Help WINGS to help neighbors again
We've had more than a rough week of weather, but perhaps the greatest damage was done a week ago when it appears lightning might have hit a transformer, causing a fire and destroying a store in Palatine.
On that day, it could be said without exaggeration, that hundreds of lives were threatened. On that day, it was the WINGS, or Women In Need Growing Stronger, resale shop that burned to the ground.
Thankfully, no one was physically hurt in the fire that day, but a crisis remains in all our communities as a result.
WINGS is a nonprofit organization, begun in 1985, that provides a range of services designed to stem domestic violence and homelessness for suburban and Chicago-area families. When those flames claimed all the donated clothing, household goods and furniture a week ago, it also took the nonprofit group's highest revenue generator among its three resale stores. Others are located in Niles and Schaumburg. Opened a decade ago, that one store at a prime location facing Northwest Highway generated $500,000 annually, Executive Director Rebecca Darr said. That money was used to provide domestic violence victims with emergency shelter and transitional services. Most often, those victims are women and children. Those women and children are our neighbors and friends and family members. Now more than ever, they need our help.
WINGS volunteers and employees have done good, important work in our communities for 25 years now. The latest Internal Revenue Service forms and the latest annual report, available with others on its website and at independent charity watch websites, show the nonprofit spent just under 17 percent of its expenses on administrative and fundraising costs in the fiscal year ending in 2008. In that same year, nearly one full quarter of the group's revenue came from its resale shops. In that same year, 315 residents received 40,271 nights of safe shelter.
WINGS is more than a shelter for abused women and children. It also provides services that help victims escape the cycle of violence and poverty. WINGS provides therapy and financial counseling, children and family services, transitional housing, mentoring programs and career counseling to those who need it.
These are challenging times, but we rise to challenges. Tax deductible cash contributions can be made at WINGS' website, wingsprogram.com or mailed to P.O. Box 95615, Palatine, IL 60095. Donations of gently used clothing and housewares can be made from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting Saturday at a donated warehouse at 345 Eric Ave. near the intersection of Colfax and Smith roads in Palatine. Let's help WINGS get back to helping our neighbors in need. It's time to help WINGS rise again.