Thank you, PADS Volunteers, for being part of our Solution to Homelessness!
NEWS My experience on the front lines of helping people return to stable housing by Abby Prescott – Shelter Site Captain at Grace Episcopal Church of Oak Park PADS has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mom, who has been volunteering with PADS for nearly 20 years, would bring my siblings and me to help at the shelters when we were in elementary school. I’m 24 now, and despite being away from PADS during my college years, I am glad to say I have become involved again by taking on the role of a shelter site captain. After every monthly shift I can’t help but feel thankful, enriched, and reassured. I say reassured because I’m reminded that there are so many
PADS’ 1,000 volunteers help nurture the basic well-being of our guests and encourage their work toward self-sufficiency goals, in both the Emergency Shelter and our Maywood Support Center. Volunteers also help with fundraising and special events, contribute professional expertise (e.g. design, photography, legal and medical counsel) and lend a diversity of talents and perspectives to our Board of Directors and Friends of PADS Advisory Committee. For more information about volunteer opportunities, email us at contactus@westsuburbanpads.org.
good people in our community; not just our volunteers who are glad to be giving their time and efforts, but our guests who are always so appreciative and gracious. It is because of my work with PADS that I have decided to dedicate my summer to Bike and Build, an organization whose primary goal is to raise funds and awareness for affordable housing through cross country bike trips. Beginning in June, I’ll join 30 other teammates as we depart from Maine for our bike ride across sixteen states, finishing in California. This ride will call attention to the need for affordable housing and shelter. Along our route we’ll
WISH LIST Your donation of the following items will help guests in our Emergency Shelter and those who have recently moved into housing. Please call 708.338.1724 to make arrangements for delivery of your donation to our Support Center (1851 S. Ninth Ave., Maywood).
• • • • • • • •
Abby’s “Bike and Build” Rider Page: http://bikeandbuild.org/rider/6806
also help build homes and give presentations to local communities. I’m looking forward to traveling to other communities this summer, while the PADS shelter season is on hiatus, and hope to come back with as many fulfilling stories as PADS has given me over the years.
Mens’ socks Mens’ underwear T-shirts (L, XL) Double-edged razors CTA and PACE transportation passes TVs (in working order) New pots and pans New bedding (queen size)