Citizen Suburban Times Week.y 12-26-2018

Citizen Week of Dec. 26, 2018

| Vol. 2 | No. 20 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY

Together We Cope is a nonprofit organization that works across Chicago’s south suburbs to provide early intervention and prevent homelessness in the region. Photo Credit: Together We Cope

SOUTH SUBURBAN NONPROFIT SUPPLIES FOOD, SHELTER AND CLOTHING TO 27 COMMUNITIES

Together We Cope is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Tinley Park that serves 27 communities across Chicago’s Southland. The organization operates a food pantry and resale shop to assist south suburban residents along with providing counseling and referrals to empower residents and help them to maintain their independence. SEE PAGE 7

ART SCENE

New Winter Session And Early Enrollment For Summer Camps at Chicago Children’s Theatre PAGE 2

TRAVEL

POLITISCOPE

Range Developments Named Caribbean Hotel of the Year PAGE 2

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The NRA’s financial weakness, explained PAGE 4

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2 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

ART SCENE New Winter Session And Early Enrollment For Summer Camps at Chicago Children’s Theatre The education department at Chicago Children’s Theatre’s new home, The Station, 100 S. Racine Ave. in Chicago’s West Loop, has prepared the following study guide.

Practice the sample questions below and you should do just fine on your upcoming GPE (Good Parent Exam): True or False? It’s too late to sign my child up for CCT’s next eight-week Winter Session.

False.

However, spaces are filling fast for Chicago Children’s Theatre’s upcoming eight-week Winter Session, Jan. 7-March 2.

Sign your child up before it’s too late for a diverse area of performing arts classes including core courses in beginning, intermediate and advance acting, along with introductory and intermediate musical theater classes, all taught by CCT’s own professional teaching artists.

Other popular classes for kids ages 0 to 13 include Circus and Aerial Arts from Actors Gymnasium, Story Time for Tots, Bubble Jams and Learning Lab: KID Talk (a la TED Talk).

Also back: Open Play, 10 a.m. to Noon on Mondays and Wednesdays, have become a morning magnet for West Loop families looking for a welcoming space to let little ones meet and let off steam together while parents enjoy coffee and

conversation.

New to CCT’s winter syllabus is Saturday Morning Comics, an introductory visual art class for kids grades 3 to 8. Students will play drawing games and learn about different types of comics. The session ends with a comic expo for family and friends, and participants will leave with a small library of their very own comics.

Also new is Learning Lab: Stop Motion Shakespeare, for students grades 4 to 6 who get to use paper art and illustrations, stop motion animation and video to recreate pivotal scenes from Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Enroll your child in one winter class or many at chicagochildrenstheatre.org/winterclasses, email education@chicagochildrenstheatre.org, or call Chicago Children’s Theatre Guest Services, (312) 374-8835.

True or False? When it comes to summer camp enrollment, the early bird gets the worm.

True.

Smart parents and guardians know to enroll their kids early for summer camps. Registration opened on Saturday, December 22 for CCT’s summer long-series of weekly Adventure Camps for children ages 3-1/2 to 13 at The Station.

Children participating in performing arts classes and camps at Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station.

Summer Adventure Camps are carefully designed to grow children’s skills in acting, songwriting, choreography, collaborative story development, scene and prop construction. Week-long camps were filled to capacity last summer, so parents, break out that calendar and plan ahead to secure your child’s spot. A 20% early-bird discount is offered to parents who enroll their child before January 31. Parents who enroll their child between Feb. 1 and March 31 receive a 10 percent discount.

Save money and secure a spot for your summer camper by logging onto chicagochildrenstheatre.org/summercamp, emailing education@chicagochildrenstheatre.org, or calling Chicago Children’s Theatre Guest Services, (312) 374-8835.

TRAVEL

Range Developments Named Caribbean Hotel of the Year Range Developments, the leading developer of luxury branded hotels in the Eastern Caribbean, have been named 'Caribbean Hotel of the Year' in the Caribbean Travel Awards 2018.

The awards, organized by Caribbean Journal, reward excellence in travel and tourism throughout the region.

