Benevolence Agencies
The Outreach Committee seeks to be good stewards
Kenilworth Union Church annually contributes money and time to over 30 social service and educational organizations in the Chicago metropolitan area. These agencies provide vital health care to the uninsured, food and shelter for the needy, child care, family services, education and training, and much more. Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000.
The Outreach Committee seeks to be good stewards of the funds it distributes. When the Committee is determining whether to support an agency, the following funding criteria are considered:
- Is this an agency where we can make an impact?
- Is this an agency where there is involvement with members of the congregation and potential volunteer opportunities?
- Is the organization financially viable?
- Is the agency well-managed?
To enhance our effectiveness in making funding decisions, two volunteers from the Kenilworth Union congregation are assigned to be liaisons to each agency. For a new agency to be reviewed by the Outreach Committee, it has to be proposed by a member of the congregation who is willing to act as the liaison between the Church and the agency. The liaisons meet with the agency at least annually, prepare agency reviews and present them to the Outreach Committee in May to help them make their funding decisions. In addition, the liaisons are encouraged to develop awareness of the agency within the church organization and make congregants aware of volunteer opportunities. To volunteer as an agency liaison, contact Denise Akason or Mike Revord.
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A Just Harvest
7649 N. Paulina Street, Chicago, IL 60626, ajustharvest.org
Liaisons: Michael Petersen and Judy Pettas Wood
A Just Harvest serves nutritious, hot meals to the needy in the North of Howard neighborhood of Chicago’s Rogers Park. The kitchen began serving a few meals a week in 1983 and through its unique partnership with forty community organizations, it now provides meals 365 days a year. The kitchen serves around 150 people every evening. In addition, the kitchen has established a community organizing effort, Northside POWER to advocate for safer streets, increased access to healthcare, job training and living wage jobs for kitchen patrons and community residents. Kenilworth Union Church is one of the Kitchen’s partner congregations. On the second Monday of each month, eight to ten volunteers from the congregation purchase food off of a pre-assigned shopping list and meet at the Kitchen to provide food service. It’s a great opportunity for family and friends to experience the full impact of Kenilworth Union’s outreach ministry.
Bernie’s Book Bank
917 N Shore Dr, Lake Bluff, IL 60044, berniesbookbank.org
Liaisons: Chris Beer and Diane Welnhofer
Reading is the single most important skill a child needs. Yet many children lack access to books, and especially books of their own. That’s why Bernie’s Book Bank works so hard to provide free quality books to children in our local areas to build personal libraries. Our purpose is simple: Enable positive life experiences through book ownership. We envision a world where every child has equal access to books and the opportunities they inspire.
In order to accomplish this, we source, process, and distribute eight books annually to children, ages birth through sixth grade. Bernie’s Book Bank focuses on under-resourced communities—where children are the least likely to have access to books of their own—and delivers the age appropriate, high-interest, and culturally relevant books children deserve. We believe that books and book ownership create pathways to success, so we empower children to explore new ideas, gain knowledge, and strengthen reading skills. With the support of generous volunteers and donors, Bernie’s Book Bank is transforming children’s stories.
Bottom Line
65 E. Wacker Place, Suite 800, Chicago, Illinois 60601, bottomline.org
Liaisons: Bruce Linger and Jon Van Gorp
Bottom Line helps first generation low-income high school students get into college, graduate from college and find a job. Bottom Line has two programs: Access and Success.
The Access program supports low-income high school seniors as they navigate choosing and applying to college. Once students commit to our program, advisors help them navigate every step of the college application process.
The Success program welcomes first-generation college students from low-income backgrounds who are enrolling at one of our twelve Illinois target colleges. Advisors assist students in renewing financial aid annually and help students secure internships and part-time jobs.
This program is unique in that our advisors are full-time, trained professionals employed by Bottom Line.
Breakthrough
402 North St. Louis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60624, breakthrough.org
Liaisons: Dave Landsittel and Diane Rand
Breakthrough Urban Ministries is located in and serves residents of East Garfield Park, one of Chicago’s most under-served, high poverty neighborhoods on the west side of Chicago. Each year, Breakthrough serves 4,800 youth, families, and homeless adults through an integration of core service areas focusing on housing stability and wraparound services—employment and job creation, health and wellness, and education. Last year over 900 individuals were served by the Daytime Support Center. The Transitional Housing program served over 250 homeless adults. The Fresh Market food pantry served over 2,800 individuals and the agency’s youth program served over 800 youth.
