People's Resource Center 2021 Annual Report

MEETING OUR COMMUNITY’S NEEDS NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR

2021

ANNUAL REPORT 1

201 S. Naperville Road People’s Resource Center – Annual Report 2021 | www.peoplesrc.org | 630-682-5402

PRC Mission Statement We respond to basic human needs, promote dignity and justice and create a future of hope and opportunity for the residents of DuPage County.

clients cultures

comfort

neighbors

Respect for Privacy

CONSIDERATION OF OTHERS PRC abilities learn staff

connected accepted

PRC

Consideration of Others 2

abilities

languages improve supporters INCLUSION supporters honor We Learn Together Kindness and Compassion

backgrounds

volunteers safety honor

neighbors

Kindness and Compassion

CONSIDERATION OF OTHERS

RESPECT experiences

grow

safety

Respect for Privacy

welcomed

MUTUAL

volunteers

cultures

WE LEARN

TOGETHER

People’s Resource Center – Annual Report 2021

From our Executive Director When times are tough, it is in PRC’s fabric to respond. The PRC community is deeply aware of the hardship felt by so many neighbors. In this past year, I have seen our community’s kindness and compassion over and over again.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic started, we have worked to safely sustain services for our neighbors. Early on, we faced new challenges almost every week. PRC teams rapidly adapted food and social services for safety. We also moved Empowerment programs online – neighbors can study, meet with a job coach, boost computer skills, and build community through art.

We are excited to share our learnings from the year, as well as share new offerings in this Annual Report. PRC is innovating to meet changing needs with services like online food ordering, expanded job assistance workshops in partnership with local libraries, and new ways to address transportation needs.

Despite the ongoing challenges, we are very grateful. During the pandemic, over 1,000 new individuals have signed up to join our volunteer team! Civic clubs, faith groups, schools and businesses hosted food and supply drives to keep our pantries well-stocked. The entire community has responded to make sure neighbors can turn to PRC in times of need.

From our dedicated staff to volunteers and community members, the PRC community has found innovative ways to reach our neighbors in this time of extraordinary need. With your continued encouragement and kindness, PRC will continue to be here to listen and respond when neighbors turn to us.

In gratitude and service,

Jeni Fabian

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

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Neighbors Helping Neighbors 46,393 grocery carts providing healthy food 3,677 calls received by Social Services providing financial assistance and connecting neighbors via referrals

6,465 attendance number for empowering online classes and limited in person classes

1,160 volunteers gave 45,657 hours FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18

50%

% OF NEIGHBORS SERVED THAT ARE SENIORS

14%

HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE A MEMBER WITH A DISABILITY

19%

Diversity Dialogue A small team of PRC staff, the Diversity Dialogue group, has worked on ways to celebrate diversity and work against racism by providing several opportunities for employees to engage and learn. As PRC goes forward in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we look forward to inviting the wider PRC community to join in the conversations.

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People’s Resource Center – Annual Report 2021

EMERGENCY PROGRAMS: Help for Today

Food Pantries 46,393 FOOD VISITS DELIVERING FRESH HEALTHY FOOD PRC community distributed over 4,500,000 pounds of food to our neighbors. Every family receives fresh produce, refrigerated items, frozen meat and bread.

Families can also receive eggs and milk in addition to plenty of shelf stable items like pasta, rice, peanut butter and canned fruits and vegetables.

Since the pandemic began PRC has rolled out over 70,000 grocery carts of food!

VOLUNTEERS TO THE “FOOD” RESCUE We rescued over 1,700,000 pounds of food with our team of volunteers who make over 300 monthly pick-ups from grocery retailers and restaurants including a new partnership with Amazon Fresh.

Our new refrigerated truck made possible by the Lions Club of Clarendon Hills and other area Lion’s Clubs

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

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SUPPORTING OUR WEST CHICAGO NEIGHBORS PRC continues to serve our neighbors in West Chicago through the WeGo Together Community Market at Leman Middle School, and with emergency distributions at St. Andrew Lutheran Church. Volunteers distributed over 1,500 food boxes in this community which has been deeply affected by the pandemic.

WeGo volunteers

MY PANTRY EXPRESS-MPX GOES LIVE PRC piloted our first ever online ordering system using MPX in partnership with Northern Illinois Food Bank. This program offers a private, online food shopping experience and local pickup for food-insecure neighbors to more easily access the nutritious foods they need.