"When it debuted at the end of 2017, the Park Hyatt St Kitts, the Park Hyatt's first ever Caribbean hotel, was something new for the region," said the awards panel. "The design was world class, disruptive, climate resilient and, well, spectacularly beautiful. Now, a year later, the Park Hyatt has risen to the pantheon of the region's greatest hotels, with a mix of thoughtful design, impressive amenities, and a kind of cosmopolitan international energy, that is a welcome addition to the Caribbean's luxury sector. Even more? The hotel has been a game-changer for the island of St Kitts, now on the map in a new way for the world's most sophisticated travellers."

"We are delighted to have been honoured with this prestigious award," said Mohammed Asaria, founder of Range Developments.

"It's a tribute to all the hard work that the people of St Kitts & Nevis put into the project during construction, when we employed more than 500 people, but also the continuing dedication of more than 300 staff

Entrance to the Park Hyatt St Kitts with the Caribbean Sea in the distance (PRNewsfoto/Range Developments)

who keep the place running to the highest standards with outstanding efficiency and a ready smile."

Range Developments employs more than 1,000 people in the Caribbean, with a second project, the Cabrits Resort Kempinski, Dominica due to open next year.

The Cabrits Resort Kempinski, Dominica has been designed and built to the same high standards as Park Hyatt St Kitts. The opening

of the Cabrits Resort Kempinski, Dominica in 2019 will firmly place Dominica on the luxury tourism map.

In addition, Range will shortly announce a number of new projects in the region.

"This is an exciting time to be in the Caribbean," said Asaria. "With the right professional approach and a willing local workforce, this is a place brimming with potential."

As well as Range's focus on www.thechicagocitizen.com

delivering for the customer, Range also runs a prolific Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.

By working with local communities at a grassroots level to tackle various social issues, it aims to become an integral part of society. Its CSR portfolio focuses on four core areas: Children, Families, Entrepreneurs and Community.

Recent projects include rebuilding The North District Progres-

sive Women's Club (NDPWC) in Portsmouth, Dominica in partnership with M/V Pacific Hope, a ship that is dedicated to supporting the local community through provision of medical care and construction services via its dedicated volunteers, equipping more than a thousand primary school children in Dominica with satchels and school supplies and running summer camps for children in St Kitts & Nevis.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

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4 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

POLITISCOPE

The NRA’s financial weakness, explained enough to keep up with annual inflation, which ranged between 1 and 2.3 percent over the past 10 years.

As a result, it looks like the organization got into this bind by spending beyond its means. Despite this relatively stagnant income, NRA expenditures have been growing by an average of 6.4 percent a year, maxing out at $412.7 million in 2016. And all nonprofits, just like families and companies, run into trouble when they fail to live within their means.

BY BRIAN MITTENDORF The National Rifle Association’s political spending fell during the 2018 midterm elections. There’s talk of ending small perks like free coffee at its offices and even employee layoffs.

These and other trends indicate that at a time when the NRA’s clout may seem stronger than ever, its financial power may be faltering.

As a researcher who studies and tracks the finances of nonprofits, I have followed the NRA’s financial disclosures for years. Here’s what I’ve observed lately.

A NEGATIVE NEST EGG The best reflection of an organization’s financial cushion is its unrestricted net assets – an accounting measure of how much money it has available to spend.

The NRA had negative US$31.8 million on hand at the end of 2017, according to the form all nonprofits must file with the IRS. The group, which spent an average of $278.3 million a year, had a negative balance at the end of six of the previous 10 years.

In the 2017 financial statements, I’m seeing signs that the problem could be more serious.

This is very different from how two other prominent organizations operate. Consider the financial health of the American Civil Liberties Union, a civil rights group, and the AARP, which advocates on behalf of people who are 50 and older. Like the NRA’s main arm, they are 501(c)(4) social welfare groups that have a national reach and name recognition, and that engage in public policy advocacy.

The ACLU – although its budget is only a third of the NRA’s – had unrestricted net assets worth $140.2

Brian Mittendorf

million when 2017 came to a close, according to its tax form. And the AARP – whose annual budget is nearly five times that of the NRA – finished with a balance over $1.3 billion.

The NRA’s circumstances stand out by comparison not just with its peers but with all nonprofits. IRS data, including for fledgling startups, indicate fewer than 7 percent of American nonprofits ended 2017 with a negative balance.

HOW IT HAPPENED Despite years of thin finances, 2017’s negative $31.8 million balance in unrestricted net assets is notable as the organization’s 10-year low.

