Ottawa PADS

02/19/2026

Here at Ottawa PADS, we have had the pleasure to meet 205 people since August!

We are currently housing 80 people each day. This means that we are running through supplies fast! At this time, we could really use your help! Our top needs are - all paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissue, disposable cups, paper plates, & bowls) all-purpose cleaners, laundry detergent, coffee & drink mixes!

If you can help, donations can be dropped off at the shelter located at 201 E. Jackson Street in Ottawa. Or you can shop our Amazon Wish List below!

Remember, no donation is too small, anything helps! 🏠❤️

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2X2TLN3OS0O9L/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1

11/28/2025

10/27/2025

Come see us at Reid’s Smokehouse in Peru! We’re joining them for their Trunk-or-Treat event. The music is banging, the treats are stocked, and the kiddos are just starting to show up. We will be here with them until 7:30 pm tonight.

10/22/2025

The way that the donations have been rolling in this past week is astonishing! We are proud and blessed to be a part of such a generous community. We cannot thank you all enough for your ongoing support.

Our clients have summed up your generosity best. As we worked together today to put away all of our supplies, one of our guests was overheard saying, "Look, this place is starting to feel more and more like home every day."

Your gifts are more than material items to make life a little easier here at Ottawa PADS. Your gifts are reminding our clients what it means to have a home again. That gift itself cannot be bought. Thank you for reassuring our unhoused guests that everybody deserves a home.

10/18/2025

Since August 1st, we have already had 109 people check in with us here at Ottawa PADS. From our perspective, each person who rings our doorbell presents us with an opportunity. The difference between these opportunities and others is that these opportunities come with a unique name, a story of their own, and strength beyond belief.

For the past couple of weeks now, we have been averaging roughly 70 people a night. Our youngest guest is 7 days old today. Our most seasoned guest is 77 years old.

Their names might be different, their stories are on different chapters, but their strength is comparable. Names and ages don’t define us, and at some point or another, we all need a little help.

Here at Ottawa PADS, we could use a little help at this time. Our top 7 needs are listed below:

1.) Toilet Paper & Paper Towels
2.) Coffee & Creamer
3.) Bottled Water
4.) Drink Mixes
5.) Snack Items
6.) Family Friendly Games, Books, & DVDs
7.) Meal Donors & Volunteers

Your donations today truly give hope for all of us tomorrow.

*** Pictured below are the youngest shelter guest’s tiny feet. Do you want to hear something even sweeter? Her name is Hope! ***

10/08/2025

One of our current guests landed himself a new job at the end of last week. Another guest shared this morning that he gets to start his new gig tomorrow. The only thing standing in their way was trying to figure out how they were going to get back and forth.

Mr. Brooks from The Bike Place in Princeton came to our rescue. He allowed us to pick up not one, not two, but an entire truck load of bicycles from his shop yesterday afternoon. Talk about a knight in shining armor.

Thank you to The Bike Place for helping our guests "roll" forward with making progress towards their personal goals. Thank you, Mr. Brooks, for showing our guests that there are people out there who truly care about them.

09/27/2025

The sun is shining, the cars are sparkling, and the mood is light down here at The Pat Greathouse Education Center. Come see us, or at least the beautiful American made cars, down here at the UAW Region 4 Headquarters at 1000 East Center Street in Ottawa. Lunch will be kicking off shortly, 50/50 tickets are selling, and the various buildings on their campus are all opened up for tours. The UAW selected us at Illinois Valley PADS to be the beneficiaries of this wonderful fundraising opportunity. Thank you for inviting us to be a part of this fun event.

09/25/2025

Come see us at Hy-Vee in Peru tonight! We’re handing out wish lists at the door and selling steak dinners to raise funds to help support our mission. Eat first … because it’s never safe to grocery shop hungry.

09/24/2025

We are excited to share that we are fully up and running again at our new, temporary, location. In less than 24 hours, we have had 40 individuals, including 6 children, settle in with us.

If you know of someone in need of our services, please have them reach out to us in one of the following ways:

☎️ Call us at (815)433-1292.
📧 E-Mail us at [email protected].
🧍 Stop by and see us at 201 East Jackson Street.

During our move, we have found ourselves in need of some additional supplies that will make our clients feel more at home. If you can assist us with sending some of these wishes our way, we would be grateful. Please check out our Amazon Wish List in the comments below.

Whether you are asking for help or asking to help, Jackie and Andre from Ottawa PADS want you to know that YOU are Enough! Thank you for the continued support throughout our transition to our new, temporary, home!

09/04/2025

Tonight is your first opportunity of the month to enjoy a steak dinner and support our mission at Illinois Valley PADS. Let Bob and Carrie from Ottawa PADS serve you tonight. You deserve it!

08/26/2025

08/16/2025

UPDATE

Things are still moving forward at our new, temporary, location. However, we are not quite ready yet to start housing people overnight. We are still registering anyone in need in with us and then transporting them over to our Peru PADS location temporarily. On a good note, our original phone system is back up and running again.

We apologize for this delay, and we want to thank everyone for being so patient with us. Our goal is to be fully operational again by the end of this month. Stay tuned for more updates ahead!