|
|
A Weekly Newsletter for the Volunteers & Employees of People's Resource Center | | |
|
An Update from CEO Jeni Fabian
Progress on an Expanded Wheaton Campus!
| |
|
I am pleased to share updates on our progress to expand and improve PRC neighbor-to-neighbor services in Wheaton. Over the past several years we acquired the two parcels adjacent to our Wheaton facility. Plans are in motion to add a two-story service building in Wheaton, which together with our current facility at 201 S. Naperville Road will become PRC’s Wheaton Campus. The expanded campus will offer space needed to respond to our neighbors, provide respectful and dignified service space, and relieve local parking constraints!
In the nearly 2 decades since PRC moved into our current facility in Wheaton, the number of neighbors we serve here has doubled. Food pantry service and sorting spills out into the parking lot, while job coaches and literacy tutors do not have sufficient space for one-on-one meetings. Our planning team has thoughtfully studied our current and future space needs, and plans for the Wheaton Campus have developed from those reviews.
| |
|
The expanded Wheaton campus will include the existing 201 Naperville facility, as well as a new 2-story building with additional parking. The new building (rendering pictured) will house a larger food pantry with more space for shopping and storage, improved flow for client services, a loading dock for deliveries, and additional room for programs, meetings and offices. Together, the new building and our existing 201 building will offer improved space for volunteers and staff to serve our neighbors with the welcome and dignity every one of our neighbors deserves.
| |
|
A professional project team is helping to make the vision a reality! The three small structures that were on the project site have been demolished to make way for construction. The site (pictured) is now equipped with a trailer for the crew, and fenced off for safety. Work vehicles will enter from Naperville Road and exit through the alley. We anticipate receiving the permit to begin construction in early December.
Services in Wheaton will continue in operation at 201 Naperville Road throughout the construction process.
I am overjoyed for what an expanded Wheaton Campus will mean for our neighbors and our mission. The expanded, improved space of the campus will strengthen PRC as a resource for the community, enable our dedicated team to meet current and future needs, and reflect the welcome and dignity we have always strived for. Along with preparing for construction, we are making progress on funds to support the effort. We are grateful for early commitments to the effort – and we are off to a strong start!
All PRC volunteers will be invited to a Winter Open House early in 2024, for a preview of the Wheaton Campus and to celebrate the impact of this milestone! We look forward to sharing more updates as the expansion project moves forward. On behalf of our entire team and all the neighbors we serve together, thank you for everything you do to champion PRC.
-Jeni
| |
|
Hanukkah (12/7-12/15)
The Festival of Hanukkah is built upon tradition and symbolism in the Jewish faith. Also known as the Festival of Lights or the Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean revolt (second century BCE). The holiday takes place for eight nights and days.
In addition to lighting candles, saying blessings, and singing songs on each of the 8 nights of Hanukkah, some also play games and eat certain foods like donuts or potato pancakes. A traditional game uses a dreidel (Yiddish for ‘spinning top’). Go here to learn how it’s played!
We wish all our neighbors celebrating next week a Hanukkah Sameach (Happy Hanukkah)!
| |
|
Urgent Volunteer Needs
A new link takes you to a list of where we need volunteers the most...
Starting today, at the top of the Grapevine, you'll find a link to a listing of our most urgent volunteer needs. This list is 'live,' in that it is updated ongoing to reflect changing needs PRC has. Before the pandemic, we used an Urgent Volunteer Needs listing just like this, and we're excited to return to sharing our needs through this tool!
In addition to being at the top of every Grapevine, this link will be available on our website, along with a second listing that offers a nice overview of the ways volunteers give back to the community at PRC.
We encourage you to check out the lists and share them with friends.
| |
|
What does George promise to lasso and give to Mary in the 1946 holiday movie It's a Wonderful Life?
Submit answers to Volunteers@peoplesrc.org. The answer and winners will be noted in the next Grapevine.
| |
|
Previous Question:
What garment of women in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal consists of an approximately 5-7 foot long strip of cloth wrapped around the body with the end left hanging or used as a hood?
Answer:
Sari
Go here for 9 facts you might not know about the Sari, as seen from India!
| |  |
|
Congratulations to our winners!
