Shelter Inc. looking for help for tag days
Shelter Inc. is seeking volunteers to serve as "taggers" at the 18th annual Shelter-A-Child Tag Days, held May 9-11 at stores throughout the Northwest suburbs.
Over the past 18 years, Shelter's taggers have included individuals and families, civic groups, corporate volunteer groups and school groups. Approximately 200 taggers are needed this year.
"We encourage all those who have a heart for children and a few hours free that weekend to join us in helping children in need," said director of development Carol Brown.
Taggers solicit contributions in two-hour shifts throughout the Northwest suburbs. On May 9, taggers are needed from 6-8 a.m. at the Metra stations in Arlington Heights, Arlington Park, Barrington, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect and Palatine. Volunteers are also needed in front of Dominick's, Jewel-Osco, and Wal-Mart stores from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Participating stores are in Arlington Heights, Barrington, Bartlett, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Glenview, Highland Park, Hoffman Estates, Lake Zurich, Mount Prospect, Niles, Palatine, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, South Elgin, Streamwood and Wheeling.
Proceeds will benefit Shelter, a licensed and accredited community-based nonprofit child welfare agency.
Shelter-A-Child Tag Days is sponsored by the Kappa Delta Sorority Chicago Northwest Suburban Alumnae Association and Harris N.A.
Spring Into Spring: The Shelter Inc. Auxiliary and Chicago Botanic Gardens invite all gardeners to attend "Spring Into Spring With The Shelter Inc. Auxiliary and the Chicago Botanic Garden," held at 9:30 a.m. Friday. The Chicago Botanic Garden is at 1000 Lake-Cook Road in Glencoe.
"Spring Into Spring" is a demonstration and hands-on workshop led by the professionals at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Guests will enjoy a continental breakfast while receiving instruction in the art of gardening. After the workshop, attendees can walk among 385 acres of woods, waterways, 23 formal gardens and three natural areas.
"We are honored by the auxiliary's devotion and commitment to our children, and are blessed by their creativity and in coordinating unique and festive special events," said Carol Brown, Shelter Inc.'s director of development. "Most importantly, the auxiliary's events help children in need."
The $65 admission includes parking, continental breakfast, instruction and supplies.
For more than 30 years, Shelter has provided emergency and longer-term care and housing for children and adolescents, birth through age 17.
Children and adolescents who are abused, neglected, dependent or in need of supervision are cared for in Emergency, Traditional and Home of Relative Foster Care programs, or in Shelter's three Group Homes -- the emergency-care Boys Group Home in Palatine and the Jennings Home for Girls in Schaumburg, or in the longer-term Older Adolescent Group Home in Arlington Heights for boys ages 16 to 17.
Shelter also provides the only Healthy Families program in the Northwest suburbs, a home visitation and parenting education program for first-time parents. Services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Shelter provides services in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties.
All proceeds benefit Shelter's programs for abused and neglected children and first-time parents. For information on the programs or to volunteer, call (847) 590-6188, ext. 22, or visit shelter-inc.org.