Compassion for Campers Gear Distributions to Continue in McHenry and Woodstock

First United Methodist Church in McHenry.

The Faith Leaders of McHenry County and Compassion for Campers will continue to distribute camping gear and supplies to the homeless at the First United Methodist Church, 3717 Main Street in McHenry on Tuesday, October 13 from 3:30-5:00 p.m.  Warm clothes are now being offered as well a Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) rations provided by McHenry County Emergency Management and the McHenry Country Health Department, and single burner camp stoves.

On Tuesday, October 27 the distribution will return to St, Ann’s Episcopal Church, 503 W. Jackson in Woodstock.

Plans are now being made for indoor distributions to continue every two weeks over the cold months.  New locations will be announced soon.

Distribution of supplies will be drive through/walk up with face masks required, social distancing observed, and no gathering.  Among the supplies available while they last will be tents, sleeping bags, tarps and pads, coolers, hygiene products, other sundries, and non-perishable food.

The Faith Leaders of McHenry County is an informal group of clergy serving local congregations or as chaplains as well as lay leaders and volunteers who meet regularly to address the needs of the community.  The group came together to share wisdom, experience, positive community action as the Covid-19 epidemic arose.  It has also taken up the issues of racism and privilege brought to the fore by the Black Lives Matter Movement and the protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and other Persons of Color and to encourage deep listening discussions to bridge community divisions.  

 

Compassion for Campers is a program founded by the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation in McHenry which has been serving the homeless every summer for the past eight years.  Monetary donations from the Faith Leaders and their congregations have been added to Compassion for Campers funds to purchase the gear.  

Additional donations can be made by sending a check made out to Tree of Life UU Congregation with Compassion for Campers on the memo line to the church at 5603 West Bull Valley Road, McHenry, IL 60050.  Compassion for Campers is a dedicated fund and no donations to it can be used by Tree of Life for any other purpose.  The church absorbs all administrative expenses so 100% of donations will be used to aid the homeless.

For more information contact Patrick Murfin at 815 814-5645 or e-mail pmurfin@sbcglobal.net