Given the growing push for gun control measures on the heels of more frequent and more deadly mass shootings, you might guess that declining membership dues could be to blame. But that’s not the full story.

The NRA does not release membership data. But it does by law have to make its cash flow a matter of public record. The group’s revenue has grown, but by about 0.7 percent a year over the past decade, not

NO IMMINENT DEMISE The financial struggles have even led the organization itself to warn that it could possibly collapse in court filings.

Despite this drama, however, the organization has a robust revenue stream due to a large member base, loyal contributors and the revenue it still gets from ads that run in its print publications and commercials that air on its video channel, NRA TV – even amid a successful boycott led by gun control advocates.

That means cutting back on spending can work wonders. Early signs, such as reduced election spending and job cuts, indicate such parsimony is getting underway.

Though it owes more money to others than it has freely available to pay them back, the NRA isn’t in immediate danger.

Much of what the NRA owes won’t come due for a while. Its two prominent liabilities are services it owes to members who have prepaid their dues for multiple years and what it owes its retirees – its pension fund is underfunded by $49.7 million.

GETTING OUT OF TROUBLE Despite signs of a more frugal path forward, there are three reasons why the NRA’s financial

situation could get worse instead of better.

1) It relies heavily on telemarketers The use of for-profit telemarketing and donation processing companies to solicit from supporters is often an ineffective way for nonprofits to raise money.

But the NRA is a big fan of these contractors. It reportedly paid one company, Akron-based Infocision $24.3 million in 2017 in exchange for telemarketing and donation processing services. Infocision is no stranger to controversy itself – the company agreed to pay a $250,000 settlement in January 2018 after a federal agency accused it of lying to donors, although it said it did nothing wrong.

The NRA has become so fixated on bringing in new members that its Infocision contracts permit the company to keep 100 percent of credit card payments collected from new and lapsed members. As a result, increasing its membership may no longer boost the NRA’s bottom line, at least not right away since some of their new members’ initial dues will not make it to their coffers.

2) It borrows money from the NRA Foundation The NRA is a 501(c)(4) membership organization but is also closely affiliated with a political action committee and several public charities. The affiliated charities, including the NRA Foundation, don’t face the financial issues that the NRA itself does.

Charity spending rules preclude the affiliated charities from just giving money to the NRA to shore up its funds. But, if the NRA runs out of options for cash, it can borrow from its affiliated foundation. This is precisely what the gun group did in 2017, suggesting that outside

cash options were running thin and future options for getting cash may be even thinner.

3) It needs more cash for underfunded pension obligations.

Despite the NRA’s pension fund already being underfunded, the organization indicated in 2017 that it had no plans to infuse it with cash that year. Instead, it promised to make a cash contribution of $7.8 million in 2018.

Providing the needed support for an underfunded pension may be wise, but it will force the NRA to scrape up an extra $7.8 million of cash in a time when cash is already in short supply.

THROWING AWAY ITS SHOT? Another revenue source – fees earned from insurance products NRA members buy – is being threatened due to efforts by New York state to block the group from marketing firearm liability coverage.

These fees, which accounted for more than $14 million in revenue in 2017, would be hard to replace.

In sum, though the NRA’s financial situation does not strike me as immediately dire based on the information available, it is far from healthy.

And while details about the NRA’s wobbly balance sheet are surely less salacious than other news about the gun group, such as allegations and reports that it may have been a conduit for Russia to influence the Republican Party, a weak financial footing may ultimately be what saps its political power.

Brian Mittendorf is a Fisher Designated Professor of Accounting and Chair of the Department of Accounting & Management Information Systems (MIS) at The Ohio State University

NEWS Federal Commission on School Safety Releases Comprehensive Resource Guide for Keeping Students, Teachers Safe at School After months of research, visiting successful programs around the nation, and receiving testimony from experts and concerned citizens, the Federal Commission on School Safety (Commission) recently released a 177-page report detailing 93 best practices and policy recommendations for improving safety at schools across the country.

Utilizing the information gathered, the Commission report offers a holistic approach to improving school safety, ranging from supporting the social and emotion-

al well-being of students to enhancing physical building security. Acknowledging there can be no one-size-fitsall solution to this complex problem, the final report serves as a resource guide for families, educators, law enforcement officers, health professionals, and elected leaders to use as they consider the best ways to prevent, mitigate, and recover from acts of violence in schools.

