower and enthusiasm that the Bridge Builders are willing to put into these events.

"They're taking on these projects," she said. "To put on a couple of parties a year takes a lot of time and energy."

According to Hothan, that allows Bridge to concentrate on what it does best - helping homeless families.

Milligan agreed.

"This is a dedicated group of Glen Ellyn women."

But that doesn't mean they don't know how to party.

"They do like to have fun," he added.

The Garage Party runs 7 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Gearhead Auto Repair, 474 Forest Ave. Glen Ellyn. Tickets are available at the door.

For details, e-mail bridgebuilders@yahoo.com. For information on Bridge Communities, visit bridgecommunities.org or call Hothan at (630) 545-0610. To hear samples of the music of the Local Favorite band, visit localfavoriteband.com.

• Kathy Slovick writes about Glen Ellyn.