Spring Brings Out More Homeless in Need

Compassion for Campers volunteers with supplies at Willow Crystal Lake.

Warm weather is bringing more unhoused people in McHenry who need camping supplies, survival gear, and essential items.  At Compassion for Campers’ last distribution on April 21 we served the most individuals in a year including record numbers of first timers.

Compassion for Campers (C4C), the volunteer organization that serves the homeless, unhoused, and underhoused, meets at the Community Resource Days on the first and third Friday of every month from 10 am to 2 pm. C4C is one of over 25 agencies who meet at the Willow Friendship Center, 100 South Main Street, Crystal Lake to serve the unhoused and at-risk community.  Our next distributions are on Friday May 5 and Friday May 19.  Please stop by and see us in action.  You will be inspired.

Compassion for Campers is a ministry of Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road, McHenry, IL. 60050.  Donations to C4C are placed in a separate account and cannot be used for any other purpose.  The congregation donates all administrative costs, so 100% of donations go to client services—the best bang for your charity dollars.

Donations are always welcome.  You can mail a check to the Church with Compassion for Campers on the memo line or give online  and pick Compassion for Campers from the drop down funds list. 

If you want to donate items,  these will be needed throughout the spring, summer, and early fall—mosquito repellent, sunscreen, new or like new and clean tabletop size grills,  clean or new coolers both six pack size and picnic size for ice—no foam please.  Items can be left at the Church or call Patrick Murfin at 815 814-5645 for information on bringing items to Crystal Lake.  Thanks for the help! 

Here are items you can donate directly instead of money:

    High protein canned goods, with pop open tops

    Mosquito repellent

    Sunscreen

    Coolers—six pack size and large for ice.

    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

    Band-Aids and first aid supplies

    cough drops/lozenges

    Non aspirin pain relievers

    Canned tuna or chicken

    nail trimmers

    back packs/ cloth tote bags

    Wrapped toilet paper rolls

     Paper towels