Partners for Our Communities (POC) Celebrates GivingTuesday and Builds HOPE
GivingTuesday kicks off Partners for Our Communities (POC) annual giving campaign. POC is joining millions around the world participating in the global generosity movement. This GivingTuesday, POC will inspire generosity by BUILDING HOPE for immigrant children and families living in the northwest suburbs. HOPE is directly related to health, academic achievement, and professional success. For thousands of people, POC is this HOPE!
POC's mission is to empower people and change lives by mobilizing other organizations, churches, schools, and local government to align a plethora of resources to meet clients where they are in their journey to sustainability and self-sufficiency.
For 25 years, donors and volunteers have provided HOPE to people of all ages and backgrounds through support of POC's programs and services that break down cultural barriers, lift up those residing in poverty, and make connections in areas of communities where neighbors live in isolation and despair.
POC's work began in a two-bedroom apartment complex in Palatine with three staff, and now through the community's continued generous support POC is operating out of 4 locations six days a week with a staff of 23 people. POC's dedicated staff and skilled volunteers care deeply about building a productive and healthy community through Adult Literacy and Employment, Health, and youth and adult leadership programs.
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world. GivingTuesday will kick off the generosity season this year by inspiring people to give back on December 3rd, and throughout the year.
Those who are interested in joining POC's GivingTuesday initiative - BUILDING HOPE can visit www.poc.news or send your donation to 1585 N. Rand Road, Palatine, IL 60074.
POC connects underserved individuals and families with resources, programs, and services to empower people ages 0 - 85 and change their lives. NE Palatine is recognized as a food desert and one of the most at-risk areas in the northwest suburbs of Chicago by United Way of Meropolitan Chicago. Based on research and a Needs Assessment completed by Northwest Community Healthcare, our Palatine service area has a population of 3,761 people living in .26 square mile. 32% of residents live under the Federal Poverty Level of $29,420 for a family of 5 people. 57% live below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Over 50% of the people are Latino and 30% are linguistically isolated. Food insecurity, underemployment, social emotional, development, and behavioral disorders, and gangs and crime are responses to living in poverty and why the people living in this area need POC to be a direct service organization and also a conduit for getting the resources to the people in need.