October 28, 2014 – GLENCOE, IL -- The board of the North Shore Exchange along with the Woman’s Library Club of Glencoe proudly announce the grant recipients of its $150,000 in proceeds from their successful resale shop.
The North Shore Exchange is Glencoe’s charitable, upscale resale store that offers an edited collection of designer women’s clothing and accessories, as well as beautiful home furnishings and decor. As the charitable endeavor of the Woman’s Library Club of Glencoe, 100 percent of all profits support nonprofit organizations serving children and families in need.
“With a successful full year under our belt it is exciting to see our proceeds grow to be able to support the critical work that these seventeen organizations are doing to help those in need,” said Wendy Serrino, president of the board of the North Shore Exchange. “Much thought went into honoring groups whose focus best align with our philanthropic mission of improving the lives of children and families at or near poverty level.”
The following recipients in the categories of abuse, education, elderly, healthcare, homelessness, hunger, legal rights and mental health were presented last night with checks at a reception honoring their important missions.
ABUSE
YWCA: The Domestic Violence Services and Prevention Program of the YWCA Evanston North Shore is the only comprehensive residential domestic violence program serving the northeastern metropolitan Chicago area. Focusing on emergency interventions and long-term solutions for women and children experiencing domestic violence, its services are multi-faceted and fill a critical need in helping women break free and heal from violence and go on to lead self-sufficient lives.
House of the Good Shepherd: The House of the Good Shepherd serves women and children affected by domestic violence by offering a safe place with opportunities for emotional and educational growth while giving hope and continued support for a better future.
EDUCATION
Broader Urban Involvement & Leadership Development (BUILD): Started in 1969 as a gang intervention program serving fewer than 200 gang-affiliated youth in one community, BUILD has grown to serve more than 3,000 youth annually. Its mission is to engage at-risk youth in schools and on the streets so they can realize their educational and career potential and contribute to the stability, safety and well-being of our communities.
Christopher House: This organization has a unique model of education that provides educational services from birth through high school for low-income children, as well as support services that create stable, self-sufficent families.
EMBARC: This organization cultivates post-secondary success by inspiring low-income students to build their social capital, stretch the boundaries of their neighborhood, and seize opportunities in school and in life. EMBARC is one of the first organizations in the nation to provide experiential and community-based education and is effectively changing the trajectories of hundreds of students in Chicago Public Schools.
ELDERLY
Home Opportunities Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.): This organization helps Chicago’s under-served, low-income seniors maintain their independence by providing services such as home upkeep and safe living conditions. The organization’s free shopping bus enables seniors with limited mobility or who live in food deserts to have access to groceries, pharmacies and medical services that are essential to their wellbeing. H.O.M.E. also owns and manages three affordable housing buildings with individual apartments and shared living for those who need assistance.
HEALTHCARE
Infant Welfare Society: Providing services since 1911, this organization is committed to providing critical healthcare services in a one-center location including general healthcare, dentistry, optometry, child development and behavioral health services to children and families from underserved communities who otherwise would lack access to basic medical services.
HOMELESSNESS
The Cara Program: This Chicago organization focuses on giving homeless and disadvantaged individuals the opportunity to secure permanent employment through a comprehensive range of job training, placement, retention and career advancement services. These services prepare and inspire motivated individuals to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, transform their lives, and forge paths to real and lasting success.
The Night Ministry: Each year The Night Ministry supports more than 450 youth and their young children from all backgrounds. An array of programs throughout Chicago meet the needs of vulnerable youth and adults, providing them with continuing care to assist in their journey from the streets or unstable circumstances to safe, stable housing. As a Response-Ability Pregnant and Parenting Program (RAPP Program) it is the only provider of shelter beds dedicated to homeless, minor-aged pregnant and parenting youth in Chicago. Its goal is to increase safety, stability, and physical and emotional health and wellness of pregnant and parenting homeless youth and their children.
Center for Changing Lives: This organization changes lives, not just circumstances. Its mission is to provide comprehensive support to serve, empower and advocate for community residents experiencing homelessness or housing instability so they may obtain and maintain permanent housing. Individuals working with Center for Changing Lives build their economic capacity to achieve their vision for their life.
La Casa Norte: This Chicago organization serves poor families and children in the Midwest by providing stable housing to youth and families, and delivering comprehensive services that act as a catalyst to transform lives and communities.
Family Promise: This organization helps families with young children in homeless situations return quickly to permanent housing. They provide emergency shelter, meals, job search assistance and other support while keeping the family unit in tact while also working to address the cause of their homelessness.
HUNGER
Greater Chicago Food Depository: Through a network of 650 soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters and community programs, the Greater Chicago Food Depository distributes emergency and supplemental food to Cook County residents. This organization’s mission is to provide food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community.
Northern Illinois Food Pantry: This organization’s mission is to lead the Northern Illinois community in solving hunger by providing nutritious meals to those in need through innovative programs and partnerships.
LEGAL RIGHTS
Uptown People’s Law Center: The mission of this organization is to establish, administer and promote programs providing legal aid to indigent persons, assisting community residents in obtaining legal services and benefits, and educating and training residents, paraprofessionals and community attorneys. The Law Center operates on the belief that educating people on their legal rights will help enable them to fully exercise self-help. Its work focuses on landlord-tenant issues, public benefits, including both public aid and social security disability benefits, and protecting the civil rights of the incarcerated.
MENTAL HEALTH
Barr-Harris Children’s Grief Center: This grief center provides immediate therapeutic services to bereaved children (ages 2-18) in low-income and minority households who have lost a parent or loved one through death, abandonment or other traumatic separation. Its mission is to make these services more accessible to underserved communities, to never deny treatment for financial reasons, to increase public awareness of the immediate and enduring effects of traumatic loss, and to provide training and consultation about childhood grief for those who work directly with children or indirectly on their behalf.
Family Service of Glencoe: Supporting those who live or work in Glencoe, Family Service of Glencoe’s mission is to provide a stronger community and meet individual and family needs through services that identify, prevent and resolve social and emotional issues.
“We are thrilled to see the success of our reinvented resale shop and how it is allowing us to support those in our community and beyond,” said Maxine Retsky, president of the Woman’s Library Club of Glencoe. “We want to thank the community and all of those who shop and donate in the store for their contributions to our incredible success."
For more information about the North Shore Exchange, including how to donate or consign items, how to arrange for a donation pickup, and how to join the North Shore Exchange's email list, visit www.northshoreexchange.org.
ABOUT THE NORTH SHORE EXCHANGE
The North Shore Exchange is an upscale resale shop featuring an edited collection of women’s designer clothing and accessories, as well as beautiful home furnishings and décor. As a 501 (c) (3), all of the boutique’s profits benefit charities and nonprofit organizations helping families and children with the greatest need as well as local organization, Family Service of Glencoe. For more information, visit the North Shore Exchange website at www.northshoreexchange.org.