McHenry church to host next Compassion for Campers Dec. 22
Compassion for Campers, a program that provides supplies and gear for the McHenry County homeless who have no steady shelter, offers indoor distribution at three locations: First United Methodist Church, 3717 Main St. in McHenry; Warp Corps, 114 N. Benton St. in Woodstock; and First Church, 236 W. Crystal Lake Ave. in Crystal Lake. Each location will host at six-week intervals for the duration of the season.
The following is the schedule for the November-April season.
• First United Methodist Church-McHenry (enter basement from rear parking lot): Dec. 22, Feb. 1, March 15, and April 12.
• Warp Corps (enter marked door on Jackson Street side): Jan. 4, Feb. 15, and March 29.
• First Church (enter marked door only): Jan. 18, March 1, and April 12.
Distribution will be from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on each of these Tuesday afternoons.
Compassion for Campers is rising to the challenges presented by the latest coronavirus mitigation orders while making sure the unhoused are served.
Clients will be COVID-19 screened with a temperature check and standard screening questions. No one failing the test will be turned away but we will ask what they need and supplies will be brought out to them. All clients are required to be masked before entering the buildings and a mask will be provided to anyone who does not have one. Clients will be admitted one at a time and no more will be allowed inside at any time than the location can safely accommodate with correct social distancing. At the conclusion of the distribution all remaining supplies will be packed for storage and the host area will be cleaned and disinfected.
Volunteers are needed to help with the distribution, especially younger folks in good health. Contact Patrick Murfin at pmurfin@sbcglobal.net or phone (815) 814-5645 if you are available on Tuesday afternoons.
Distributions are scheduled two weeks apart and will rotate between sites in Woodstock, Crystal Lake, and McHenry.
Donations to continue this work can be made by sending a check made out to Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road, McHenry, IL 60050 with Compassion for Campers on the memo line to the church.
This distribution is sponsored The Faith Leaders of McHenry County, First Church Crystal Lake, Compassion for Campers, and Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church volunteers.