Help Them to Hope monies distributed
By Judy Masterson jmasterson@stmedianetwork.com February 8, 2013 6:34PM
Sari Rubin (right), director of development for PADS of Lake County, speaks next to Maureen Murphy, associate vice-president of Catholic Charities, during a meeting for the Help Them To Hope Fund recipient organizations at the Lake County News-Sun office in Gurnee on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: April 10, 2013 2:37AM
GURNEE — Donations collected by Help Them to Hope, the Lake County News-Sun’s annual holiday appeal, continue to feed, clothe and shelter thousands of Lake County residents in need.
Contributions from the 2012-13 campaign, which raised $75,951.11, were disbursed Friday to representatives of seven participating agencies: A Safe Place/Lake County Crisis Center, Catholic Charities of Lake County, Community Social Services, Christian Outreach of Lutherans, PADS Lake County, Open Arms Mission and Mothers Trust Foundation.
“More people need help,“ said Rich Ribando of Lake Villa, a HTTH board member and former Lake County News-Sun publisher.
Ribando, who knew many of the newspaper pressmen who began the fund and took it public in 1959, said more young adults are visiting food pantries and homeless shelters.
“Our agencies are telling us they’re seeing more 18-to 25-year-olds,” Ribando said. “Young people who are graduating college with tremendous debt, who can’t find decent jobs, who may be scraping up the rent, but can’t afford groceries.”
While the official 2012 campaign came to a close in January, donations are accepted year-round through The News-Sun, which absorbs all administrative costs.
“The News-Sun and partners like NorStates Bank are to be commended for offering a vehicle for people who want to make gifts, but for acknowledgement of those gifts,” Ribando said. “Each campaign year, we’re seeing new generations of givers.”
For more information, visit www.helpthemtohope.com.
