Christmas too commercial? Fight back by spending more. Just go shopping with the following wish lists from northwest suburban social service agencies.
Some of the wishes require cash; others just require your time. Either way, your efforts will be well spent.
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The Kenneth Young Centers in Elk Grove Village is a community behavioral health center that offers a variety of services, from preventative education to crisis intervention. The center served about 9,000 children and adults in 1997.
Its Senior Services arm, which can provide such things as help with household chores and in-home meals, needs cleaning supplies, paper towels, napkins, facial tissues and a power drill and electric screwdriver so case workers can assemble walkers.
“Sometimes, maximizing independence means simple things like helping seniors clean their homes,” said Betty Jones, director of marketing communications. “For example, a person hears bread crumbs crunch beneath her feet but cannot bend down to sweep them up.”
Needs for other Kenneth Young programs include a TV/VCR combination, projection screen, copy machine, folding tables, podium, sturdy easel, new children’s books, foam/cardboard building blocks, art supplies, two dozen 16-by-20-inch picture frames to display client artwork and extra-large, zip-front sweatshirts.
“A lot of these items support small aspects of what we do,” Jones said, “but by donating, you’re part of a program to help people become productive in society.”
Call Jones at 847-524-8800.
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In Park Ridge, the Harbour Inc. specializes in helping homeless, runaway and abused young women ages 12-22 by providing housing needs and support. Since 1975, more than 3,500 young women have found a refuge there. Key programs include the short-term/emergency shelter, transitional living and independent living, begun just this summer.
Community relations coordinator Sandi Davenport said it’s all about keeping kids safe, not only by offering housing but by trying to reunify the family.
“When we talk about kids, what we’re really talking about is that they need a foundation of safety,” Davenport said. “Safety doesn’t mean pills are on the third shelf; it’s really about how you live your life and how you model being safe.”
You can help by donating heavy-duty duffel bags, fleece blankets, backpacks, extra-large fleece sweatshirts, T-shirts, socks and underwear. And then there’s the stuff teenagers love: personal and clock radios, makeup/grooming kits, magazine subscriptions and craft and art supplies.
Harbour addresses the stigma attached to being different by offering normal experiences. They could use gift certificates, especially for McDonald’s, and basic services such as haircuts and transportation cards. There is a great need, too, for orthodontic care.
Call Davenport at 847-297-8540.
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The Family Health Partnership Clinic in Harvard provides primary and preventative health care to about 300 uninsured and underinsured patients, mostly from McHenry County. Fees for all the clinics — pediatric, internal medicine, family practice, women’s health and ophthalmology — are based on a sliding scale, but no one is turned away.
“We’re opening a new clinic in Woodstock, so we need — what can I ask for?” said health center director Suzanne Hoban.
The list is indeed long. Volunteers are needed to paint and wallpaper the new location, read books to children during clinic times and provide board, office and fundraising help.
The hard-goods wish list includes medical supplies, a refrigerator for vaccines, curtains and blinds, lockable storage and file cabinets, a fax machine, new books and toys, tables and chairs, and children’s stickers.
Call Hoban at 815-943-1021.
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Internationally respected for its immediate presence at disaster sites throughout the world, the American Red Cross lends a hand locally too. The Greater Chicago chapter in Arlington Heights helps fire victims and funnels its resources through other community agencies such as CEDA Northwest and Catholic Charities.
Office manager Dina Ackermann said volunteers are needed to cut, sew and decorate holiday stockings for needy folks. You can also donate new items for the stockings. Throughout the year, the agency can always use office supplies.
Call 847-255-0703.
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Like animals? Helping Paws of Crystal Lake needs your help — and understanding. It’s a no-kill shelter, but it can’t accept an unlimited number of unwanted pets.
“People get mad when they find an animal and we can’t help, but they don’t realize a no-kill facility like us gets no government funding,” said executive director Kathy Costantino.
In October, Helping Paws moved to larger, more visible quarters just off U.S. Highway 14, and this should ease some of the space constraints and increase adoptions, Costantino said, but it won’t solve the problem. So this holiday season, its No. 1 wish is for you to adopt, especially adult cats.
Helping Paws has other needs too, including cat litter, cat and dog food (especially canned), plastic garbage bags, paper towels, pet carriers, large crates and any used pet items in good condition.
Call Costantino at 815-459-2641.
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Headquartered in Schaumburg, the National Society to Prevent Blindness strives to eliminate preventable blindness caused by disease, accidents and workplace injuries. Last year, the group screened 1 million people nationwide.
“If an adult has glaucoma, it’s very difficult to tell without screening, and by the time a person notices a loss of vision, they’ve lost quite a bit,” said media relations manager Alice Kelsey.
In addition to office equipment and supplies, the organization needs support group leaders and vision screeners.
“We train volunteers to be screeners,” Kelsey said. “The children’s program is a half-day training session, and the adult program takes one day. You can really go out and make a difference.”
Call 847-843-2020.
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Thresholds, a $35 million national non-profit organization, houses about 6,000 chronically mentally ill people in the Chicago area who would otherwise be homeless. Six years ago, Thresholds opened two group homes in Woodstock, each called AMI House. Together, they currently serve 13 people from McHenry County; there is a 100-person waiting list.
“Community housing is a real success,” said program director Bill Lange. “It replaces state institutions since it’s much cheaper and the environment is better because we do holistic work — educational, vocational, social. We have put nine people back out in the community in five years.”
At the top of its wish list is more houses; Lange said they could fill a house in a day. Computers would be invaluable for teaching technological skills. Holiday cards and small gifts would also be appreciated.
Call Lange at 815-337-0780.
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Pioneer Center of McHenry County serves more than 1,700 adults with mental illness, developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injury and children with developmental disabilities.
Carolyn Wotring, manager of events and fundraising, said top priorities on its wish list would be a small refrigerator and gift certificates to Jewel, Kmart, Wal-Mart and pharmacies. Other needs are computers, educational software, a van, cookware sets, dishes, large-capacity washer and dryer, towels, coffeemaker, Christmas tree decorations, CPR mannequins, gardening tools and supplies such as clay pots.
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Call Karen Leonard, director of mental health services, at 815-344-1230.
