Kendall County PADS faces critical need of new volunteers as shelter season looms

By Tom Siebert
Assistant Director for Community Relations
Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) of Kendall County

Famed psychiatrist Karl Menninger was once asked what his prescription was for someone who felt they were about to experience a nervous breakdown.

“Lock up your house, go across the railroad tracks, find someone in need, and do something for them,” Dr. Menninger replied.

Well, that’s what Kendall County PADS volunteers have been doing since the fall of 2010, when the nonprofit support group began providing nutritious meals, safe overnight housing, and much-needed social services to the area’s homeless community.

During the colder months of the calendar, 630 volunteers are needed to operate seven temporary shelter sites, each of them open for one overnight of the week from mid-October to mid-April. Most volunteers serve one or two times each month for four and a half hours. Some of the site coordinators serve every week.

Kendall County PADS usually retains about 90 percent of its volunteers each shelter season. But the number of returning volunteers is down this year.

“Just one month prior to our scheduled opening, we need about 150 men and women to serve as volunteers this season” said Anne Engelhardt, executive director of Kendall County PADS. “It seems to be more challenging to find people with the hearts for volunteer service of this type.”

In order to address its current shortage of volunteers, Kendall County PADS lowered lowering its age requirement from 18 to 17 as well as expanded its recruitment pool to include those needing to complete court-ordered community service hours.

Additionally, a volunteer recruitment team has been plastering social media with inspirational PADS posts; handing out brochures to local businesses; reaching out to churches, civic organizations, senior communities, and emergency/medical personnel; and keeping a database of all volunteers so they can be called on to meet emergency staffing needs at any of the sites.

Anyone interested in helping their homeless neighbors is invited to attend a new-volunteers training session from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 3, at the Kendall County Health Department, 811 John Street, Yorkville.

A special invitation is extended to churches, public libraries, local businesses, PADS volunteers, the Caring Hands Thrift Store in Yorkville, and police departments, in addition to the county sheriff’s office, health department, and food pantry.

The two-hour training session will include an overview of PADS––how it operates each night and the integral role of volunteers. Attendees also will learn general operational procedures, how to address health issues, and the importance of kindness to the men, women, and children who come to the shelters.

New recruits will also receive a volunteer manual and be assigned to an experienced shelter coordinator who will serve as a mentor to them. The hope is that each person attending will be informed and feel comfortable with their role in Kendall County PADS, should they be inspired to serve.

The session is free, refreshments will be served, and there is no commitment obligation.
First-time volunteers, however, are strongly encouraged to attend the training, which will also feature representatives of the Guest Assistance Program offered by social work interns from Aurora University. The GAP helps homeless guests with employment, personal issues, and permanent housing.

The shelters are scheduled to be open one overnight per week from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. starting on October 20 and ending on April 18, 2020. The nights and sites are as follows:

Sundays: Cross Lutheran Church, 8609 Route 47, Yorkville
Mondays: Yorkville Congregational United Church of Christ, 409 Center Parkway, Yorkville
Tuesdays: Harvest New Beginnings church, 5315 Douglas Road, Oswego
Wednesdays: Parkview Christian Academy, north campus, 202 East Countryside Parkway, Yorkville
Thursdays: Trinity United Methodist Church, 2505 Boomer Lane, Yorkville
Fridays: Church of the Good Shepherd, 5 West Washington Street, Oswego
Saturdays: St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 53 Fernwood Road, Boulder Hill

During the past nine shelter seasons, Kendall County PADS has served a total of 474 homeless guests, provided 11,006 overnight stays, and served 33,325 meals including breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.

PADS of Kendall County is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit group funded by gifts and grants as well as donations from individuals, organizations, and businesses. Those who wish to donate, volunteer, or learn more about helping the homeless may call (630) 334-8180 or visit the website at kendallcountypads.org.

Designer Alpha Coles Blackburn awarded honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Judson University

By Tom Siebert

Judson University recently recognized renowned architect, fashion designer, television host, and community leader Alpha Coles Blackburn with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the tenth anniversary G.L.A.M.M.Ys fundraising event in Indianapolis.

Blackburn is the retired president and CEO of the prestigious Blackburn Architects, which served as lead designers of the National Underground Freedom Center in Cincinnati.

As the technical representative and co-coordinator for art for the Indianapolis International Airport, Blackburn led the selection, commissioning, and installation of the facility’s art collection. She is also a national award-winning fashion designer and former TV host.

 

For the past two years, Blackburn has been working with Shanel Poole, president of Guidance Life-skills And Mentoring (GLAM, Inc.) to provide opportunities for young women to attend Judson University and major in architecture, art, or graphic design.

“Alpha Blackburn uses her professional expertise to help the next generation of young women study and enter the creative fields of architecture, art, and graphic design,” said Judson president Gene Crume.

“We are pleased to recognize her exceptional contributions to the arts. She is a trailblazer in her field and has demonstrated her commitment to giving back and shaping others’ lives. This is also Judson’s mission of shaping lives that shape the world,” Dr. Crume added.

Ms. Blackburn serves on more than 60 community boards and committees. She was the recipient of the Indiana Governor’s Civil Rights Legacy Award in 2018; the Chancellor's Medallion at Indiana University/Purdue University of Indianapolis in 2017; the Indiana Minority Business Magazine Golden Laurel Professional in 2017; and the G.L.A.M. (Indianapolis) ICON Award, also in 2017.

Since its founding ten years ago, GLAM has assisted more than 350 girls through programming that focuses on self-esteem, education, professional development, and healthy choices. According to the GLAM website, the organization has helped at-risk girls, who normally have only a 35 percent probability of graduating from high school, graduate at a rate of 97 percent.

Judson University is a fully accredited, private Christian institution representing the church at work in higher education. Nestled along the Fox River in Elgin, 40 miles northwest of Chicago, Judson is home to more than 1,200 students from 36 states and more than 30 countries. 

Judson offers degrees in more than 65 different majors and minors for traditional, graduate, and adult students, ranking consistently among the best regional universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report.

Judson University hosting job fair and Network Night

By Tom Siebert

Judson University will host a job fair and its annual Network Night on Sept. 26 as part of the school’s Homecoming and Family Weekend Celebration.

Both events will afford alumni and current students an opportunity to meet with representatives of businesses searching for new employees as well as enjoy an evening of networking and inspiration in the Reed Room of Lindner Tower, 1151 N. State St., Elgin.

The job fair will take place from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., while the networking event begins at 6:30 p.m. and continues until 8:30 p.m.

This year’s special guest will be Kesha Kent, empowerment speaker, author, and trainer with more than 17 years of human resources experience. She is a Judson graduate, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management and Leadership, in addition to a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership.

Ms. Kent is a wife, mother, and energetic influencer seeking to help others reach their potential. She draws individuals in and helps them to grow, develop, and build professional relationships.

Kesha will share how “Networking Is Your Super Power” and lead participants in an opportunity to interact with each other during the event.

“Judson’s Network Night provides opportunities for students and alumni to hear from distinguished alumni of the university, allowing people to build connections, community, and careers,” said Mary Dulabaum, the school’s director of communications.

Previous speakers have included 1993 Judson graduate Lori Heiselman, founder and CEO of Biscuit Media Group in Nashville; David Plummer, from the university’s class of 1998 and executive producer of WCIU-TV’s “The Jam”; and 1981 grad Jack Frisby, sales coaching executive and author.

Businesses interested in taking part in the job fair may register with event organizers at alumni@judsonu.edu.

Alumni, current students, and friends of the university are invited to learn more and register at http://www.judsonu.edu/networknight/.