PADS of Elgin, Inc.

07/30/2026

Happy National Intern Day! 🎉

We are so grateful for our summer intern, Ivan, who joined us from Elgin Community College and has been an incredible help to our team—especially with our financial work!

Ivan’s attention to detail, willingness to learn, and dedication have made a real impact at PADS of Elgin. This fall, he will continue his accounting studies at Northern Illinois University, and we know he has a bright future ahead of him, both at NIU and as one of the founding members of the PADS of Elgin's Emerging Leaders Council.

Thank you, Ivan, for everything you have contributed this summer!


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¡Feliz Día Nacional del Pasante! 🎉

Estamos muy agradecidos con nuestro pasante de verano, Ivan, quien llegó a PADS of Elgin desde Elgin Community College y ha sido de gran ayuda para nuestro equipo, especialmente con el área financiera.

La atención al detalle, disposición para aprender y dedicación de Ivan han tenido un impacto muy positivo en nuestra organización. Este otoño continuará sus estudios de contabilidad en Northern Illinois University, y estamos seguros de que le espera un futuro brillante.

¡Gracias, Ivan, por todo lo que has aportado este verano! Nos sentimos muy afortunados de tenerte como parte de nuestro equipo.

07/29/2026

“Volunteers are architects every time they choose to spend an evening making someone else’s burden a little lighter.”

Last night, volunteers from Willow Creek Community Church () did exactly that by providing dinner for our guests at PADS of Elgin—but their generosity did not stop at the dinner table.

We have been looking for someone to help paint our guest bathrooms. When one of the dinner volunteers heard about the need, they immediately stepped forward and said, “I heard you need help with this too—I can help!”

That moment captures the spirit of Executive Director Katie Shaw Thompson’s latest post at The Warm Hearth. Communities are built by people who notice a need, make room for others, and choose to help—sometimes with a meal, sometimes with a paintbrush, and often simply by being willing to show up.

Thank you to our friends from Willow Creek Church for helping carry someone else’s burden and for continuing to build a more compassionate Northern Kane County, one act of service at a time.

Read Katie’s full reflection on our blog (link in comments).

07/27/2026

A special thank-you to John Sutton - State Farm Agent for sponsoring our National Night Out Pre-Party at PADS of Elgin!

Support from local businesses helps us bring neighbors together for an evening of food, family-friendly activities, community resources, and connection—all while raising awareness of the services available to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Northern Kane County.

We are grateful to John Sutton for investing in our community and helping make this event possible.

📅 Tuesday, August 4
⏰ 4:00–6:30 p.m.
📍 PADS of Elgin, 1730 Berkley Street, Elgin

Thank you for being a community partner and supporting PADS of Elgin! If you would like more information on available sponsorships or partnerships, please contact our Development and Grants Coordinator, Catie Early at [email protected].

07/24/2026

Join us for a National Night Out Pre-Party at PADS of Elgin!

Stop by before the evening’s community celebrations for food, refreshments, family-friendly activities, games, community resources, and an opportunity to learn more about the work happening at Northern Kane County’s year-round homeless shelter.

📅 Tuesday, August 4
⏰ 4:00–6:30 p.m.
📍 PADS of Elgin, 1730 Berkley Street, Elgin

National Night Out is about strengthening relationships, supporting our neighbors, and creating safer, more caring communities—and everyone is welcome to be part of it!

We will also be collecting donations of cases of bottled water and plastic forks and knives to support our shelter and open-access lobby services.

Bring your family. Bring your neighbors. Bring your community spirit. We hope to see you there!


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¡Acompáñanos a nuestra Pre-Fiesta de National Night Out en PADS de Elgin!

Pasa a visitarnos antes de las celebraciones comunitarias de la tarde. Tendremos comida, bebidas, actividades y juegos para toda la familia, recursos comunitarios y la oportunidad de conocer más sobre el trabajo que realizamos como el único albergue para personas sin hogar abierto todo el año en el norte del condado de Kane.

📅 Martes 4 de agosto
⏰ De 4:00 a 6:30 p. m.
📍 PADS de Elgin, 1730 Berkley Street, Elgin

National Night Out busca fortalecer las relaciones entre vecinos, apoyar a nuestra comunidad y crear lugares más seguros y solidarios. ¡Todos están invitados!

También estaremos recibiendo donaciones de cajas de agua embotellada y tenedores y cuchillos de plástico para apoyar a las personas que reciben servicios en nuestro albergue y en nuestro lobby de acceso abierto.

Trae a tu familia, invita a tus vecinos y acompáñanos a celebrar el espíritu de nuestra comunidad. ¡Te esperamos!

