Free Time: Indulge appetite for giving — provide holiday meals

Ways to help brighten the season are offered in Kane, DuPage and Cook counties.

DO IT
As thoughts of Thanksgiving prompt visions of feasts, you can help make it a day to be grateful for people facing tough times. Beds Plus, a homeless shelter in La Grange, needs volunteers for its holiday menus and for the day-to-day meals and other services it provides.

WHOM IT HELPS
The organization reaches out to people in west suburban Cook County and a portion of Hinsdale. “We just opened our shelters (for the season) on Oct. 15, and we had record numbers,” says Beth Tracy, office manager. “We provide a warm meal to the clients, as well as a place to sleep and eat breakfast. And we have case management for them. (We) help with medical problems or trying to find a job or with substance abuse.” She says there’s a  big need for volunteers to assist at the shelters.

HOW TO HELP
Looking ahead to Christmas, Tracy says donations are being sought from the community to put together small packages for each client, including such things as McDonald’s gift certificates or toiletry items, T-shirts and socks. “We can always use donations going into the colder season,” she says. “We’re low on hats and gloves. The thicker, insulated gloves are great. Food wise, we need, as always, the larger cans of coffee and the five-pound bags of sugar, and powdered drink mix.” For more ways to lend a hand, including monetary donations, visit the Web site and check out the wish list.

MORE INFO
WHO BEDS Plus in La Grange
PHONE (708) 354-0858
EMAIL info@bedsonline.org
WEB www.bedsonline.org

DO IT
The Lazarus House shelter in St. Charles presents its Community Thanksgiving Feast from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 26 at the St. Charles Salvation Army, while DuPage PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) seeks help with its holiday meal-in-a-bag project for participants in its housing programs. 

WHOM IT HELPS
“Everybody is welcome to join Lazarus House staff, guests and their families in a big community Thanksgiving celebration,” says Donna Bauer, the shelter’s volunteer coordinator. “Those that wish can bring a dish to pass, but it’s not mandatory.”
DuPage PADS will give close to 80 households a holiday meal of their choice of turkey or ham with all the trimmings at Thanksgiving and Christmas, says Ann Rowland, volunteer coordinator.

HOW TO HELP
People who can’t attend the Lazarus House event, but would like to help, can drop off food in disposable containers. Volunteers are welcome to assist that day, acting as runners to pick up donated dishes at the curb or organizing food in the kitchen to be added to the buffet. Volunteers also can help with set-up the afternoon before. It’s helpful to contact Bauer in advance if you’re planning to attend the meal or volunteer for a task.
Scouts and children from church groups provide decorations, and live music is offered.
“We certainly encourage anyone and everyone who’d like to participate,” Bauer says. “It’s a gift to the folks at Lazarus House to share the day with no labels — nobody’s homeless. Everybody is there together as part of the community. It’s a really enjoyable experience.”
Rowland says DuPage PADS is looking for people or groups to provide one or more of the meals in a bag, noting it’s best to e-mail her for details.

MORE INFO

WHO Lazarus House
PHONE (630) 587-2144
E-MAIL donnab@lazarushouseonline.com
WEB www.lazarushouseonline.com

WHO DuPage PADS
PHONE Ann Rowland at (630) 682-3846, Ext. 234
E-MAIL arowland@dupagepads.org
WEB www.dupagepads.org