Donors give Pat Crowley House a new van

The van at the Pat Crowley House was 13 years old and was totaled in an accident, fortunately no one was hurt. For over a year Nathalie Salmon House and Pat Crowley House shared a van. Because of this, we turned down donated items that couldn’t be delivered, cut back on outings or offered them to a limited number of people, and scrambled to make only the most necessary trips. It was a challenge to pick up food donations from Whole Foods and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. We needed to replace the van right away.

Then we heard good news. In November H.O.M.E. was awarded a $20,000 matching gift from a foundation to launch a vehicle replacement plan. As part of a five-year plan and because of the generosity of the Service Club of Chicago, new donors, and donors like you who committed to give above their annual gifts, the first year of the matching challenge was fulfilled and Pat Crowley House has a new van!

In June, we purchased an 8-passenger, fully accessible van that will be used to take residents on outings, pick up donated food and other items, and transport seniors to medical appointments. This helps our seniors stay healthy and engaged in the community.

A reliable form of transportation is an essential component of the Intergenerational Housing, Upkeep & Repair, and Shopping Bus programs. Without our vehicles we are not able to provide many of our services:

• The three Upkeep and Repair vans are loaded with tools and supplies and driven by the Home Repair Specialists. When one is in the shop we can’t get out to homes to complete what are often emergency repairs.
• The Shopping Bus goes to 35 buildings from the far south side to the north side of the City. When the bus is being repaired our elderly riders are stranded and can’t get their groceries and prescriptions on their own.  
• The vans used by staff at Good Life Senior Residences at H.O.M.E. transport residents to doctor appointments and social outings, as well pick up groceries, household items, and in-kind donations for our residents. We can’t do any of those things without a van.

With the support of matching grants, we will continue to replace all of our vehicles over the next four years so that we can keep providing quality services to seniors.

You can help! Please consider a special gift to the Van Fund.

Here’s the great news: your gift could go even further and make a huge impact. If you haven’t given to H.O.M.E. before or if you are already a donor and give more than you gave last year, your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar by a foundation.*

Having reliable, safe, and accessible vehicles allows H.O.M.E. to enhance the capacity and quality of our services to Chicago’s lowest-income seniors and help them to maintain their independence.

To give to the Van Fund, click the button below and in the “Choose your designation” window, choose “Van Fund”.

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*According to the foundation, eligible matching gifts are those in which the amount is more than what a donor has given last year, up to $20,000.

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