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Public Action to Deliver Shelter (P.A.D.S)
St. John's volunteers staff the South
Suburban P.A.D.S. Homeless Shelter at St. Agnes Church in
Chicago Heights one night per month during the months from
October through March. The goal of P.A.D.S. is to offer
temporary, overnight shelter and supportive services in South
Suburban Cook County which assist homeless individuals
striving to return to mainstream living. There are four shifts
of varying lengths and responsibilities throughout the night.
The Friday evening shift volunteers work from 6:30-11:00 p.m.,
registering guests, distributing bedding, linens and
tolietries, talking with guests, and playing with the
children. The second shift, which works from 10:45 p.m. - 3:00
a.m. assembles sack lunches and provides general supervision
of the site. Third shift volunteers oversee the shelter from
2:45 a.m. - 7:15 a.m. on Saturday morning and organize and
distribute lunches to the guests as they leave. The fourth
shift volunteers, who work from 5:00 - 7:15 a.m. on Saturday
morning either prepare and serve breakfast to the guests, or
they collect bedding and used linens from the guests and
thoroughly clean the facility after the guests have departed.
Those who cannot regularly serve on one of these shifts can
volunteer to act as substitutes who can fill in when needed
and available. | 