The recommendations are based on efforts that are already working in states and local communities. www.thechicagocitizen.com

Sleeping in Contact Lenses Puts You At Risk of Dangerous Infection Contact lenses are worn by an estimated 45 million Americans. Improper care or wear, like going to sleep without removing your lenses, can lead to infections of the cornea like microbial keratitis, which can lead to serious health problems.

Six tales that should serve as warnings are the latest in a series on infections featured in the January issue of Annals

of Emergency Medicine and developed through a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the EMERGEncy ID Net, an emergency department-based collaborative surveillance network. The CDC reports that an estimated 1 million annual outpatient and emergency visits were due to keratitis.

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

NEWS

Advocate South Suburban and Advocate Trinity Hospitals recently named Rashard Johnson (left) as their new president to oversee both hospitals. Photo Caption: Alvin Rider

Advocate South Suburban and Advocate Trinity Names New President

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Following a nationwide search, Advocate South Suburban and Advocate Trinity Hospitals have recently named Rashard Johnson, a young African American man originally from South Florida, as their new president. Johnson has a high level of experience in overseeing multi-facility health networks and a strong passion for patient care.

“As the president of South Suburban and Trinity Hospitals, I’m responsible for directing all daily patient care and activities as well as ensuring the strategic vision and implementing our safety and quality goals. I am also responsible for ensuring patient satisfaction and doing it all in a cost-effective manner,” said Johnson.

Originally from Miami, Johnson holds a masters degree in health administration from the University of Central Florida. After college, he worked in several health networks in and around Miami before moving to Dallas where he was responsible for two hospitals and 16 hospital-based clinics. After working in Dallas, Johnson was recruited to take a position overseeing three hospitals in Houston. After all of that, Johnson made his way to Chicago to begin his role as the new president of Advocate South Suburban and Advocate Trinity Hospitals.

“For my entire career, I have

always had multi-site operations so that was a big draw for me in coming to Advocate. I am happy to have the opportunity to continue to manage multi-site operations,” he said.

As for his style of operating, Johnson said that he is very handson and doesn’t like to spend time in his office.

“The best way to learn your operation and to learn the quality of care that you deliver is to get out and about. I spend a lot of my time rounding on floors, meeting with team members, talking to guests and patients as well as physicians in their settings and that’s a typical day for me,” said Johnson.

Aside from the work he does within the hospital, it is very important to Johnson to find ways to give back to the communities he is serving and to help increase exposure to health careers for inner-city youth.

“Growing up, I never knew that this opportunity existed. I was born and raised in Miami and never had an opportunity to be exposed to executives and in particular to health care executives,” said Johnson. “I consider it a true blessing for me to have an opportunity to be at the platform that I’m at and to have been given opportunities for doors to be opened immediately out of school at a young age and essentially that means that one of my passions is to open up doors for those who are in the shoes that I once stood in.”

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6 | CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

FOOD

3 Popular Eating Plans You'll See in the New Year Family Features - If you're thinking about revamping how you eat in the new year, you might want to think twice about the trendy dairy-free plans that crop up on your social media feed - as they could leave you missing out on nutrients you need.

Three of the most popular and health-promoting eating plans of the moment - the Mediterranean Diet, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet and Flexitarian Diet - all include dairy milk as an important component, and according to a study in the "Journal of the American Dietetic Association," it's hard to get nutrients you need without it.

New research also suggests adding an extra serving of dairy to the Mediterranean Diet makes it even more nutritious, boosting amounts of calcium, vitamin D and potassium without exceeding recommendations for nutrients to limit, like saturated fat and sodium, according to a study published in "The Journal of the

American College of Nutrition." A second new study found not only does incorporating more dairy improve the quality of the diet, it benefits health, as well - specifically improving blood pressure and levels of good cholesterol (HDL) compared to a standard low-fat diet, according to research in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." While the Mediterranean Diet typically includes around two servings of dairy a day, these studies built in 3-4.

The DASH Diet, long known for its positive effects on heart health, includes three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy per day. Good news for fans of whole milk: it may be just as effective when it includes full-fat dairy, too, according to recent research in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Researchers found a DASH diet that included whole milk and other full-fat dairy products lowered blood pressure just as much as the traditional version.

