Feb. 10--The $67,855 raised in this holiday season's Help Them to Hope fundraising drive was distributed last week to six social service agencies in Lake County.
The funds were disbursed Feb. 4 by the Help Them to Hope board of directors at a meeting at the Catholic Charities headquarters in Waukegan.
The six agencies benefiting from the 56th annual fundraiser, which ran from Thanksgiving to the middle of January, include Catholic Charities, Christian Outreach of Lutherans (COOL), Open Arms Mission, Beacon Place, Community Social Services and Mothers Trust Foundation.
At last week's meeting, leaders from the agencies said the donations are critical as their clients have been impacted by government cuts in social service funding.
Despite funding challenges, the agencies reported that they are continuing to provide services to Lake County's neediest families, including residents who are unemployed, working poor and homeless. All of the agencies reported an uptick in clients seeking help with needs including housing and food, officials said.
Agency leaders praised Help Them to Hope donors for providing a "safety net" for those families.
Help Them to Hope President Richard A. Ribando said the agencies support the mission of the charity by providing "food, shelter and clothing" for Lake County citizens who face economic hurdles.
"There was an outpouring of donations this year from residents across Lake County who saw a need to help their neighbors," Ribando said. "We thank them for coming to aid them with their generosity."
The 2016-17 Help Them to Hope fundraising drive will begin Thanksgiving Day, although donations are accepted throughout the year. For more information visit www.HelpThemToHope.org or write Help Them to Hope at P.O. Box 364, Gurnee, IL 60031.
