PRC Fall 2022 Newsletter

Adult Education and Employment helps neighbors prepare

Computer Training Instructors (standing L to R) Lynda Pratscher and Bob Doyle at work with students.

PRC Volunteers Bill Delbridge, Ben Entri, David Grady, Charles Hold preparing for in-person food pantry distribution in Wheaton.

A Message from PRC

Neighbors Helping Neighbors!

Fall is always a time of transition, and that has never been more true than it is right now! Along with the change of leaves and crisp harvest weather, PRC is embracing many opportunities for connection and reconnection, with friends we have not seen in a while as well as new neighbors. As I write this greeting, the PRC team is busy at work planning our next steps of opening indoor programs. We are keenly aware of longer lines of neighbors visiting our food pantries, as well as sustained demand for virtual services. We have adapted the ways of staying connected to neighbors, in order to understand the immediate needs and rapidly respond.

Our primary focus is to listen and respond to our neighbors’ needs. We know our community faces new challenges even as we continue to recover. In the past year alone, the PRC team rolled out an astounding 53,000 grocery carts of food to neighbors, and reached 5,763 households across DuPage County. Neighbors attended 3,400 online or inperson opportunities for computer training, literacy, art and job assistance. Calls to our social services hotline reached over 4,200 – a staggering 17 percent increase from the prior year! Our neighbors are reaching out as they strive to care for their families and work toward a future of hope and opportunity.

PRC continues to pivot even as we sustain responsive services. Our Food Pantry services include options to shop in person, through our drive-up model, or pick up with online ordering. The Empowerment team has expanded virtual and in-person offerings for Jobs, Literacy, Computer Training and Art. PRC exists to bring help and hope to neighbors in need, wherever and however we meet them, and we are grateful to your commitment and support of our mission.

PRC is resilient and impactful because of your kindness, trust and encouragement. We look forward to many seasons of neighbor-to-neighbor service, as our community recovers and strengthens.

On behalf of all of us at PRC, I extend our gratitude and wishes for a meaningful season ahead.

Fabian

Executive

Wheaton Campus New Building

After an in-depth study of needs and options, this summer PRC purchased the property at 207 S. Naperville Road in Wheaton. This property sits between two parcels already owned by PRC. This exciting step will allow PRC to plan and design a cohesive Wheaton Campus to better serve our neighbors and meet growing needs.

The campus will expand program space and increase available parking in the future. Detailed planning will soon be underway!

PRC is moving forward with hope as we transition out of the pandemic. This acquisition provides a great opportunity for an expanded Wheaton Campus to propel our neighborto-neighbor mission.

Loebig

Anjali Alva

Jack Baldermann

Ophelia Barsketis

Ingrid Becton

Consuelo Cabral

John Dalby, Jr.

Marsha McDermott

Sr. Pat Norton, OSF Kathy O’Malley

James Orel

Leanne Sardiga

Lina Valdez

John Wallerius

Dr. Leatha Ware

Sue Winkler

Founder Dorothy McIntyre

Chief Executive Officer

Jenifer Fabian

Vice President, Human Resources Sue Bultman

Vice President, Finance & Operations Linda Cheatham

Vice President of Advancement Michelle B. Clegg

Vice President of

LePage

Manager of Marketing &

Alston

People’s Resource Center 201 S. Naperville Road Wheaton, IL 60187

104 Chestnut Avenue Westmont, IL 60559

Phone: (630) 682-5402 Fax: (630) 682-5412

Celebration and Appreciation for Our Friend and Partner

Congratulations and thank you to the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters who celebrated 150 years of presence in the United States and 75 years of presence in Wheaton, Illinois with a community event this past June.

Ministry Collaborators, including People’s Resource Center, gathered on the grounds of the Wheaton Franciscans Campus in Wheaton to enjoy music, food and refreshments, and opportunities to share information about services and classes with the public.

“This was a grand opportunity to share our charism and mission through invitation, networking, community-building, and welcoming all who seek to deepen their relationship with the Divine and one another,” said Sister Pat Norton, OSF, of the Wheaton Franciscans and current PRC Board member.

Wheaton Franciscans moved its motherhouse for US operations to Wheaton in 1947. They have a history of responding to community challenges, especially to the needs of the poor. When PRC was founded in 1975, Wheaton Franciscans were already at work in DuPage County and beyond. Their core philosophy to “create caring communities” aligns perfectly to that of the People’s Resource Center’s mission and philosophy of “neighbors helping

neighbors.” The Wheaton Franciscan’s influence and guidance –along with their principals for social justice – helped to establish and nurture PRC.