C24/7
1348 W Howard St #1, Chicago, IL 60626, C247fam.org
Liaisons: Paul Embree and Brett Gardiner
Reaching, Serving, and Empowering our Shared Community of Rogers Park
To provide hope and a path to resurrection to the children and other citizens of impoverished communities.
C24/7 is a non-profit organization dedicated, through the power of Jesus Christ, to improving the lives of children and young adults in the North of Howard neighborhood by providing the necessary tools, security, and environment for them to thrive economically, socially, and spiritually.
Cara Chicago
237 S. Desplaines, Chicago, IL 60661, carachicago.org
Liaisons: Suzanne Hales and Vince McBrien
Cara’s mission is to unlock the power and purpose within our communities and ourselves to create real and lasting success. Through personal and professional development and access to employment opportunities, Cara serves as a leader in poverty alleviation in Chicago and beyond. Cara was founded in 1991 by Tom Owens. Tom was an entrepreneur and philanthropist who had retired early and, after being inspired by the good work of Mother Teresa, dedicated himself to empowering adults affected by homelessness and poverty to find quality employment. Since 1991, more than 6,500 people have been placed into more than 10,000 jobs and started on their path to self-sufficiency.
As no one’s journey is the same, so is no one person’s development experience. An individual will receive the training and/or job experience needed until they achieve and retain gainful employment. Through Cara’s Leadership Development, participants gain personal and professional training needed to succeed on the job. In addition Cara owns two social enterprises: Clean slate, an exterior maintenance company, and Cara Connects, a mission-driven staffing firm. Cara also runs Cara Plus, which engages leaders around the world to build and deploy their own workforce solutions based on lessons and practices steeped within their own methodology.
Community Health
2611 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622, communityhealth.org
Liaisons: Ryan Cahill and Tim Dugan
Founded in 1993, Community Health is dedicated to serving the uninsured and underserved in Chicago and surrounding communities. In 2010, Community Health provided more than 25,000 medical, dental, and educational visits for more than 8,000 patients. With our comprehensive patient services and many institutional affiliations, Community Health is a leader among free clinics nationwide.
On September 27th, 2010, Community Health established a satellite site in Chicago’s south side Englewood neighborhood – a community with great need and limited resources. This new resource will allow Community Health to broaden its reach to meet the growing numbers and needs of Chicago’s most vulnerable residents and communities. It will be modeled after Community Health’s West Town facility in both volunteer structure and services offered. The newly renovated first floor health center houses eight exam rooms, a lab, dispensary, and a classroom for health education. The lower level, to be renovated in early 2011, includes four dental treatment stations and a lab.
Connections for Abused Women and Their Children (CAWC)
P.O. Box 477916, Chicago, IL 60647, cawc.org
Liaisons: Jane Dearborn and Ronald Sipiora
CAWC provides that important safe refuge and support to help women and their children take those first brave steps to ending abuse. CAWC has a number of shelters in the Chicago area open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The shelters provide core domestic violence services including: 24 hour crisis phone line, individual and group counseling services, safety planning, court advocacy, life skill development and referrals. The shelters provide multilingual services to non-English speakers.
Domestic violence is especially damaging to children who have witnessed the abuse. Not only is their own personal safety threatened, but this exposure affects their ability to learn, to establish relationships with others, and to cope with stress. CAWC provides support to child victims of domestic violence through comprehensive Children’s Services at its Greenhouse Shelter and Humboldt Park Outreach program sites. The goal of all Children’s Services is to reduce the negative impact of domestic violence by addressing safety issues as well as emotional, psychological, and behavioral consequences.
Crushers Club
1406 W. 64th Street, Chicago, IL 60636, crushersclub.org
Liaison: John Palmer
Crusher’s Club’s mission is to be the strongest alternative to gangs. They arm young people with the support and skills they need to restore their lives and improve their neighborhood. Crushers Club is rooted in four ideals—respect, discipline, ownership, and love—that gives its members a fighting chance.
