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Help Them To Hope stepped up to help local agencies
Help Them To Hope has had thousands of donors over a period of 64 years to thank for what their dollars have done to help our neighbors in need in Lake County.
They made it possible for HTTH to provide seed money to the Lake County Community Social Services to open its food pantry in the late 1990s. Deacon Mudd from St. Bart’s Church on 8th Street, assigned to lead the project, came to HTTH when he had exhausted his efforts to obtain support.
HTTH provided them with their first donation of $2,500 to purchase food for the new pantry. Since that time, this local group has expanded its operation to include a soup kitchen, housing for single, homeless mothers and a clothing shop.
HTTH has provided dollars to the Mothers Trust Foundation since 2008. This organization works with Lake County schools to provide kids with shoes, gloves, coats, school supplies and opportunities to participate in after-school activities.
The News-Sun and HTTH participated in St. Martin de Porres’ introduction to the Waukegan community, and participated in a mentoring program the first two years after the school’s opening. The News-Sun provided special advertising opportunities during that time, introducing Cristo Rey St. Martin de Porres College Prep to the area.
There was an occasion in 2001, when the local PADS agency was informed that they had lost a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development. HTTH stepped up and extended that year’s campaign to assist in the loss of funding an additional 15 days.
As circumstances and new challenges faced Lake County residents, HTTH recognized that the basic needs of food, shelter and clothing had to be expanded. The policy from 1959 has been that HTTH money is restricted to fund basic programs that take into account the basic needs of individuals.
Money from HTTH could only be used to fund programs, not to be used for payroll and other organization expenses. Funding in recent years has been granted to several social service agencies that provide counseling services to children recovering from several forms of trauma as a basic need. All HTTH money is granted to social services agencies that support all communities of Lake County.
Thanks to you, the HTTH donors, HTTH has worked diligently to allocate dollars where they are needed the most. Thank you again for the support you have given to this “Act of Kindness” each holiday season since 1959.
Richard A. Ribando, president, Help Them to Hope