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR LOCAL FOOD DRIVES Our generous community kept the PRC pantry shelves stocked with numerous drives throughout the year. The following Food Drives brought in over 5,000 pounds of food: CUSD200’s “Stuff-A-Truck”, Wheaton Lions, Hinsdale Central High School and Wheaton Warrenville South’s Operation Elevate.

“

I wanted to thank PRC for the wonderful, awesome food that was given to me today. This was my first time there and we were greeted nicely. The people at PRC seemed like they were getting joy out of helping distribute the food.

Thanks for listening. Thank for caring. Thanks for your empathy and patience. It helps to know we are cared about.

”

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PRC Food Pantry Client

People’s Resource Center – Annual Report 2021

Social Services and Emergency Aid NEIGHBORS BENEFIT FROM SOCIAL SERVICES Our Social Services team responded to an increased number of calls from community members with the many ill effects of the pandemic. We reached 4,576 households with food or financial assistance including rent, utility and transportation support. PRC quickly pivoted during the last year to manage and prioritize pandemic relief in a time of crisis.

BACK TO SCHOOL & SHARE THE SPIRIT Students thrive when they have the right tools and supplies to go Back to School. Students took home almost 1,000 Backpacks full of items including notebooks, pens and crayons. Our Share the Spirit Holiday event kept the season bright and cheery for 1,748 children and their families with books, hats, mittens, a family game, mugs, cocoa/tea, grocery gift cards and retail gift cards. These were distributed safely through a “drive thru” distribution at the DuPage County fairgrounds.

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

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LOCAL TORNADO RELIEF FOR FAMILIES PRC joined 39 local community organizations in a coordinated tornado relief through a MARC, Multi-Agency Resource Center to help families affected by the EF-3 tornado that touched down in Woodridge and Naperville in June. PRC reached 87 households and provided 67 gift cards to help the families impacted by this disaster.

Volunteer Hank Anzelone representing PRC at MARC

CLIENT SURVEY

The annual client survey in June provides a time for clients to share their input about their experience at PRC. Below are notable results from this year’s submissions.

99%

Would tell friends and family about PRC Services

95% Feel welcomed at PRC

90%

Feel more hopeful after a visit to PRC

Clothes Closet KEEPING NEIGHBORS WARM WITH NEW WINTER COATS In early 2021 PRC distributed 549 new coats and over 700 scarves, hats and mittens.

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People’s Resource Center – Annual Report 2021

EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS Adult Learning and Literacy Programs (ALL) PANDEMIC INNOVATION Our Literacy team quickly and successfully migrated programs online so that adult learners could continue working towards their goals. The response was very positive as this helped our 170 students overcome issues with child care, work conflicts and transportation. When in person classes return, we will keep this popular and flexible option in place for learners who prefer it!

“

Where else could I meet people from all over the world, share my language with them, learn about their cultures and experiences, and witness their progress? Being a tutor and tester at PRC truly is the best “job” ever!

”

PRC Volunteer Tutor

Computer Training and Access GAINING COMPUTER LITERACY Our Computer Training classes have also gone online and include self-paced learning options that have been very well received by students. 40 students attended virtual computer classes including a new class Intro to G-Mail along with our Computer Basics, Advanced Computer Training and Microsoft Office (MOS) certification in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

CLIENTS LEARN ABOUT BECOMING THEIR OWN HEALTH ADVOCATES Our Health Education Advocacy Learning (HEAL) program offered classes that led to student certifications to navigate the healthcare system, deal with emergencies, medication safety and with healthy eating.

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

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Community & Kids Art CONNECTION AND CREATIVITY LEAD ART PROGRAM PRC also offered our art classes online during the pandemic. To ensure our children and adult artists had supplies to participate in classes, volunteers delivered supplies to our neighbors’ homes. 241 adult students and 159 children attended art classes. PRC held almost 200 Zoom Classes and posted 14 You Tube art tutorials.

COMMUNITY SHARES THEIR RESILIENCE PROJECTS Stories, poems and art pieces were submitted by our community’s artists in response to our Community Resilience Project. The goal of this project was to gather personal artwork to help the community collectively navigate these trying times. The inspiring art documented our shared experience during Covid and helped to reflect and heal. This project can be found at: peoplesrc.org/CommunityResilienceProject.

Serenity

by Rita Moon Kain

Created as part of Frida Kahlo class with Wheaton Public Library

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Art volunteer Cheryl helps pack art supplies

Mariajose G. with her woven fish project

People’s Resource Center – Annual Report 2021

ART IN THE COMMUNITY PRC displayed 76 pieces of Art in 3 different online exhibitions.

