Illinois Times invites area non-profit organizations to tell our readers
what your special needs are this holiday season.
To participate, send us a description of your organization and a summary of
your holiday wish list. Fax the information to 217-753-3958 or e-mail editor@illinoistimes.com
This feature will appear weekly through the end of this calendar year.
M.E.R.C.Y. Communities
108 E. Cook St., Springfield 62704
217-753-1358
Provides services to the homeless, including a transitional living program that helps up to 10 families (moms and their children) at a time. Families served by M.E.R.C.Y. typically come from a shelter or a situation in which they’ve had to stay temporarily with friends or members of their extended family. M.E.R.C.Y. provides each family a fully furnished two-bedroom apartment. Mothers work with service coordinators on specific goals, such as education, employment and parenting skills. Families stay at M.E.R.C.Y. House for up to two years, and when they leave, they’re allowed to take all the furnishings from their apartment to their new permanent homes.
M.E.R.C.Y.’s wish list includes: diapers (all sizes), laundry detergent, dish soap, paper products (toilet tissue, paper towels, Kleenex etc.), cleaning products, trash bags, new towels, twin sheets and blankets, new pots, pans, silverwear, new winter clothing for children including hats and mittens, children’s games, art supplies and toys.
To make donations, contact Michelle Davis at 753-1358. Furniture donations
should be made to M.E.R.C.Y.’s furniture store at 400 S. Grand, 523-7726.
This article appears in Nov 20-26, 2003.
