Tree of Life auction raises money for PADS permanent shelter site
The Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry, presented $1,622 to Pioneer Center for Human Services. The donation is designated for the new PADS permanent homeless shelter project.
The money was raised from the congregation's annual live and silent auction on Friday, Nov. 8.
Ten percent of the total proceeds of the auction were designated to the project. The congregation has a deep connection and continuing involvement with PADS since it became one of the original church sites for the rotating shelter back when it was known as the Congregational Unitarian Church and was located in Woodstock.
In 1988, several churches throughout McHenry County offered to open their doors to serve as a homeless shelter one night a week from October through April.
In order to secure its sustainability, McHenry County PADS merged with Pioneer Center for Human Services, McHenry County's provider of the broadest range of human services. The 2005 merger of these two organizations was the first of its kind in McHenry County.
McHenry County PADS offers emergency and transitional housing coupled with support services in order to help individuals experiencing homelessness work toward becoming self-sufficient. These support services enable individuals to receive case management, access to vocational programs and life skills training, as well as day-to-day services including access to showers, laundry facilities, transportation, computers and an address for mailings.
According to the Pioneer Center, in 2019, 220 people experiencing homelessness received services and shelter; 145 out of the 220 that were served left PADS to a more positive outcome; 7,903 nights of shelter were provided that included safety and security including 11 families and 26 children; and 10,143 client rides were provided for linkage and resources into the community totaling 35,964 miles.
This winter season, the McHenry County PADS is open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. The schedule through Jan. 1 is: Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at Willow Crystal Lake, 100 S. Main St., (224) 512-1737; Mondays at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 410 N. First St. in Cary, (847) 516-2636, ext. 233; Wednesdays at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1320 Dean St. in Woodstock, (815) 338-9370; Fridays at Christian Fellowship Church, 3419 Walkup Road in Crystal Lake, (815) 459-9473; and PADS, 1411 Kishwaukee Valley Road, Woodstock, (815) 344-1230.
To learn more about the PADS program, visit www.pioneercenter.org.
For more information, call the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation at (815) 322-2464, email office@treeoflifeuu.org.
Visit treeoflifeuu.org or www.facebook.com/UUMcHenry/.