ART INSPIRES NUTRITION Two important topics for PRC include Healthy Eating and Creating through Art. In March to help celebrate National Nutrition Month, PRC partnered with College of DuPage and 52 young student artists to create an art exhibit called “The Art of Healthy Eating”. The work from the children was beautiful and inspiring.

Lillian W. 6th grade artist

Technology CONNECTING CLIENTS DIGITALLY Our Computer Refurbishing team distributed 225 computers to clients to help bridge the digital divide in a time when online access was more vital than ever. Used computers were generously donated thanks to the PRC community.

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

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Job Assistance HELPING JOB SEEKERS NAVIGATE THE SEARCH Our Job Assistance workshops welcomed over 500 attendees!

Workshops were offered in partnership with 5 local libraries including Downers Grove. 109 new job seekers joined the Job Assistance program this year.

JOB COACHES PROVIDE PERSONAL MENTORING Volunteer coaches partner with our job seekers to provide strategies around applications, interview techniques and resume and cover letter creation. 480 consultations were held.

CONNECTING JOB SEEKERS WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS AT 6TH ANNUAL JOB FAIR PRC held an in person and virtual Career Fair in June 2021. 129 job seekers registered for these events and 20 employers participated.

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People’s Resource Center – Annual Report 2021

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021 Revenue

Expenses PROGRAMS

$10,187,875

DONATIONS

$2,632,869

GRANTS

$2,203,668

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS

$ 7,152,152 VE

NT ME EST E INV COM 704 IN 8,

04

NG

$470,107

EVENTS

$12,942

FUNDRAISI

$682,724

28

,1

$9

AD

M

GOVERNMENT FUNDING

73

IN

IST

RA TI

$1,

OTHER INCOME

$5,501

$2,632,869 $12,942 $2,203,668 $682,724 $1,048,704 $7,152,152 $5,501

Donations Events Grants Government Funding Investment Income In-Kind Contributions Other Income Total Revenue

$13,738,560

Monetary Donation Sources

Programs $10,187,875 Fundraising $470,107 Management and General $973,128 Total Expenses

$11,631,110

PRC has earned the highest possible 4 star rating from Charity Navigator for 13 consecutive years. Only 1% of charities rated have received this distinction, differentiating PRC from its peers, exemplifying the high standard of service at PRC, and indicating that PRC outperforms most other charities in America.

INDIVIDUAL

63%

BUSIN

ESS

11%

D S H AN FAIT E GROUP IC SERV %

4

GOVERNMENT

12%

FOUNDATIONS

10%

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

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PRC - VOLUNTEERS: A Focus on Health, Safety, Appreciation and Engagement

THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS 1,160 committed PRC volunteers generously gave 45,657 hours of their time. We were thrilled to receive over 1,000 new volunteer applications. To keep our PRC community safe we implemented workplace precautions including social distancing, masks, and Plexiglas dividers along with early health screenings. We appreciate everyone’s efforts to keep our community healthy and safe and our programs available to our neighbors!

SHOWING OUR APPRECIATION Over 800 appreciation packets were mailed to front line Food Pantry workers which included a letter, PRC Strong face mask and window cling. Superheroes who volunteered in the Food Pantry every month from March through October were hand delivered a yard sign and their appreciation packet. We honor all of our volunteers who have made a personal decision to pause during the pandemic. We miss you and hope to welcome you back soon!

Superhero Volunteer Jim B receives his yard sign.

“

It is my pleasure to be a small part of the PRC organization and especially the Pantry. I’m proud to be able to contribute to the amazing work that is accomplished on behalf of the community. Sincere thanks for the recognition.

”

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PRC Volunteer

People’s Resource Center – Annual Report 2021

OUR FISCAL YEAR 2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Anjali Alva

Sr. Pat Norton, OSF

Jack Baldermann

Kathy O’Malley

Ophelia Barsketis

James Orel

Consuelo Cabral

Prashant Parikh, Secretary

Mary Constantino

Kimberly Vander Schaaf

John Dalby, Jr.

John Wallerius

Erin Keyser Norton, Vice President

Sue Winkler

Brent Loebig, Treasurer

Jeff Zidell, President

Marsha Villanueva McDermott

Jenifer Fabian, Executive Director

Several PRC board members gathered at Ty Warner Park in Westmont over the summer.

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

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630-682-5402 | www.peoplesrc.org

104 Chestnut Avenue Westmont, IL 60559

201 S. Naperville Road Wheaton, IL 60187

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