WINGS appreciates community effort to combat domestic violence
This is the second straight year Daily Herald readers have selected WINGS as a recipient of the Neighbors in Need program.
WINGS CEO Rebecca Darr believes she knows why.
"I think we have shown the community that every resource they give to us, whether it's monetary or otherwise, we put it to good use," said Darr of Hoffman Estates.
Established in 1985 by a group of Schaumburg volunteers first as a nonprofit housing agency, Rolling Meadows-based WINGS quickly incorporated and shifted toward its mission to provide housing, services, education, mentoring and advocacy to end domestic violence.
It does so through emergency shelters, or as Darr termed, "safe houses," in the Northwest suburbs and on Chicago's South Side where women, men and their children may stay from 89-120 days.
WINGS, which has a 24-hour hotline at (847) 221-5680, also has 155 houses and apartments throughout the metropolitan area where victims of domestic violence may live up to two years.
It offers on-site intervention services in emergency rooms in Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Ascension St. Alexius in Hoffman Estates and Ascension Alexian Brothers facilities in Elk Grove Village.
A recently added subsidiary, A New Direction (AND), provides education, legal advocacy and referrals to domestic violence victims.
In addition, WINGS operates resale stores in Arlington Heights, Schaumburg and Niles where money from the sale of donated new and lightly used clothing, housewares, accessories and furniture go back into the program - and where graduates of WINGS shelters may receive items for free to use in their new locations.
Graduations are called "celebrations of courage," Darr said.
"Our families are coming from a real bad place, and we want to treat them like royalty and have them know that they are valued, and that we are going to support them through this difficult time to get back on their feet. Anytime we can get 'new anything' it goes to our clients," she said.
The Neighbors in Need program, in its third year, is a partnership with the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. Readers select five recipients annually for the program.
For each dollar readers donate the McCormick Foundation contributes 50 cents, meaning charities receive $1.50 for each $1 donated.
Since the Daily Herald and the McCormick Foundation initiated the fundraiser in 2021, Neighbors in Need has raised a total of $75,000 - $50,000 from readers and $25,000 in matching funds.
WINGS shared numbers showing not only a growing need, but also its ability to help people. In 2022 adults and their children spent 107,110 nights in a WINGS shelter, a 65% increase over the previous year.
Also in 2022, its resale stores generated more than $2.4 million, an all-time high.
In 2020, the onset and peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of text messages to the WINGS hotline increased 3,000%. Darr said the calls haven't slowed much since then.
Darr said the secret to success for a person leaving an abusive situation is long-term support that enables financial recovery. Otherwise, their options include remaining in a dangerous situation or homelessness.
"It's happening in every community. It doesn't matter if you're in Barrington, it doesn't matter if you're in Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates," Darr said. "It's sadly something that's a part of our society that we are working to change, and we can't do it without the support of the community. So, we're truly, truly appreciative."
WINGS
Year founded: 1985.
Number of people served: In 2022, WINGS served 984 clients who spent 107,110 nights in shelters, including a 65% increase in children over 2021.
Biggest needs: Monetary donations, new clothing items for resale stores, kids pajamas, stuffed animals.
Where to donate: <a href="http://wingsprogram.com/donate">wingsprogram.com/donate</a>
Call: (847) 519-7820