From Circuit Court of Cook County, Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Division: “In the Englewood neighborhood, Crushers Club is a beacon of hope. Offering top tier boxing instruction, mentoring, and music studio workshop, it is a place where kids who have nowhere else to go can spend their time constructively, creatively and safely. Crushers Club is the number one program offered on the streets of Englewood. There is no doubt in my mind this program saves lives daily and under the leadership of Sally Hazelgrove, will continue to do so.” —Dominique Scalzetti, Juvenile Probation Officer
Deborah’s Place
2822 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60612, deborahsplace.org
Liaison: Jenn Ross
For over 25 years, Deborah’s Place has worked to break the cycle of homelessness through compassionate, innovative, and award-winning programs. Our dedicated volunteers and staff support women through their journeys from homelessness to permanent supportive housing with comprehensive services.
Women are especially vulnerable to the factors that contribute to homelessness—factors like chronic poverty, a rapidly changing housing market, illness, and addiction. This year in Chicago more than 12,000 women will experience the devastating effects of homelessness.
Family Matters
7731 N. Marshfield Avenue, Chicago, IL 60626, familymatterschicago.org
Liaisons: Taylor Cole and Laurie Petersen
Family Matters supports Chicago youth and their families through programs and initiatives that advance growth, leadership and achievement with support from volunteers and partner organizations.
Family Promise Chicago North Shore
PO Box 484 Glencoe, IL 60022, fpcnorthshore.org
Liaisons: Jessica LeFebvre and Holly Smirl
Families with young children in homeless situations in Chicago and its northern and northwestern suburbs are served by this agency. Family Promise helps them return to permanent housing by offering support and assistance.
Haven for Youth and Family Services
825 Green Bay Rd Suite 200 Wilmette IL 60091, havenforyouth.org
Liaisons: Susan Resko and Linda Wehrheim
Haven offers programs in prevention, intervention and private counseling in collaboration with schools and community agencies for youth and their families facing crisis. Haven has been in operation since 1976 and has grown programming to include workshops, youth groups, service-learning and more.
Holy Family Ministries
3415 W. Arlington Street, Chicago, IL 60624 hfm.org
Lucille Resale Store & Donation
Liaisons: Liz Chandler and John Palmer
Holy Family’s mission is to nurture the healthy social, academic, physical, and spiritual development of Chicago children and youth. Equipped with intellectual curiosity, competitive academic skills, confidence, health and faith, the children in Holy Family’s care will thrive socially and academically. Holy Family School alumni will access top-performing high schools and the colleges of their choice. As adults, they will make positive contributions in their communities, churches, and families.
The school and youth development programs operated by Holy Family Ministries are open to all who enroll, and offered “first-come, first-served,” without regard to religion, race, previous academic achievement, or ethnicity.
Holy Trinity High School
1443 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60642 holytrinity-hs.org
Liaisons: Peter Hepner and John Raitt
Holy Trinity High School is a Catholic, co-educational high school sponsored by the Brothers of Holy Cross and located on the near-north side of Chicago. Holy Trinity serves predominantly low-income, at-risk teenagers from some of the city’s most challenging communities.
The school’s experience faculty and staff provide individualized attention, a challenging academic curriculum, and strong moral guidance, creating a learning environment that transforms the hearts and minds of students, allowing them to realize their goals and ambitions. Holy Trinity students develop a strong foundation based on self-respect, discipline, and social awareness. Since 2006, 100 percent of Holy Trinity graduates have achieved college acceptance.
Holy Trinity operates without public funding or funding from the Archdiocese of Chicago. Tuition payments amount to about 28 percent of the school’s operating budget. Outside scholarship agencies contribute another 18 percent, with Holy Trinity raising the remaining 54 percent from individuals, corporations, and other organizations. KUC’s support provides scholarships to three Holy Trinity Honor Roll students-who qualify for the scholarship by scoring above the 85th percentile on the school’s entrance exam, maintaining a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average, and participating in service to the school and community.
Humble Design
431 W. Pershing Road, Chicago, IL 60609 humbledesign.org/chicago
Liaisons: Betsy Harootyan and Carrie Hoza
Humble Design started in Detroit a decade ago and the Chicago location began in 2017. Humble Design in Chicago has furnished homes for over 100 families – 500 individuals to date. The agency partners with local area homeless shelters and social service agencies to identify families and veterans who are emerging from homelessness and into low-incoming housing. Currently, Humble Design is furnishing two homes per week plus assisting with furnishing a shelter. U-Haul is a national sponsor and provides Chicago operation with office and storage space as well as use of trucks.