A member of the Wheaton Franciscans has guided our mission through service on PRC’s Board of Directors since its founding. Countless Franciscan Sisters have extended PRC’s mission through volunteerism. In addition, the sisters have funded PRC services through grants, donations and event sponsorships. They have provided volunteer hours in diverse roles including tutoring, working in the food pantry and clothes closet, receptionist and administrative support.

The Wheaton Franciscans were a pivotal partner when PRC found itself in a difficult financial position in the 1990s. Their services through volunteering, board guidance, financial contributions and more, helped PRC flourish.

We are grateful for your continued intentional compassion for our neighbors who need the most care. Thank you for your partnership in encouraging People’s Resource Center and for spreading a wide-reaching message of love, acceptance and belonging.

PRC CEO Jeni Fabian with PRC Board Member Pat Norton, OSF from the Wheaton Franciscans and Yohans Gebreselasse, who works with the Wheaton Franciscans.

PRC Board Member Lina Valdez converses with a guest at PRC’s Ministry Collaborator table.

Building Digital Skills for a Post-COVID Future

Debbie worked in the high-end travel industry until April 2020, when COVID-19 forced her employer to furlough her.

She connected with PRC’s job readiness workshops at Addison Library, where she learned about Computer Training classes and the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification (MOS) Program.

“While I was furloughed and looking online for jobs, I would see advanced Word and Excel skills on applications,” Debbie said. “If I could earn a certificate, I could distinguish myself from other applicants.”

Debbie is one of hundreds of individuals in DuPage County who has earned a MOS Certification – and one of 35 who earned one during the pandemic.

PRC launched the MOS Certification Program in 2011—at no cost to learners. Through the rigorous, five- and six-week courses, students can gain expertise in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. At the end of the course, they sit for the MOS exam to earn a certification recognized by many employers.

In March 2020, when PRC transitioned to hybrid services, the Empowerment Programs team worked tirelessly to sustain their programs virtually, including MOS.

Computer Training and Access Manager Amy Zurita and her team spent nearly six months redesigning the curricula, exploring virtual tools and resources, and identifying best practices in distance education that could make the experience less intimidating for adults who had never learned remotely.

Tapping into her experience working in admissions for an online program, where most students were older and had never learned virtually, Zurita encouraged instructors to be open with their students.

“I told our instructors ‘Don’t be afraid to tell students it is your first time teaching online,’” she said. “We are all learning together.”

The MOS Certification Program launched its first virtual course for the Microsoft Word certification in January 2021 with five students. Since then, Computer Training and Access has offered 10 sessions and worked with 53 students, 81% of whom have taken and passed at least one certification exam.

Making MOS more accessible

Before COVID, MOS classes met in person for three hours a day, four days a week, for up to six weeks.

According to Zurita, the rigorous and somewhat rigid structure of the program made it difficult for people who worked or did not have reliable transportation to get to class.

“Before COVID, only people who were not working or who had employers consider it as professional development could take MOS classes,” Zurita recalled.

Now, classes meet twice weekly for 90 minutes via Zoom and independent study is required for approximately 15 hours each week. Each MOS course ends with a proctored certification exam. Because everyone learns differently, the pandemic gave the team an opportunity to explore new methods. Recordings of Zoom classes mean that students can learn with the class, even if they are not available for class meetings.

Improving skills for better opportunities

According to Paul Lewis, PRC’s director of adult education and employment, many people who access job assistance services at PRC are looking for better job opportunities.

“We constantly refer people to Computer Training for classes and encourage them to earn a MOS certification,” he said. “It’s something that will really help them stand out in the job search process.”

After 15 months of being furloughed, Debbie’s company hired her back in a different capacity. Within a few months, the company promoted her to a sales position with more opportunity in the future.

Debbie, who used her experience at PRC to teach other MOS students, believes the certifications and her volunteerism at PRC helped her stand out – just like she hoped for when she enrolled.

“They were impressed that I took the time to learn new skills and volunteer. It made what I do with Word and Excel so much easier because I know how to do it correctly. In my job now, I help other people in my group by teaching them how to do things easier, quicker, more efficiently.”

Uniting the Adult Education and Employment Program

Earlier this year, PRC made the decision to unite Adult Literacy, Computer Training, Computer Access, and Job Assistance under one umbrella.

The program is now Adult Education and Employment! This alignment better positions PRC to respond to rapidly shifting changes in the workplace and expand our programs in the future.

“There has always been a strong overlap between job assistance, computer training and access, and literacy programs,” said Paul Lewis, who assumed the director of adult education and employment role in February. “As one team, we can fill the gaps, develop a streamlined process for clients to easily access services, and really set people up for success.”

