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Compassion for Campers to distribute supplies to McHenry County homeless monthly

Compassion for Campers, a program that provides supplies and gear for the McHenry County homeless who have no steady shelter, will hosting distributions once a month instead of every two weeks for the next three months.

Distributions will be held 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16, March 16 and April 13, at Warp Corps, 114 N. Benton St. in Woodstock, according to a news release.

The change to one location instead of rotating spaces was made after “discussions with our great volunteers and in recognition of the difficulties we have in reaching the homeless population we aim to serve,” the program coordinator said in the release.

The Compassion for Campers outdoor program will resume in May at church sites and will likely resume rotating between Crystal Lake, Woodstock and McHenry, according to the release.

Warp Corps, which has been used for distributions before, is centrally located and has existing contacts and relations with the homeless community and the social service agencies that serve them, the coordinator said. 

Clients should access Warp Corps from the rear entrance on Jackson Street, according to the release. They will be asked COVID-19 screening questions and need to get their temperature checked. 

No one failing the test will be turned away but will instead be asked what they need and supplies will be brought out to them, according to the release. All clients are required to wear masks before entering the building; masks will be provided to anyone who does not have one. 

Clients will be admitted one at a time and no more will be allowed inside at any time than the location can safely accommodate with correct social distancing, according to the release. At the conclusion of the distribution all remaining supplies will be packed for storage and the space will be cleaned and disinfected.

The distributions are made possible by the Faith Leaders of McHenry County, volunteers from Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, and Warp Corps, according to the release.

More volunteers are still needed to help with the distribution. Those interested can contact Patrick Murfin at pmurfin@sbcglobal.net or 815 814-5645.

Donations can be made by sending a check, made out to Tree of Life UU Congregation” to the church at 5603 Bull Valley Road, McHenry, IL 60050 with “Compassion for Campers” on the memo line.  Donations are placed in a dedicated fund and not used for any other purpose. Tree of Life donates all of the administrative expenses of the program.

Source: The Daily Chronicle

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