'Day of Giving' organizers expect another big turnout this Saturday

For the fourth year, a grass-roots organization known as PATH, or Palatine Assisting Through Hope, will mount its "Day of Giving" on Saturday to provide families in the Northeast section of Palatine with clothes and outerwear for the winter.

The event is 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Palatine Opportunity Center, 1585 N. Rand Road, where families already come for job placement and referrals for other social services. All clothing is free.

To get ready, more than 60 volunteers worked over two days in the multipurpose room at Sanborn Elementary School in Palatine, sorting through more than 700 bags of donated clothes.

"The generosity from the community this year is overwhelming," said Debbie Rohrwasser of Palatine. "Last year, we filled two trucks with clothing. This year, we'll fill nearly three."

They anticipate the turnout of families needing the extra clothing and winter outerwear to be just as big.

Last year's Day of Giving drew 1,300 people, or more than 300 families and PATH thinks this year's distribution will draw even more, with an increase in the number of families losing jobs and facing foreclosure.

"Due to the economy, we're bracing ourselves for an even bigger turnout this year," said Rich Tyack of Palatine, one of the founders.

Donations came from collections held at Palatine and Fremd high schools, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Palatine, Arthur Gallagher & Co. in Itasca, and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Lake Villa, as well 230 coats from the Palatine Police drive.

Volunteers included employees from Omron in Schaumburg, Vantage Financial in Arlington Heights, high school and church groups, as well as people from a network of local families in the community who support PATH.

"That's what I like about it, that families can do this together," said Joy Kaufmann of Hoffman Estates, who worked alongside her 11-year-old son, Jonah.

Throughout the year, PATH works with social workers in Palatine Township Elementary District 15, Palatine Township and the Palatine Opportunity Center to identify families in need.

Whatever clothes they have left over from Saturday, they will donate to PHD Women's Counseling Center, WINGS, PADS and the Coat Closet run by District 15. They also will set aside clothes for families in the future who find themselves in crisis.