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Holiday Gift Project Lifts Spirits
Our annual Holiday Gift Project was a huge success this year! The Sarah's Inn community of supporters was able to serve over 100 women and provide holiday gifts for over 300 children. Our Holiday Gift Project is an event that provides a wonderful opportunity for our staff, volunteers and community supporters to come together and brighten the spirits of families in crisis during the holiday season. Clients from Sarah's Inn are able to come together with our community and be surrounded by a large network of people that value them and care for their well-being.
Sarah's Inn is grateful to have hosted our annual Holiday Gift Project for the first time this year at a local community center. Together with the support of the center's wonderful team, our dedicated volunteers and the Forest Park Police Department, this year's event was our best one yet! We extend our sincerest thank you to the multiple community groups, organizations and individuals who collected toys and gifts, the donors who supported the collection through our Amazon Wish List, and our public collection sites: the Forest Park Fire Department, the Riverside Police Department, the River Forest Village Hall and the West Suburban Medical Center for their hard work.
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We Did This Together!
On Monday, December 7, the Illinois Senate passed SB2039 with domestic violence funding restored at the 2015 funding levels. Governor Rauner signed the bill into law that evening: Public Act 099-0491.
In 2016, we will once again reach out to you to help us advocate for a complete state budget that includes funding for the remainder of human and social services. These services and supports are critical foundations and supports not only for our clients and families, but for our entire community.
We know your calls, emails and continuous advocacy with key legislators and state leaders helped to get domestic violence funding reinstated before the end of 2015. We are so appreciative of your time and support of these efforts. Thank you!
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 Meet Associate Board Member,
Megan Redmon
Megan Redmon joined the Sarah's Inn Associate Board because a friend, colleague and current member thought it would be a good fit for her. Megan has been on the board for approximately one year and appreciates the social aspect of the board, meeting new people and making friends. Megan is proud of the three successful events she has been a part of thus far and looks forward to the impact the Associate Board can make in 2016!
Megan has always had an interest in child and family law, so being a part of Sarah's Inn was something she wanted to explore. While in law school, Megan not only clerked for the Attorney General's Office in Child Welfare litigation, but also had a course load with multiple classes in family and child law, including a course on domestic violence. While observing domestic violence cases in court, Megan's interest in the well-being of the victims grew to a higher level and she decided to get her certificate in child and family law.
While Megan is currently in-house counsel at a digital media company, she truly values her position on the Associate Board, as she knows she is making a difference and helping those women and children she saw in court at the start of her career. The opportunity to serve the community through Sarah's Inn has allowed Megan's experiences to come full circle.
If you are interested in learning more about the Sarah's Inn Associate Board, please contact Christina at christinac@sarahsinn.org.
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A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' for Sarah's Inn
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Volunteer Opportunities this Holiday Season
Child CareThis volunteer position is on-going, weekly for 6 months. The position is at our Oak Park office, Wednesdays from 4:15 to 6:15PM. A completed application, two reference forms and an interview is required. A free, one time 2-hour training is provided. Responsible teens, ages 16 and older, welcome to apply. More information about this and other volunteer opportunities is available on our website.
Meal MakersMeal Makers volunteers provide a nutritious, family style meal for clients and their children participating in Sarah’s Inn education and support groups. Meals are offered the second Wednesday of the month in Melrose Park before group and the second Thursday of the month in Oak Park between groups. Meal Makers provides clients from different groups a chance to meet one another and socialize in a safe, supportive environment.
For more information about these programs, please contact Christina at christinac@sarahsinn.org
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