Faith Leaders Schedule More Homeless Camping Gear Distributions

The Faith Leaders of McHenry County and Compassion for Campers will continue to distribute camping gear and supplies to the homeless. St, Ann’s Episcopal Church, 503 W. Jackson in Woodstock, will host the next distribution on Tuesday, September 15 from 3:30 to 5 pm. More offerings are scheduled in Woodstock, Crystal Lake, and McHenry in September and October.

“The unhoused in McHenry County continue to need camping gear as we head into the fall months,” according to Patrick Murfin of Compassion for Campers. “Indications are that many will still require such aid as we go into the colder months.”

This week the Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church volunteers will also be on hand with items and box lunches.

Future distributions will be held at:

Bethany Lutheran Church

76 W Crystal Lake Ave, Crystal Lake

3:30-5 pm Tuesday, September 29.

First United Methodist Church

3717 Main St, McHenry

3:30-5 pm Tuesday, October 13.

St. Ann’s Episcopal Church

503 W. Jackson, Woodstock

3:30-5 pm Tuesday, October 27.

Distribution of supplies will be drive through/walk up with face masks required, social distancing observed, and no gathering. Among the supplies available while they last will be tents, sleeping bags, tarps and pads, camp stoves, coolers, mosquito repellent, sun screen, hygiene products, other sundries, and non-perishable food.

The Faith Leaders of McHenry County is an informal group of clergy serving local congregations or as chaplains as well as lay leaders and volunteers who meet regularly to address the needs of the community The group came together to share wisdom, experience, positive community action as the Covid-19 epidemic arose. It has also taken up the issues of racism and privilege brought to the fore by the Black Lives Matter Movement and the protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and other Persons of Color. It is also now addressing homelessness.

Compassion for Campers is a program founded by the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation in McHenry which has been serving the homeless every summer for the past eight years. Monetary donations from the Faith Leaders and their congregations have been added to Compassion for Campers funds to purchase the gear.

Additional donations can be made by sending a check made out to Tree of Life UU Congregation with Compassion for Campers on the memo line to the church at 5603 West Bull Valley Road, McHenry, IL 60050. Compassion for Campers is a dedicated fund and no donations to it can be used by Tree of Life for any other purpose. The church absorbs all administrative expenses so 100% of donations will be used to aid the homeless.

For more information contact Patrick Murfin at 815 814-5645 or e-mail pmurfin@sbcglobal.net.