On Tuesday, November 29, 2022, we are joining the National Day of Generosity, #GivingTuesday. It is a day when you can make a big impact on the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Chicago and those we serve. Our goal this year is $35,000 and we need your help to get there! Can we count on your support?
How Have Your Donations Helped our Friends in Need this Past Year?
Homeless Prevention Assistance Program is Working Miracles for the Quinn Family
In late April we had the opportunity to sit down and visit with the Quinn family at their home. Their struggle began in Champaign, IL, where Gerald and his 3 young boys came from. Gerald’s mother, Vicky, was instrumental in reaching out to Josephine Fragale from the OLOR-St. Linus Conference. Josephine works with home visits for SVdP.
Gerald is a father who left a situation to ensure his children were taken care of properly, and his middle son, who struggles with autism, received the help he needed. After sitting down and talking with Gerald, you can see the love, and also the worry, he has for his boys. Upon arriving to the area, the OLOR-St. Linus Conference was able to have him set up in a nice 3-bedroom apartment, with furniture from the Chicago Furniture Bank, as well as some other items he acquired from others. He applied for the Care Card Voucher program where he was able to get clothes for his growing boys and get items for his new apartment as well.
Gerald’s oldest son is attending school and thoroughly enjoys reading, math and being around the other kids. He has been able to find a school for developmentally delayed children for his middle child, and his little guy he has been able to acquire daycare. Gerald’s mom helps out with taking care of her grandchildren when possible, but she has some medical issues and sometimes it can be hard on her. But as Vicky says, “I pray every day”. She understands the power of prayer and what can be accomplished for the family by praying and working hard together.
Gerald, and his mother, couldn’t have been more thankful for all the help he received to get started with a fresh new life. Josephine has been able to find him an apartment in the area and resources to get started. He has been able to furnish his place with furniture from the Chicago Furniture Bank and get clothing for his boys and items to make his home a “home”, from the Care Card Voucher Program.
Gerald is a father who has taken on the role of both parents. He is a positive role model for his boys. He is determined to make a good life for them and ensure they have what they need to succeed. With his mother, Vicky, helping along the way, we are excited to see what the future holds for the Quinn family. We have you in our prayers, Gerald, and will follow-up with you to see how things are going.
A Single Mom Who’s Making It Work: Sola
Sola is a single mom and extremely proud mom of her two sons. Her oldest attends Western Illinois University and her youngest, who is 16, is at Lake Forest High School and is very active in sports, especially football. Sola loves animals and would love to someday have an opportunity to work with animals. She is a proud fur mom to Pepper, her cat. Trying to find out more about Sola proved to be a bit difficult as she would have rather talked about her two sons then about herself. She was so proud.
Sola works full-time, works hard, and said she is “tired” to even find a hobby. She is one of our special Friends in Need. She works in a skilled care nursing facility in their Social Services Department. She learned about SVdP over 10 years ago when she experienced a fire in her apartment in Skokie. She reached out to the Village of Skokie asking where she could get help and that’s where it all began.
SVdP had helped her with a couch and some household items after the fire. She had since moved a couple of times before settling in a one-bedroom mobile home in Lake Bluff, where she currently lives. Over the years she has done ok and has managed, has had some rough patches, but has been able to “make it work”, until recently. Recently, Sola has recently run into a situation she gave us a call and asked for some help to get over this rough patch. With proper documentation being provided in a timely fashion, we were able to help her out and give her and her family ease of mind.
Those of us who are moms understand how hard it is to raise children. Our strength, unconditional love and a lot of prayers sometimes are what helps us get through the day. Sola has such a positive attitude and is beyond grateful for the assistance SVdP was able to provide.