Options for volunteer involvement at UPC PADS site
Email [email protected] or call (847) 223-8131, ext. 17 to give your contact info.
- Volunteer at the UPC PADS site
Our UPC PADS Program needs almost 200 volunteers working at the church on Thursday nights and Friday mornings each season to support its shelter site. (See UPC PADS Onsite Volunteer Opportunities for detailed info.)
- Provide food support for the site
Our site serves three meals and snacks to the guests each of the 30 nights we are open. Our schedule is set up at the beginning of each season with Individuals, families, co-workers, youth, community and religious organizations working together to provide food. If you wish to donate food, please call UPC PADS at least a month in advance (847) 223-8131 ext. 17 and leave your name and contact information. Our off-site food coordinator will get in touch with you. Perishable food donations are almost impossible to accept as we don’t have ample safe storage space.
- Collect and donate miscellaneous supplies
Our site always needs supplies to support the guests. Below is a list of some of our more chronic needs. See our “UPC PADS Wish List” also accessible from the UPC PADS webpage for a complete listing of items used on a regular basis. Please call (847) 223-8131, ext. 17 and leave your contact information before you begin a donation drive so the person in charge of those items can talk with you and inform you of our current needs.
Food and Kitchen Needs
- Instant grits
- Bottled water, microwave popcorn,
- Decaffeinated coffee
- Hot chocolate
- Boxes of non-sugary breakfast cereals
- Grape jelly
- Paper towels
Hygiene Supplies
- Deodorant
- Foot powder
- Shaving cream (trial size)
- Toothpaste (trial size)
- Disposable razors
- Cough drops
- Hair picks
- Mending kits
New Men’s Clothing
- Sweatpants (M, L, XL, 2XL)
- Thermal underwear tops (M – 4XL)
- Thermal underwear bottoms (M, L)
- Round-necked t-shirts (M, L, 2X – 4X)
- Underwear (M, L) prefer boxer briefs
NOTE: We have limited storage space. Please call first to see what we can accept.
- Make financial contributions
Our UPC PADS shelter could not provide food, shelter, hospitality, clothing and toiletries to the homeless without the generous financial contributions from friends of PADS. Even a small donation helps the efforts tremendously. Make checks payable to United Protestant Church with “PADS” written in the memo. Walmart or Kohl’s gift cards and $5 McDonalds gift cards are also very helpful.