Already on a shoestring budget, and with $400,000 in state funding caught up in political budget wrangling, the Crisis Center for South Suburbia will take all the help the domestic violence shelter can get, organization officials said.
Employees from Exelon spent most of a day last week doing just that.
As part of the National Volunteer Week, 16 Exelon employees spent Friday tackling much-needed tasks that may otherwise have been overlooked, said Katie Abbott, who is both an Exelon vice president of supply business operations and technical support, as well as a Crisis Center board member.
The shelter provides housing to about 40 people daily, many of whom arrive with children from crisis situations, said Crisis Center Executive Director Pam Kostecki.
“Sometimes people leave (their homes) with nothing but the clothes on their backs,” Abbott said.
Having supplies, such as clothing, diapers, school items, shoes and toiletries available is an important service the center provides. However, taking the time to sort through the donations and organizing them onto shelves for easy access is a chore that often gets bypassed by more important needs. Kostecki said having the Exelon volunteers helps the crisis center staff be more efficient.
“That’s the design of our program is to be an emergency response,” Kostecki said.
The volunteers also helped with spring cleaning of the grounds, which include a children’s play area. Because the Crisis Center cannot afford a full time maintenance person, these volunteers made a difference, Kostecki said.
“It’s seriously important,” Kostecki said. “(The Crisis Center) is really struggling.”
In 2016, the center provided 13,623 nights of residential services and 6,324 nights of transitional housing, served 318 clients in counseling services; 11,025 participants in community education and 197 clients in abuser services, and provided 1113 clients court advocacy, according to the non-profit organization’s annual report.
“One in four women and one in seven men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime,” the annual report said.
The crisis center is inclusive of men, women and children, and will assist all victims “no matter the type of relationship,” Kostecki said.
Exelon spokeswoman Justine Jentes said although the company is not unique in its volunteer efforts, she is proud that Exelon follows its employees’ interests concerning where and how to volunteer. Abbott said her team suggested volunteering a the crisis center because they were aware of her involvement there.
“Each of our volunteers picks what they want to do for volunteering,” Jentes said.
Nationwide, Exelon held more than 300 volunteer events in April, she said. More than 3,200 employees donated about 15,000 volunteer hours.
“You’ve got to give back to the community,” said Exelon employee Jim Geiger, who volunteered at the crisis center. “Exelon gives us the opportunity to do this, you want to take advantage of what is given to you.”
Erin Gallagher is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