Mary Anne Proudfoot
Chris Culp
Debbie Jefferies
Linda Sobotka
Rebecca Dean
Rhoda Purcell
Megan Shebik
Bobbi Frey
Julie Chandler
Jody Dan
Rhonda Peebles
Nancy Bifulco
| |
|
Donations Needed This Season
Help us spread the word!
During our busiest season, the community's generosity makes so much of what we do possible. Please help us keep up with our neighbors' needs by spreading the word about these donation needs to friends, family, co-workers, your faith community, clubs, and other people in your life! Together, we can make sure the community has the clothing, food, and services it needs.
Go here for details about when and where to drop off donations, and for details about our Wish Lists (Amazon, Target, Wal-Mart).
| |
|
Our Clothes Closet in Westmont is in need of these items at this time:
- NEW socks, underwear
- NEW gloves/mittens
- Women's & Girls Small & Medium Clothing
- Winter coats for all, any size
| | |
|
The Wheaton location Food Pantry greatly needs canned fruit (in fruit juice).
The Westmont location Food Pantry is in need of tuna, canned fruit (mandarin oranges or cocktail in fruit juice), brown rice, and low-sugar cereal.
| | |
|
NEW! Do you love a good jigsaw puzzle? Try ours here - it's easy! Use your mouse to drag pieces into place to complete the image. This week, the image is Sarah Martin happily sorting through carts of Share the Spirit donations. Thank you to everyone who donated this year!
| |
|
Share the Spirit
Just 124 teen books still needed!
| |
|
We're so close! We are in need of just 124 more books that our High School-aged gift recipients can enjoy - can you help us spread the word? With prices on our Amazon Wish List starting at just $6, there's something for every budget!
THANK YOU to everyone who has donated already and helped us get considerably more teen books in the last couple weeks! We are so grateful for your response to our call for help.
| |
|
Gavin Coyle Christmas Concert
Tickets still available for tonight's performance
Join us tonight for our annual Gavin Coyle Christmas Concert with proceeds benefiting PRC! The evening is filled with traditional holiday music certain to put you in a festive spirit.
When: Tonight- Friday, December 1, 2023 at 8:00 pm
Where: The MAC (McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage)
Ticket Details: $40 plus fees, tickets available here.
| |
|
Good-bye & Good Luck
We are sad to announce the resignation of Sherry Hatlestad, the Administrative Assistant in our Computer Training and Access program. Sherry's last day will be next Thursday (12/7).
Sherry joined PRC two years ago, and we're so glad our paths crossed with hers! She has been a great asset to the team, and she will be very missed.
Please join us in wishing Sherry the best of luck in her new role with the Glenbard West High School library! The new position is a great fit for her personal and professional goals.
| |
|
Let's Feed the Community
Join our Food Pantry Crew!
| |
|
Most food in our pantry comes from local stores like Jewel, Trader Joe's, Mariano's, Whole Foods, and many more! Volunteers pick up food donations from the stores every week and bring them to the pantry for distribution.
We need of a couple volunteers to help as back-up drivers, lending a hand when our regular drivers are on vacation or sick and unable to pick up these donations. Can you help? Email Lucinda at volunteers@peoplesrc.org to learn more or sign up.
| |
|
Our Wheaton and Westmont pantries are always looking for more help - join us!
-
Existing Food Pantry volunteers, go here to manage your schedule.
-
New volunteers or groups/families, email KHook@peoplesrc.org.
| |
|
Did you already finish today's New York Times Wordle and wish you had another to do? We've got you! Go here to play PRC's Wordle.
| |
|
Su Hua Chen keeps the fresh produce section in the pantry stocked and ready for shoppers to choose their Thanksgiving meal ingredients before the holiday!
Su Hua has been with PRC since the spring and has already clocked 57 volunteer hours- wow! We're so glad she's part of the team.
| |
|
We asked, and you responded! We were painfully short on high-school level books just a few weeks ago, and your amazing response has provided us with an incredibly robust number of titles to gift teens at Share the Spirit this year.
Each of the books pictured are a different title; what a variety!