07/21/2026

Our shelves are running low, and we could use your help restocking everyday essentials for our shelter guests and neighbors visiting our Lobby Outreach program.

Current needs include:

• Deodorant
• T-shirts, pants, shorts, and sandals
• New underwear, bras, boxer briefs, and women’s socks
• Cases of bottled water

Donations can be dropped off any day between 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM at:

PADS of Elgin
1730 Berkley Street
Elgin, IL 60123

Every donation helps ensure someone in our community has clean clothing, basic necessities, and compassionate support when they need it most. Thank you for continuing to show up for our neighbors! 💙


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Nuestros estantes se están quedando vacíos y necesitamos su ayuda para reabastecer artículos esenciales para las personas que se alojan en nuestro refugio y quienes visitan nuestro programa de apoyo comunitario.

Actualmente necesitamos:

• Desodorante
• Camisetas, pantalones, shorts y sandalias
• Ropa interior nueva, sostenes, sostenes deportivos, bóxers y calcetines para mujer
• Cajas de agua embotellada

Las donaciones pueden entregarse cualquier día de la semana, de 7:00 a. m. a 8:00 p. m., en:

PADS of Elgin
1730 Berkley Street
Elgin, IL 60123

Cada donación nos ayuda a ofrecer ropa limpia, artículos básicos y apoyo compasivo a una persona de nuestra comunidad cuando más lo necesita. ¡Gracias por seguir apoyando a nuestros vecinos! 💙

07/20/2026

Thank you, St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Elgin, IL! We are so grateful to be part of a community that continues to show up for our neighbors.

Last year, PADS of Elgin served more than 40,000 meals. Volunteers provide dinner for our shelter guests 365 days a year, and when meals remain, those leftovers help us provide food through Lobby Outreach to people experiencing homelessness in our community.

Thank you for helping spread the word about the many ways our community shows up.

padsofelgin.org

07/20/2026

☕❤️ Your coffee can do more than wake you up.

From July 21–23, every purchase at BIGGBY Coffee East Dundee helps support PADS of Elgin.

Stop in, sip your favorite drink, and help make a difference—one cup at a time.

📍1011 E. Main St., East Dundee

07/20/2026

☕ Sip for a Cause at BIGGBY Coffee! ☕

Tomorrow through Thursday, grabbing your favorite coffee can help provide shelter, meals, and hope for neighbors experiencing homelessness.

📍 BIGGBY Coffee – East Dundee
1011 E. Main St.
East Dundee, IL 60118

Here’s how you can help:
🧡 10% of your purchase will be donated to PADS of Elgin when you mention PADS at checkout.

✨ Even more exciting: BIGGBY is also considering donating the proceeds from their Round Up to the Nearest Dollar program during the fundraiser, giving everyone another easy way to make an impact!

Every cup of coffee can help support emergency shelter, meals, case management, and the resources people need to move toward stable housing.

📅 When: Tomorrow through Thursday
📍 Where: BIGGBY Coffee – East Dundee
🗣️ Don’t forget to mention PADS!

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post and inviting your friends, family, and coworkers to stop by for their coffee this week. Together, we can make a meaningful difference—one cup at a time.

07/13/2026

🎨 Can you help us freshen up the shelter this week?

We're getting ready to give our shelter bathrooms a fresh coat of paint this week, and we're looking for a few community members who would be willing to lend a hand.

We already have the paint and supplies—now we just need a few volunteers who don't mind rolling up their sleeves for a couple of hours.

Projects like this may seem small, but they help create a cleaner, brighter, and more welcoming space for neighbors working toward stability.

If you'd be interested in volunteering or would like more information, send us a message or email [email protected].

Thank you for helping us care for the place our guests call home. 💙
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🎨 ¿Nos ayudas a darle una nueva imagen al refugio **esta semana**?

Esta semana vamos a pintar los baños de nuestro refugio y buscamos algunas personas de la comunidad que quieran donar un par de horas de su tiempo para ayudarnos.

¡La pintura y los materiales ya los tenemos! Solo nos faltan manos dispuestas a echar la mano con este proyecto.

Aunque parezca un cambio pequeño, este tipo de mejoras ayudan a crear un espacio más limpio, agradable y acogedor para nuestros vecinos que están trabajando para recuperar su estabilidad.

Si te interesa ser voluntario(a) o quieres más información, mándanos un mensaje o escríbenos a **[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])**.

¡Gracias por ayudarnos a cuidar el lugar que nuestros huéspedes llaman hogar! 💙