Downtown Palatine Merchants to help those in need
Palatine based Journeys from PADS to HOPE serves individuals and families in North and Northwest suburban Cook County who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Throughout March, several Downtown Palatine Merchants have banded together for a Drive for HOPE to assist with the needs of the clients of Journeys.
“The economic downturn over the past few years has changed the face of homelessness,” stated Sarah Martino, event coordinator at Journeys. “We have seen a dramatic increase in service requests from families with children ranging in age from newborns to 17 years old.”
Martino explained that in addition to the consistent needs of nonperishable foods and personal hygiene items, there is currently an urgent need for new infant bouncy seats and new portable cribs. Baby wipes, diapers and children's clothing have also seen an increase in demand.
Additional ongoing needs include donations of household cleaning supplies, individual condiment packets, new or like new clothing, socks, scarves, aspirin and bikes. Other urgent needs include a van or minivan in good condition for a family in need.
Donations can be dropped off during March at Foxglove Cottage located at 19 North Brockway; Cookie Cards located at 10 North Bothwell; Chandelier Boutique located at 17 West Wilson; Harrington Manor located at 16 South Bothwell; or Arete Salon & Spa located at 9 North Bothwell.
Additional information on the participating retailers can be found at www.downtownpalatine.org.
Journeys provides assistance to their clients through the collaborative effort of the HOPE Center clinical team and affiliated PADS emergency shelter sites. Focusing on intervention and prevention, the clinical staff at the HOPE Center provide an array of psychosocial services, including mental health counseling, vocational rehabilitation, and housing assistance. Journeys' new supportive housing program offers affordable temporary housing and consistent therapeutic support by the HOPE Center clinical team to help clients achieve independence. Journeys also administers 19 faith-based emergency shelter sites that provide a safe, warm place to sleep and hot meals.
Martino continued “Journeys provides hope to those that may feel there is no hope left.”
Journeys is located at 1140 E. Northwest Highway, in Palatine and donations may be delivered through the rear entrance between the hours of 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. More information on Journeys from PADS to HOPE can be found at www.padstohope.org or by calling (847) 963-9163, ext. 16.
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