The Illinois Valley PADS is a shelter
that offers a safe and nurturing environment to for those that are
homeless and in need.PADS provides:
• Warm bed, food, showers, laundry
• Case work
• Life skill educational classes
• Referrals to agencies to resolve needs
• Caring ministry from staff and volunteers
• Success in finding jobs and housing.
PADS Success Stories
Sometimes the “Success Stories” just aren’t that big a deal! Often, the quality of success is just the same as the quality of happiness; it only appears in moments, and it’s up to us to savor those moments to buffer us in the storms of failure and despair. We have MANY of those MOMENTS at PADS.
During the summer we had a lady who had obvious mental issues along with a fatal automotive problem. We helped her by providing her with showers and guidance and located someone to dispose of her vehicle. Then, when she returned from the other shelter we’d sent her to, we help relocate her to a residence near her daughter, so she now has her belongings, self-respect, and the support of her family.
We had a man in denial about the severity of his addiction to prescription medications. The long hours spent in trying to find him a rehab program were wasted as he would back-out rather than leave the security of his drugs. When we finally turned him away from the shelter as being non-cooperative and out of control he realized how badly he needed help. Since being gone from the shelter, he has gotten into rehab, is now clean, and at last report, is doing well.
A mother of several children was contentious and angry with us and everybody else in her world. One of our precious volunteers recognized that she was likely suffering from post-partum depression, and we were able to refer her to a clinic where she received the medication and the counseling help she needed. We were then able to help her obtain housing and furnishings she needed to provide a real home for herself and her young children. We continue to receive reports that she is making good progress.
A middle-aged lady came to us when she could no longer stay with her grown children after leaving an abusive marriage. She obtained part-time work, but continued to look for a better position. After some time, she attended a job fair, and made a number of contacts that advised her to continue her education for certification in her field. She is enrolled at IVCC and making great strides, and expects to soon be able compete for that high paying job she used to only dream of finding. She is maintaining her own apartment in a housing unit, and has mended fences with family members who had become estranged after her divorce.
A middle-age man suffering from severe depression came to us needing company, a lot of understanding, and support. He was desperately afraid of being alone, and became dependent on staff for companionship. We channeled him toward other services; groups and individuals who could help him grow into more self-awareness and assurance. He continues in the therapy we arranged, and is doing well.
1320 Menards Drive
(815)224-3047
1120 Canal Street
(815)433-1292
info@ivpads.com