We need just 124 more teen books - spread the word! Visit our Amazon Wish List to peruse titles we're seeking.
| |
Volunteer Liz Osgood, one of the Testers in our Literacy Program, met with an artisan from ReNew Project in Glen Ellyn. Testing with PRC is ongoing for a handful of artisans who are working towards their English goals as they work with ReNew to acquire employable skills. We wish the students luck in their studies! | |
|
Our Westmont Food Pantry was thankful to have help from this group of Junior year Nursing students from St. Xavier University! Many hands make light work, and we're grateful their help.
L-R: Afnan Khaddash, Shareen Joudeh, Jinan Othman, Gabe Hurtado, Ofelia Ramirez, Sara Mustari, Prof. Caitlin Blake
| |
During the holiday season, our amazing Intake crew shares warm smiles and easy welcomes with record numbers of neighbors coming to PRC for food. Thank you for being one of the first faces many people see at PRC - your dedication and kindness make PRC a great place to be! | |
Conor Gee, the Rotary District Governor for district 6450, stopped by to visit with Jeni Fabian at the Westmont location to learn more about our volunteer-propelled services across DuPage County. District 6450 includes many of the Rotary clubs in DuPage County and across the Chicago metro area. | |
|
If members of this crew look familiar, it's because they volunteered with us earlier this year! This T-Mobile group from Downers Grove was a great help in the busy Pantry this week - we look forward to welcoming them back again in 2024.
L-R: Luis Bucaro, Barry English, Brandon Taggart, Maria Jimenez, Terrill Finley, Chris Polizzi
| |
Dueling turkeys - well, turkey hats anyway! Sally Liu captured Kelley Hook and Kiya Becket at the moment before they all erupted into giggles. During this busy time of year, we're always looking for excuses to laugh together! | |
During our busiest season, it truly is 'all-hands-on-deck!' Thank you to our awesome Food Pantry volunteers that helped leading up to Thanksgiving .....and through the end of the year. The kindness you show our neighbors as they get their food makes such a positive impact in our community- thank you! | |
|
Lesley Gena in the Art Program was excited to welcome a volunteer group from Western DuPage Special Recreation Association this week! The group helped with several tasks in the Art Studio, including sorting paints and making sure our art supplies were organized and in working order. Thanks to this group for making it easy for Instructors to find organized and working art supplies that they need for their classes!
Photo 1: Julie Donovan, David Brinker / Photo 2: Emma Ross, Alison Scott
| |
|
The Marketing/Communications Team from Midwestern University gave their time and talent last week right before the long Thanksgiving weekend. We're so thankful for their helping hands, and we hope to see them again soon!
L-R: Sam Sottosanto, Steve Ziemba, Abena Patton, Jill Blair-Smith, and Rachel Bauer
| |
|
We welcomed our second group this month from the White Sox Volunteer Corps! This group has helped primarily in Chicago in past, and we're so happy to welcome them out to the suburbs to volunteer at PRC a second time!
L-R: Darrel Featherly, Joan Morris, Buzz Swartz
| |
|
Volunteer Nametags
If you plan to be an ongoing volunteer, and you need a nametag and red lanyard, go here to request one. Volunteers will be notified when their nametag is ready; Wheaton and Westmont volunteers will see a message on the touchscreen, and WeGo volunteers will hear from their supervisor.
| |
|
|
Employment Opportunities
Referral Bonus:
If you refer someone for the paid position(s) below and we interview them, you receive a $50 referral bonus. If we hire your referral, you will receive $250! The person you're referring must mention you by name in their cover letter.
| |
|
Administrative Assistant for Computer Training & Access Program
(Full-time, Benefits)
Provide administrative support to the Computer Training and Access Programs to ensure efficient and effective delivery of services. This is a 40-hour/week position, with hours generally Monday – Friday from 8:00am-4:30pm. The Administrative Assistant will have an office at PRC’s Westmont location and will also spend time at our Wheaton location.
Go here for more information.
| | |
The mission of People's Resource Center is to respond to basic human needs, promote dignity and justice, and create a future of hope and opportunity for the residents of DuPage County, Illinois through discovering and sharing personal and community resources. | | | | | |
