Walking the Walk and Compassion for Campers Update for April

Look for new opportunities for action, education, community, and solidarity in and around McHenry County here every week.  

 Walking the Walk  

Warm weather and the multiple crises in our country and the world are ramping up actions and opportunities.  Indivisible McHenry County alone has a full schedule of events.

Saturday, April 25--Communities Not Cages protest rally from 11 am to 1 pm on Route 31 at McCullom Lake Road in McHenry.  Part of a nationwide day of action to oppose the Trump administration’s expansion of ICE warehouse detention centers and its attack on the due process rights of immigrants and all Americans. Registration is appreciated so we’ll know how many attendees to expect, but it’s not required. Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/disappearedinamerica/event/935375/

Friday, May 1, May Day roadside rally from 3 pm to 5 pm. on Route 31 at McCullom Lake Road in McHenry. May Day is a national day of action that includes a national strike, boycotts, and protest rallies--a virtual General Strike. No shopping! No work! No school!  Here is the registration link:

https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/931824/.

Saturday, May 2, First Saturday Speaker event at 1pm at 3717 N. Main Street in McHenry. The featured speaker will be a representative from PFLAG, the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents, families, and allies. 

Sunday, June 14, Trump's Birthday protest rally from 3 pm to 5 pm on Route 31 at McCullom Lake Road in McHenry.  This is later in the day for those who want to attend the Woodstock' Pride Fest earlier.

Briefly looking ahead to a busy June:

Woodstock Pride Fest--June 13-14 Annual family-friendly events celebrating the LGBTQIA+ Community. Multiple special events.  Pride Parade and the Festival on the Square 11 am to 4 pm.

Ride/Walk to Leave a Light On--On and around  Woodstock Square, Friday, June 19 7 pm.  Benefiting Break Crystal Lake Teen Center,  Compassion for Campers, Community Connection for Youth, IMC--employment, education, health, and housing services, Jail Breakers, Lemonade & Advocate, Live4Lali, and Woodstock Pride.

The McHenry County Juneteenth Festival will be held on Saturday, June 20, from 3 to 5:30 pm on Woodstock Square Woodstock.

Compassion for Campers is at Community Resource Days at Willow Crystal Lake, 100 South Main Street on the first and third Friday of every month from 10 am to 2 pm. C4C is one of over 25 agencies at Willow.  C4C’s next distribution will be  Friday, April 17 and then on Friday, May 1.. Please come and see what we are doing.  

Yo-yo conditions and mud are the reality for those camping or sleeping in vehicles and catch-as-catch can spaces  Demand is very high for basic camping supplies and despite our best efforts cannot meet everyone’s needs.  Individual and community donations are critical to purchase our gear.   

We can always use donations of supplies like clean and serviceable tents and sleeping bags in original bags for easy transport, clean blankets, tabletop grills, wrapped toilet paper and paper towels, and non-perishable food.  Money donations are always welcome.      https://tinyurl.com/3bz96axe

We need people to share leadership tasks including shopping, transportation, acknowledging donations, coordinating with other agencies, and religious groups. These tasks can take a few hours a week.  People with flexible schedules with some day-time availability are ideal candidates.  A good way to start is to volunteer for our distribution a time or two to see if we are a good fit and stir your passion for justice and service.  Interested?  Email compassionforcampers@treeoflifeuu.org