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Infant Welfare Society of Evanston
2200 Main Street, Evanston, IL 60202, iwse.org
Liaisons: Bill Graham and Mary MacGregor
The Infant Welfare Society is a 99-year-old agency serving the needs of the youngest, most vulnerable members of the Evanston and Northwest side communities. The center is located just east of McCormick Boulevard on Main Street in south Evanston. The Executive Director is Cass Wolfe. The volunteer contact is Jennifer Riskind. She may be contacted for additional information or to volunteer at (847) 491-9650. The Infant Welfare Society of Evanston provides the following services:
- Full day child care for children 6 weeks to 3 years old for 70 children through Early Head Start, Subsidized Care, and Private Pay
- Full day child care for children six weeks to three years old for 16 children who are parented by teenagers through Early Head Start
- Family Support Services including prenatal groups, home visiting programs, parent training and support, developmental screening and assessment, therapeutic intervention and group sessions
The Josselyn Center
405 Central Avenue, Northfield, IL 60093, josselyn.org
Liaisons: Janice MacVicar and Mary Womsley
Founded in 1951 The Josselyn Center’s commitment to community mental health remains anchored in our mission to provide affordable mental health services that make lives better for our clients, their families, and the community. We serve 1,361 clients, 88 percent of whom qualify for reduced fees based on low-incomes. We envision a world where all individuals and families who are affected by a mental health condition have access to affordable quality care, regardless of ability to pay. We are the only Illinois Certified Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) within the 375 square mile service area from Lake Michigan to Arlington Heights and Libertyville to Skokie.
Josselyn is best known as the area provider of outpatient psychiatric services but what truly sets us apart is the high quality and comprehensive nature of our services. Like other area providers Josselyn offers a range of therapy services, (individual, group, family, and expressive) and crisis counseling. However we are the only provider in the area to offer comprehensive care, including psychiatric evaluations, and medication monitoring.
Juvenile Protective Association
1707 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60614, juvenile.org
Liaisons: Melinda Hurley and Suzy Scherb
The Juvenile Protective Association (JPA) serves youth, family, and adults in the Chicago Metropolitan area. The non-for-profit organization offers child services in the form of early intervention for parents and young children. They provide a wide range of counseling modalities to meet the unique needs of each family, including counseling to work on parenting issues and to strengthen the parent-child relationship, couples counseling focusing on shared parenting challenges, individual therapy for parents to address mental health issues that inhibit optimal parenting and play therapy for children to address traumatic experiences. JPA has developed and implemented a systematic approach to measuring the effectiveness of family therapy in strengthening the adaptive family functioning.
JPA is also an advocacy group to support social policy and services that protect children and enhance their development and to ensure that best interests and constitutional rights are recognized for children and families. The program also offers professional education/technical assistance to train professionals in child welfare, early childhood and developmental psychology.
The Juvenile Protective Association is always looking for volunteers for their Board of Directors as well as their Auxiliary Board.
La Casa Norte
3533 W. North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647, lacasanorte.org
Liaison: Elizabeth Newton
La Casa Norte’s mission is to serve youth and families who are confronting homelessness in the Chicago area. They provide access to stable housing and deliver comprehensive services that act as a catalyst to transform lives and the community. LCA provides emergency shelter, transitional housing and access to stable housing for youth, ages 16-25 and families confronting homelessness in Chicago. The support services include case management, therapy, nutrition education, emergency food/clothing/toiletries and referrals to a range of additional services. These include health care, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, child care, legal assistance, and employment readiness training and education.
LINK Unlimited Scholars
2221 S State St, Chicago, IL 60616, linkunlimited.org
Liaisons: Elisa McDermott and Meg Revord
We link Black students in Chicago to a bright future. For over our 50-year history, LINK Unlimited Scholars has changed the lives of Black students and families through our proven model.
Our four programmatic elements—Academic Enrichment, College Access, Leadership Development, and Career Exposure—give our LINK Scholars the resources they need to reach their full potential.
NewRoot
910 W. VanBuren St. Suite 710, Chicago IL 60607, newroot.org
Liaisons: Evan Newton and Kristen Merk
NewRoot offers several levels of programming. Restorative Justice (RJ) Partner Schools receive targeted coaching and support to build a restorative school culture. We also offer more focused discipline and behavior systems support by coaching administrative and disciplinary staff on how to advance their school’s systems and policies to fully incorporate RJ principles. Our social emotional learning (SEL) partner schools implement our 500-lesson, research-based curriculum. Our curriculum includes units including How To Do School, College and Career, Winning Behaviors, Healthy Choices, Social Justice, and Service Learning. There is a strong focus on post-secondary preparation in this program. Finally, we offer professional development opportunities for educational professionals including our Summer Learning and Action Institute.