As a high-quality, complete protein, dairy milk is also an important part of the Flexitarian Diet, which encourages more plants and less meat. Many plant-based proteins are incomplete, which means they don't provide some of the building blocks your body needs. Dairy milk is also an important source of calcium, as substituting milk with non-dairy calcium sources like fortified soy milk or leafy greens can lead to gaps in other key nutrients such as protein, vitamin D, phosphorus, riboflavin, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A and vitamin B12, according to a study in the journal "Nutrition Research."

Instead of eating in a way that could leave you at risk of nutrient deficiencies, opt for a more balanced approach to the new year and consider a plan that includes dairy milk.

Visit MilkLife.com for more information and milk-inspired recipes.

Source: MilkPEP

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

NEWS Continent Race, the Fun Family Board Game, Originally Created

by Six Year Old in Hospital, is Available Now on Amazon Little Byron had a monthlong stay at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, Illinois when he was just six years old. As a way to pass the time, Byron channeled his passion for geography and created a fun game to share with other children. Continent Race is an exciting and interactive board game that helps children learn the continents, countries, and flags of the world and keeps players of all ages engaged.

Continent Race also fosters social interaction skills and boosts self-confidence. The object of the game is to be the player who collects the most country flag cards from each continent first. Specialty cards and color-coded maps add to the excitement.

First launched on a Kickstarter campaign, which raised 212 percent of its goal, Continent Race is now available on Amazon. The company which was formed, Byron’s Games, also has a focus on giving back. Along with the help from Kickstarter backers, Byron’s Games is donating 150 games to 130 U.S. Chil-

Byron’s Games

dren’s Hospitals. The company is also donating a portion of proceeds to children’s charities.

This year, they are donating to the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, where Byron was treated.

“We are grateful that so many have helped support this effort and are thrilled that we can share games nationwide

and give back to the hospital that helped Byron during his unexpected illness,” says mom and business partner, Julie.

“Byron was inspired to help kids like him learn and have fun through their hospital stay — and beyond.”

Upcoming in 2019, the company will release Continent Race World Puzzle app and a

new video series, called Learn and Explore, that will be donated to U.S. Children’s Hospitals. The videos feature interviews with an astronomer, scientist, artist, chef, musician, Bollywood dancer, Rubik’s cube champion, speed stacker, and more. To learn more and purchase Continent Race, visit https://www.byronsgames.com/ bgrace.html.

www.thechicagocitizen.com

Governor signs bill creating school design-build pilot program Gov. Bruce Rauner recently signed HB 5593 establishing a pilot program for school districts to use the design-build construction delivery method.

The method allows architects, engineers and construction contractors to pick their partners and be hired as a team, expediting project completion by allowing early phases of construction to begin as the building design is still being developed. The legislation permits up to five design-build demonstration projects to be undertaken in Illinois. Each must be shown to be in a school district’s best interest as determined by the State Board of Education. “The State has proven the benefit of using the design-build method on vertical infrastructure projects,” Rauner said, “and by piloting this valuable delivery method tool in the K-12 system, it will help to explore ways to increase efficiency and speed in school construction projects.”

“As a state, we are always looking for better tools to enable Illinois public entities to construct and renovate buildings more effectively and cost-efficiently,” said state Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City. “Design-build has proven in national studies to deliver the lowest cost, fastest schedule and highest quality. As Representative, I will look to work with local officials to implement this important cost savings tool.”

CITIZEN | Suburban Times Weekly | Week of Dec. 26, 2018

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NEWS

SSC President Stokes Receives Egretha Award South Suburban College (SSC) president, Lynette D. Stokes, Ed.D., recently received an Egretha Award presented by AWBC Magazine at Chicago’s SMART Museum. The Egretha Foundation was formed 12 years ago to honor and celebrate the business achievements of African American women in Chicago. The 2018 Egretha Foundation awardees are accomplished women from Education, Corporate America, Community Development, Activism, and the Arts.

The 2018 Awardee list is as follows: Cynthia D. Armster - Womanist Educator, Delmarie Cobb - Political and Media Consultant, Diane Dinkins - Carr - Fine Art Appraiser and Consultant, DDC Consulting Group, Inc., Dr. Gloria J. Gibson - President of Northeastern Illinois University, President Kimberly Hollingsworth - Olive Harvey College, Dr. Suzet McKinney - CEO and Executive Director at the Illinois Medical District, Kathy Tossas-Milligan - UIC Epidemiologist, President Zaldwaynaka Scott - Chicago State University, Dr. Lynette Stokes - President of South Suburban College, and Lesley Williams - Library and Community Equity Advocate.

