PADS announces raffle winner

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PERU — Mary Brandt of Peru won the quilt raffle at the recent Lily Pads Resale Boutique.

Carol Alcorn, executive director of Illinois Valley PADS, said that more than $350 was raised over the several months that the quilt was on display. The quilt was designed, created and donated to PADS for the fundraiser by the Nine Patch Quilters Club in Oglesby.

The fundraiser benefited Illinois Valley PADS emergency shelters. IV PADS, along with the assistance of many local resources, work with the homeless to encourage them to help themselves. Lily Pads Resale Boutique in Peru helps PADS to lead by example by helping to fund their projects through retail sales. “Seventy percent of our operating costs have always come from generous donations from the communities we serve. This has funded supplies, operational expenses and direct service to the homeless in our area.” said Alcorn.

PADS offers a safe place for those in need by providing meals, showers, laundry and a warm bed in a nurturing environment. Due to funding limitations, PADS is open Oct. 1 and closes April 30 each year and provides shelter from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day during those months.

PADS shelters are located in Ottawa and Peru. The Peru shelter has 22 beds. In Ottawa, an 1,800-square-foot addition increased the shelter to 3,000 square feet, from 18 beds to 26. It is hoped that PADS will one day be available all year long. Two-thirds of the operating costs of PADS shelters are funded by donations from within the community.

From October 2008 through April 2009, PADS served 188 individuals, 92.5 percent of them were local. In the six weeks since the shelters opened for the 2009-10 season, there has been an increase in need due to the economy. It is important to note that so far in 2009-10 the need has been greater than in past years. There have been more children and families in the shelters due to the slow economy and high unemployment. Volunteers and employees have also opened the shelter early, or kept the shelter open during the dangerously cold weather and storms that our area experienced this winter.

For more information go to www.ivpads.com.