The Night Ministry
4711 Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640, thenightministry.org
Liaisons: Elizabeth Bigelow and Stephanie Sullivan
The Night Ministry began in 1976, as a collaboration of 18 congregations of diverse faiths, who sought to address the lack of services for people who were homeless, precariously housed, or at-risk. Annually, we serve around 4,100 individuals with approximately 54,000 contacts through health outreach programs, and over 2,400 through youth shelter and services programs. Our office is located in Ravenswood: we have youth shelter locations in Lakeview and West Town; and our 38-foot Health Outreach Bus makes regular scheduled stops to: Humboldt Park, Lakeview, South Shore, Uptown, Wicker Park, and Pilsen.
The Night Ministry currently operates 4 programs: Open Door Youth Shelter West Town, Open Door Youth Shelter Lakeview, Response-Ability Pregnant and Parenting program (RAPPP), Youth Outreach, and Outreach and Health Ministry. The addition of the Night Ministry’s newest programs, bot the Transitional Living Program and RAPPP, has allowed us to double the number of beds for youth from 16 to 32. Our programs serve homeless youth and adults, working poor, uninsured/underinsured individuals, those who are seeking to learn their HIV status, and others who have fallen through the cracks of our social service systems. The Night Ministry values our continued partnership with Kenilworth Union Church.
Northwestern Settlement
1400 W. Augusta Blvd., Chicago, IL 60622, nush.org
Liaison: Glenn Dalhart and Linda Kingman
Northwestern University Settlement was founded in 1891 to provide resources that empower its West Town neighbors to take personal responsibility for overcoming the obstacles of poverty and improving the quality of their lives. The Settlement operates on the principle of individual and family self-help and the philosophy that every person deserves to maximize his or her potential to be a productive member of society. Through more than 70 programs and services, the Settlement serves approximately 8,000 low income people each year in three key areas: assistance for the immediate short term crisis; knowledge, opportunities and support to break out of the cycle of poverty over the long term; and access to a network of additional programs and services
Q-Z
RefugeeONE
4753 N. Broadway, Suite 410 Chicago, IL 60640, refugeeone.org
Liaisons: Nathan Brown and Catherine Guthrie
RefugeeOne creates opportunities for refugees fleeing war, terror and persecution to build new lives of safety, dignity, and self-reliance. RefugeeOne provides a full range of services to refugees brought to the United States by the U.S. State Department for resettlement in the Chicago metropolitan area. RefugeeOne helps these refugees secure housing, learn English, acclimate to American culture, develop computer and other skills, find jobs, obtain medical and other care, access the public school system for their children, obtain care for elderly family members, and apply for citizenship. Each year RefugeeOne welcomes over 500 refugees–approximately 35% of all refugees resettled in the Chicago area. In the past, the U.S. saw major resettlements of refugees from Eastern Europe, Vietnam, the former Yugoslavia, and various African countries. The majority of refugees currently being resettled in the U.S. and by RefugeeOne are:
Iraqis who assisted the U.S. military, and those who have fled persecution
Burmese who have fled the violence of the junta of Myanmar
Bhutanese who have fled “ethnic cleansing”
Saint Leonard’s Ministries
2100 West Warren Blvd. Chicago, IL 60612, slministries.org
Liaison: Chris Gowe
The mission of St. Leonard’s Ministries is to provide a residential and supportive setting in which men and women recently released from prison can lead productive and whole lives. Residents are provided with an array of program services designed to assist them as they make the transition to successful, independent living. During their stay, residents are helped to reassess value systems, to re-order priorities and to develop socially and legally acceptable patterns of behavior. St. Leonard’s Ministries, currently led by Bob Dougherty, originated in the mid-1950s through the support of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago and the vision of its founder, Father James Jones. The agency has gradually expanded to include separately dedicated interim housing and services for men and for women, housing and services for men who complete the St. Leonard’s House program as well as education and employment training programs.
