Yesterday
was the first Friday of December.
Here in McHenry County, Illinois that meant that it was
one of the Community Resource Days serving the homeless and housing
insecure at Willow Crystal Lake, 100 S. Main Street in
Crystal Lake. Compassion for
Campers, Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation’s long-time
ministry, was on hand to distribute essential camping gear and
equipment including tents, sleeping bags, sleeping mats,
tarps, camp stoves, propane fuel tanks, flashlights
plus personal hygiene items, and non-perishable food.
The need
was great. The past few days were
the coldest, yet this season and high winds damaged or
destroyed some camp sites. New clients
including women and children are showing up more
frequently. We see those who never expected
to be homeless but tumbled over the edge because of a job loss, medical
emergency, family crisis, or legal problems along with long-time,
hardcore folks.
The
all are offered aid, comfort, and hope by the many agencies,
government services, and community organizations on hand. And they can get a good warm meal, showers,
haircuts, and laundry facilities.
We
will have another Compassion for Campers distribution at the Community Resource
Day on Friday, December 16.
You can help bring a little holiday cheer to folks in need.
Money
donations
can be made to Tree of Life UU Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley, McHenry,
IL 60050 by check with Compassion for Campers on the memo line
or donate online at https://treeoflifeuu.breezechms.com/give/online
designating Compassion for Campers in
the drop-down menu.
Compassion
for Campers has a special dedicated account with the church cannot
use for any other purpose and Tree of Life donates all administrative
expenses, so all donations go directly to assisting our
clients—the most bang for your charity buck!
We
can also accept direct donations of some items. Tents, sleeping bags, mats, and tarps should
be new or completely clean in original bags or totes. Propane tanks, hand warmers, gloves as well
as mini-flashlights with batteries are in constant demand. No bags of clothes or dirty
or damaged equipment please.
Contact Patrick Murfin at 815 814-5646 or pmurfin@sbcglobal.net for information on how you can get the items
to us.
And
at Tree of Life’s 10:45 multi-platform worship service Religious Education
students will present An Unhoused Christmas as their annual pageant. They are asking those in attendance to bring
items for Compassion for Campers to distribute including:
High protein canned goods, with pop open tops.
Men and women’s deodorant
Larger body wipes
Hairbrushes
Coffee creamer
Instant coffee
Coloring books and crayons for the children
we have been seeing
Rope for tent tie downs
brandades
cough drops/lozenges
Non aspirin pain relievers
Canned tuna or chicken
nail trimmers
back packs/ cloth tote bags
Wrapped toilet paper rolls
Paper towels
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