“I applaud the Egretha Foundation for recognizing achievements of African American women in their respective fields of service,” said Dr. Stokes. “It is truly an honor and a privilege to receive this award with so many outstanding and accomplished women and also to share it with those trailblazers that have come before us.”

The Egretha Award was created in honor of Mrs. Egretha Hamilton, an African American Woman, born into a hard working family that believed in the need for education, community

Front row, left to right: Yvonne Killbred, Zaldwaynaka Scott, Dr. Lynette Stokes, and Delmarie Cobb Back row, left to right: Lesley Williams, Dr. Gloria J. Gibson, Kimberly Hollingsworth, Diane Dinkins – Carr, Cynthia D. Armster, and Kathy Tossas-Milligan

service, and the ability of women of color to reach great heights. This award is presented annually to women who have demonstrated through their efforts, the success and dedication to which African American Women throughout the world aspire.

October 1st marked Stokes’ first official day as the president of South Suburban College. She served as the Vice President of Academic Services at SSC for five years and previously worked in academic roles with the City Colleges of Chicago.

She earned her Doctorate from Roosevelt University where she received the Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award. Dr. Stokes was also honored with the Kathy Osterman Award for Outstanding Public Service Supervision, 2014 Chicago Defender’s Women of Excellence Award, and a 2018 ICBCHE Trailblazer Award.

The Egretha organization is currently in preparation for a large March—2019 Women’s History Month event focused on STEM Leadership and

opportunities for African American college and university women.

SSC is a community college located in South Holland, Illinois serving 21 communities including parts of the Chicago Southland and northwest Indiana. SSC provides a variety of support services and leadership opportunities to its students in addition to a wide range of academic program options. For more information about SSC, please visit www.ssc.edu.

COMMUNITY

South Suburban Nonprofit Supplies Food, Shelter and Clothing to 27 Communities Continued from page 1

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Together We Cope is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Tinley Park that serves 27 communities across Chicago’s Southland.

The organization operates a food pantry and resale shop to assist south suburban residents along with providing counseling and referrals to empower residents and help them to maintain their independence.

“Together We Cope is a prevention agency and we try to intervene before people become homeless by providing rent, mortgage, and utility payments, food, clothing, and shelter. We try to help people by looking at their budget, by perhaps giving them food so they can save a little money there, we make sure that they are signed up to receive a LINK card if they are eligible, and just take a look at the overall situation and see what we can do to step in,” said Kathryn Straniero, executive director of Together We Cope.

There are 27 south suburban communities

that Together We Cope specifically targets to provide assistance to and they are in Alsip, Blue Island, Bridgeview, Chicago Ridge, Country Club Hills, Crestwood, Evergreen Park, Garden Homes, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Hickory Hills, Hometown, Homewood, Markham, Merrionette Park, Midlothian, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Orland Hills, Orland Park, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Palos Park, Posen, Robbins, Tinley Park and Worth.

The food bank that Together We Cope operates, located on 17010 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park, is open to the public and part of the Greater Chicago Food Depository network.

Through the food pantry, the organization is able to assist more than 1,400 families each month.

“The food party is really the heart of our organization because we are open to distribute food five days a week and we have between 65 and 100 families a day coming to the food pantry,” said Straniero. “There is a lot of food that goes in and out of Together We Cope.”

Because the food pantry is part of the Great-

er Chicago Food Depository anyone is eligible to receive food from Together We Cope. If a person is out of the organization's service area, they will still be able to receive food on their initial visit, but will also receive information on what food pantries are closer to where they currently live. Straniero said they will, “never refuse anybody food.”

Another significant element of Together We Cope is the thrift shop that they operate, NU2U Resale Shop, which is also located on 17010 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park. Nu2u Resale Shop receives donations daily and has a wide range of clothing for men, women, and children, toys, books, antiques, collectibles, jewelry, and furniture.

“The Resale Shop is so much fun. The majority of our volunteers are in the food pantry and the resale shop and they are wonderful.

It practically runs itself and it’s a wonderful conduit for donations to come in for our clients and our clients are allowed to shop over there with a voucher that we give them,” said Straniero.

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