St. Leonard’s works with the Adler School of Professional Psychology in the delivery of specialized program services and has a mentoring program in place. Its Michael Barlow Center addresses employment and educational concerns of program participants and a segment of the larger formerly incarcerated community. St. Leonard’s has grown to a force of 62 employees, caring for approximately 400 men and women yearly as they move from the despair of post-prison trauma to meaningful lives.
Sarah’s Circle
4750 N. Sheridan, Suite 220, Chicago, IL 60640, sarahs-circle.org
Liaison: Julianna Harris and Beth Adamoli
Sarah’s Circle is an agency dedicated to serving women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Located in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago, Sarah’s Circle operates a daytime services center that provides food, clothing, laundry and shower facilities, and multiple communication services. Additionally, the agency provides permanent supportive housing, case management, and clinical services. Sarah’s Circle has been serving women for thirty years, and is not only a well-established agency, but one of the few remaining agencies focused on comprehensive services for women who are homeless. Each year, Sarah’s Circle serves over 650 women, provides 26,000 meals, and distributes over 5,000 pieces of clothing, and much, much more.
A unique aspect of Sarah’s is the multiple ways to volunteer. Volunteers are very welcome at Sarah’s! Please see the website for different types of volunteer opportunities.
Tutoring Chicago
2145 N. Halsted, Chicago, IL 60614, tutoringchicago.org
Liaisons: Linda Ball and Cheryl Del Campo
Tutoring Chicago develops a foundation for life-long learning by providing free 0ne-to-one tutoring and mentoring to economically disadvantaged children. Their major programs are SMART (Social Skills, Math, Attitude/Attendance, Reading, Technology) and LIT (Literacy Intensive Tutoring).
Urban Initiatives
650 W Lake St, Ste #340 Chicago, IL 60661, urbaninitiatives.org
Liaisons: Phil Andrew and Ben Rodman
Urban Initiatives’ mission is to empower Chicago’s underserved children to adopt healthy lifestyles, improve their academic performance, and build strong character through sports-based youth development programs. Urban Initiatives is currently serving 23 underserved Chicago communities.
WINGS
P.O. Box 95615, Palatine, IL 60095, wingsprogram.com
WINGS Resale Shops
Liaisons: Gail Pascus and John Podjasek
Established in 1985, the WINGS agency provides a pathway to independence for people whose lives have been disrupted by domestic violence. WINGS provides all of the tools and supports needed to ensure that families have what they need to move towards safety, independence, and self-sufficiency by providing clients with safe housing, life skills training, job training, and job search support.
Youth & Opportunity United (Y.O.U.)
1027 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60202, youthopportunity.org
Liaisons: Kathryn Freemond and Nancy Johnson
Youth Organization Umbrella, Inc. (Y.O.U.) is a youth service agency. They reach out to young people ages 10-18 and their families in response to their ever-changing needs for support, guidance, and advocacy. It is their goal that all young people acquire the skills, self-confidence and opportunity to participate fully, freely and responsibly in the life of the community.
It also provides social services which include individual tutoring, after school programs, individual, group, and family counseling, educational support, social development, crisis intervention, street outreach, and delinquency prevention.
Y.O.U. serves Evanston for the majority of its programs and New Trier, Northfield, Niles, and Main Township for mediation. The Mediation program provides an alternative to juvenile offenders who have committed non-violent crimes.
YWCA Evanston/North Shore
1215 Church Street, Evanston, IL 60201, ywca-ens.org
Liaisons: Pam Mjoseth and Barbara Wood
The YWCA in Evanston provides the only comprehensive residential domestic violence program in the northeastern Chicago metropolitan area. The YWCA programs focus on girls’ leadership and domestic violence services. Working towards young women’s leadership, the YWCA sponsors “StandUp Girls” a leadership development program for girls entering high school. The Domestic Violence Program is composed of crisis intervention, emergency shelter, transitional housing, community-based services (walk-in counseling), legal advocacy, violence prevention, and community advocacy and education. Crisis intervention runs a 24-hour crisis line for domestic abuse victims. Emergency shelter is provided at Mary Lou’s place, which is a 32-bed residential facility that provides emergency shelter for women and children for up to 90 days. After spending 30 days in emergency shelter, women are able to apply to the Transitional Housing Program, which operates a limited number of apartment units.
Women come to the YWCA in times of crisis, as survivors of domestic violence. They come for career counseling, for leadership development, and for financial literacy.
Additional support by donating or shopping at the resale store in Wilmette, YWCA Shop for Good