The Outreach House new location integrates all four community programs under one roof
The Outreach House, a nonprofit organization helping low-income individuals and families in York Township, Addison and Glendale Heights, announced the grand opening of its new location at 805 S. Main St., Suite A, Lombard.
The relocation allows for all four of The Outreach House community programs to be under one roof.
The Outreach House programs include: The Food Pantry - food assistance; First Things First - diapers, clothes up to 5T and other infant needs; Walk-In Assistance - emergency financial needs; and the Clothes Closet, with seasonally appropriate clothing for all ages (over 5T) including outerwear and shoes. Previously, these programs were run out of two separate locations.
The Walk-In-Assistance and First Things First programs were located near the First Church of Lombard, and the Lombard/Villa Park Food Pantry and Clothes Closet were located at the First United Methodist Church on Main Street.
"Our new space is more accessible and convenient for guests. As a result, we've seen an immediate increase of more than 20% in the number of families served in the past month. We never turn anyone away on their first visit, and if from outside our service area refer them to a pantry or other organization in their locality. We encourage guests to take what they need for their families for the week, and we have removed limits on most items offered," says Executive Director Catherine Lynott.
"Guests can receive emergency financial assistance for utility bills to avoid services being shut off, or shop for clothes, diapers, and food with dignity in areas designed to look like a store. When kids come with their parents, they are excited to go shopping and don't realize they are at a pantry."
The demand for assistance continues to grow. Low wages, unpredictable work hours, rising food and gas costs, and the high cost of housing in DuPage County all contribute to families having to choose between purchasing food, diapers and hygiene products and paying essential bills for housing, transportation and medical expenses. Diapers alone can cost a family $80 per month for each child, and child care centers require parents to provide their own diapers.
In DuPage County, 22.4% of families fall under ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) indicating that even though at least one household member is working they are not bringing in enough income to meet their family's basic needs. Within York Township there are 22,220 (18%) children under the age of 3 who live in households earning less than the federal poverty level ($26,500 for a family of 4).
"We are extremely thankful for community business partners and organizations who provided contributions of funding and in-kind support for this project," says Hester Bury, coordinator of The Outreach House Food Pantry.
These organizations made financial contributions or donated essential equipment, labor and materials for the new Outreach House construction project: Brokerage Transportation Sales, Doyle Signs, DuPage Foundation, Forefront/Mission Sustainability Mission, Grafe Auctions, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Jericho Road Church, Kinsale Contracting Group Inc., Northern Illinois Food Bank, Oakwood Contractors, and Michael Swastek, Boy Scout Troop 199.
The Outreach House is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 11:45 a.m., Wednesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. and the third Saturday of the month from 9 to 11 a.m.
For more information on how to get help, make donations or volunteer, visit www.theoutreachhouse.org or contact us at info@theoutreachhouse.org.