SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-SUN

Seven social service agencies serving Lake County residents have received their allocations from the annual Help Them To Hope holiday fund drive.

The disbursement meeting was held Friday (March 2) at Catholic Charities’ Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Center, 617 S. Lewis Ave., Waukegan. The seven groups split donations raised by Lake County residents during the 2017 Help Them To Hope campaign.

The agencies include COOL Ministries, which operates food pantries in Waukegan and Ingleside; Beacon Place, Catholic Charities, Community Social Services, PADS Lake County, Roberti Community House, all of Waukegan; A Safe Place, headquartered in Zion; and Mothers Trust Foundation, based in Lake Forest.

The 59th annual fund drive raised $49,345.11 from Thanksgiving 2017 to early January 2018.

“We couldn’t do what we do without you,” said Maureen Murphy of Catholic Charities.

Hope Funds “are very useful” in serving clients said Barbara LaFasto, executive director of Beacon Place.

Representatives noted that state funding reimbursements to their agencies has become timelier. And, although the agencies see an increase in the numbers of people and families they serve, funding remains stagnant.

Founded in 1959 by pressmen at the Lake County News-Sun, Help Them To Hope raises money all year. During the holiday campaign, the newspaper runs the names of donors.

To donate, send checks or money orders to Help Them To Hope, P.O. Box 364, Gurnee, IL 60031, or Help Them To Hope, c/o NorStates, Bank, 1601 N. Lewis Ave., Waukegan. Or check the group’s Web page at www.helpthemtohope.com.

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