In his role, Lewis oversees all four of these programs as well as three managers and volunteer teams.

Home Delivery Meets Seniors’ Social, Emotional and Nutritional Needs

Appreciation for Distinguished Service

Congratulations to four PRC champions who earned recognition from the West Suburban Philanthropic Network (WSPN). Each year WSPN honors individuals, businesses, foundations and corporations that help to feed, heal, educate and otherwise nurture our neighbors in DuPage County. PRC celebrates four of its own nominees who received awards at the 20th Annual WSPN Philanthropy Awards.

Over the last five years, the number of seniors accessing grocery assistance at PRC has steadily increased as the population of DuPage has aged. In 2021, one in three individuals physically visiting PRC for groceries identified as a senior, a 10% increase since 2019.

Between the pandemic, rising inflation, and an aging population, PRC’s Home Delivery service has seen greater demand. Before the pandemic, the program served between 30 and 40 seniors per month. It now reaches about 400.

Research shows that people over 60 are more likely to be diagnosed with health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease that require specialty diets, and they are not always easy to afford on a fixed income.

In response, PRC has sourced more of the heart-healthy and low sodium food items that seniors and older adults need to age well and manage their health.

For some seniors, though, it is not possible to visit a PRC location due to mobility and transportation issues, even if they need grocery assistance. In 2015, PRC launched a Home Delivery Program that targeted seniors and disabled community members who needed extra assistance getting their groceries.

“Our program exists for those seniors who have no other way to get the nutritious food they need to stay healthy as they age,” said Ashley Frank, food pantry services coordinator at PRC. “Asking for help is really difficult, especially when our older neighbors want to maintain their independence.”

While the Home Delivery Program was designed to increase access to nutritious and diet-friendly grocery items for seniors, it has also provided an emotional support system, especially since 75% of seniors receiving Home Delivery live alone.

Seniors still get the nutritious, fresh groceries they need to maintain their health while also staying social. They develop friendships with people who care about them, and have conversations with community members at PRC every month who help them select and deliver their groceries. For Frank, who often spends extra time on the phone with seniors when they are placing their order, the physical, emotional and social benefits of the program make a huge difference for seniors.

“People are always telling me how grateful they are for this program. It fills a critical gap in services while also giving people greater freedom, building community, reducing loneliness and increasing access to a vital human need. What more could you want from a program?”

PRC CEO Jeni Fabian with Jr. Board Members Josh Graham, Ella Kalinski, Defne Barkan and Westmont High School Assistant Principal Laura Lopez

Philanthropic Business of the Year Wolfden Brewing Company

PRC’s Ken Madden and Jeni Fabian with Wolfden Brewing owners Krys and Katie Wolf and General Manager Kyle Brauch

Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year Laura Desmarais Laura Desmarais center with PRC’s Ken Madden, Jeni Fabian, Janet Terranova and Lucinda Page

Young Philanthropists of the Year PRC Junior Board from Westmont High School

Philanthropic Service Club of the Year Wheaton Lions Club

Wheaton Lions Club Members John Vires, Betsy Adamowski, Jeni Fabian, John Dalby, Mimi Bajagich, and Marty Keller

Welcome New Employees

Anum Abdullah

Manager of Adult Literacy

“After learning about PRC’s past and how it has developed over the years, it is wonderful to see that PRC is still a safe and comforting place for the community. The volunteers are just as enthusiastic and driven as the employees. Sometimes it’s hard to tell who is who!”

Jessie Collins

Social Service Coordinator

“The most surprising thing I have learned about PRC is how amazing all the volunteers are! During intake and food pantry the volunteers are always looking to see what else they can help with or helping cover open shifts when needed. It is amazing to have such a good support system to help us serve our neighbors!”

Sherry Hatlestad

Assistant - Computer Training and Access

“The most surprising thing I have learned about PRC since starting in December 2021 is the breadth of programming and dedication of both the staff and volunteers. Prior to working here, I thought PRC was a Food Pantry in Wheaton. I had no idea there was a Westmont location until I came in to interview there. Much to my surprise, PRC’s reach went far beyond food and financial assistance. There is the Art Program, Clothes Closet, Literacy, Job Assistance, Computer Access & Repair, and of course, Computer Training. I am impressed with and proud to be a part of PRC, enjoy working with and getting to know all the dedicated staff and volunteers and look forward to hopefully, a few more surprises.”

