Since the agency began in 1980, South Suburban Family Shelter (SSFS) has been committed to providing not only counseling, emergency shelter, court and medical advocacy to the victims of domestic violence that it supports, but also other types of assistance. From helping clients with basic necessities like groceries, rent and utility assistance and clothing, to giving them food for a special holiday dinner at Thanksgiving and gifts for their children during the winter holidays, the staff and volunteers of SSFS have been dedicated to easing the client’s burden whenever possible. One service the children’s counselors have organized each year is a back-to-school supply drive.
The drive will be organized and run by volunteers for the second year in a row. Many local organizations and individuals have been very generous over the years with donations for this program, and the agency is hoping people will be just as generous this year.
SSFS children’s counselor, Karolina, stated, “We are seeing our clients with more needs than ever this year. The parents and children that we see are already so overwhelmed with healing from and surviving their situations, that the additional stress they are experiencing in this economy makes that healing process all the more difficult. Moms and dads are trying to figure out how they are going to find the money to send their kids back to school with the things they need, and the kids are worried about being the only child in the classroom without their supplies when school starts.”
Diane Bedrosian, Executive Director of SSFS added, “Because the school supply lists have become so extensive in the last few years, it has taken an inordinate amount of staff time to organize the school supply drive. The schools are no longer looking for basic pens, pencils, crayons, markers and notebooks. Different teachers have specific types of items they need for their classrooms and we want our clients to have the things they need. Many of the children also need gym shoes and gym uniforms that our clients just can’t afford to buy for them.”
“Someone can make a huge difference in the life of a family coping with domestic violence by helping them in this way,” added Bedrosian.
“We are looking for ‘Back to School Angels’ to adopt a child for back to school,” said volunteer Deb Havighorst. “You can adopt a student yourself, or get a group of people together to adopt a student and split the list up. This is a great opportunity to do community service with your own children because it is something they can relate to and understand.”
Havighorst also stated that donors do not have to do the actual shopping for supplies. “SSFS is accepting gift cards from office supply stores and retailers where school supplies can be purchased. Donors can also send a check payable to South Suburban Family Shelter at P.O. Box 937, Homewood, IL 60430.’”
Those interested in being an Angel or looking to volunteer should contact Havighorst directly via e-mail at havighorst_pd@att.net or via phone at 708.957.9714.
SSFS provides services to victims of domestic violence and their families from the south suburbs, Chicago and northwest Indiana. Last year’s Back to School Angels donated school supplies to students in communities reaching into Indiana to the east, Beecher to the south, Downers Grove to west and Chicago to the north.