Sam Kopka

Manager of Social Services

“I think what surprised me the most about PRC is the passion and dedication of our volunteers. There is a very strong sense of community and I was welcomed back with so many open arms after my previous work as an intern two years ago. It is inspiring to see this commitment in action and I feel lucky to be a part of it. I love coming into work with so many people who are amazing to be around.”

Janet Terranova

Manager of Job Assistance Program

“I was blown away by the time the volunteers devote to PRC. So many volunteers are here on a consistent basis, week after week … much like a regular work schedule! They work tirelessly and often times volunteer for more than one program. The volunteers are some of the most professional and reliable people I have ever worked with, and I truly admire their commitment and dedication.”

Welcome New Board Member

Ingrid Becton

Ingrid Becton is co-founder and president of George Washington Street Partners, a coaching and consulting firm. As a leadership coach, Ingrid specializes in young professionals, emerging leaders and career coaching. She is also a member of the Elmhurst Public Library Board, an Ambassador for Elmhurst Hospital, and volunteers with The Honor Foundation as a career transition coach for members of the armed services who serve in elite units of the military.

Ingrid became aware of People’s Resource Center through her work at Elmhurst University, where she was coordinator for Service Learning. She secured volunteer opportunities and internships for students. She connected with PRC to place students, then did a tour of the facility and saw her students in action.

“The thing that really set my desire to get involved with PRC was my volunteer work with military veterans,” Becton said.

“Part of my work with veterans involves helping with the transition back to civilian life. I was really struck by the level of food insecurity that our veterans are experiencing. Once I understood that, I knew I had to become more involved with PRC.”

Ingrid enjoys serving the community and likes to help find solutions for community needs.

“I love working at a grassroots level. There’s such a diversity of things that PRC does to help people. I really like how PRC empowers folks and works in a nonjudgmental way,” Becton said. “We are thrilled to welcome Ingrid to the board,” said PRC CEO Jeni Fabian.

“As a skilled coach, Ingrid has been a valued volunteer on PRC’s Job Assistance team since 2019. We are so fortunate to bring Ingrid’s strategic skills and dedication to the board as well, as we plan for PRC’s growth and impact in the years to come,” Fabian said.

Ingrid looks forward to bringing fresh ideas and perspective in her role on the PRC board.

“I really enjoy the volunteer work I do in Job Assistance and helping clients prepare themselves for the future. Maybe the work I do will help people give back by serving PRC someday,” Becton said. Ingrid Becton has also volunteered for DuPage PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter), Hope Worldwide, Elmhurst School District 205, and Feed My Starving Children. She is an Elmhurst, Illinois resident, and is married with three grown children.

What is the most surprising thing you have learned about PRC??

PRC Summer Interns

PRC’s Specialized Intake (SPIN) interns have been an incredible support to the Social Services Department this summer. Their duties have included support of the Back to School Supply Drive, as well as client screenings and other critical work.

”The interns are a big key to our success in welcoming clients into PRC and helping to determine needs,” said Sarah Martin, social services manager for PRC.

Sam Poglitsch is a sophomore at University of Illinois and runs cross-country and track there. She has been a PRC volunteer for years, working in the Wheaton Food Pantry since 2020.

“I’m not sure what I will be majoring yet, but I do know that I want to work in Social Services at some point in my life.”

Sam applied for the internship so she could learn what goes on behind the scenes at PRC. She has been heavily involved with the Back to School Supply Drive as well as coding information from the client survey that was conducted in June. She enjoys speaking with clients and doing all she can to help. Sam is a Wheaton resident.

Hannah Yearout is from Round Lake, Illinois and is a student at Elmhurst University, where she is a senior. Through the internship, Hannah plans to improve her professional skills and intercultural communication.

“I plan to work in the field of Social Services. Growing up, I wish I had an amazing resource like PRC to utilize in times of need, so I am dedicated to helping folks in my community who may be struggling with similar situations, find the assistance that they need in order to persevere.”

Hannah has also spent time working on needs assessments and returning phone calls to provide information and referrals to clients.

“The most rewarding experience so far has been the opportunity to meet so may wonderful people here at PRC who are genuinely dedicated to making change and providing the best experience for our existing and potential clients. I am honored to be a part of this community.”

Thank you Sam and Hannah for all of your hard work this summer. We appreciate your service to the PRC community and wish you continued success this summer and in your studies this fall.

REPORTING A CORRECTION

People’s Resource Center welcomes comments and suggestions, or concerns about errors that warrant correction. Messages regarding a correction can be emailed to prc1@peoplesrc.org or you can call our marketing department at 630-682-5402.

Sam Poglitsch

Hannah Yearout

Business Partners