The Kendall County Women’s Shelter has launched a “call to action” to help raise $45,000 to continue funding programs vital to the community, officials said.
The funds are needed to maintain programming, pay staff and make necessary repairs to an aging facility, said Executive Director Allison Peterson.
“Looking at our finances and the things that need to be done, that ($45,000) will help with our funding gap,” said Peterson, who has led the organization since her March arrival.
The organization was founded in 2012 to provide services for women, children and even men in crisis.
“My job is to make sure the shelter staff and the people we serve are taken care of, so that we can continue to serve as many people as possible,” Peterson added.
It costs about $100,000 each month to keep the lights on, the air conditioners running and pay staff, she said.
The appeal posted by the shelter on social media June 1 notes: “Today, we are reaching out with an urgent request for your support. Right now, we need your help to raise $45,000 to continue to provide vital shelter, resources and support to our community,” the post said.
Peterson, who spent the previous 10 years with the Military Warriors Support Foundation, is thanking the donors and supporters who already stepped up to help the shelter meet its goal.
“We encourage everyone to stop by our office, meet our administrative staff and find out more about our mission,” she said.
The administrative offices are at 930 N. School St.
The shelter itself, which is at an undisclosed location, is usually fully occupied serving up to 30 in-house clients and also offers non-residential services to area residents.
Men can also be clients.
“We not only offer residential but non-residential services, making resources available to those looking for counseling, food, transportation and just the support needed for the transition they are in,” Peterson said.
The shelter also has space for residents to bring pets, one of the 15% of shelters nationwide that allow clients to have their dogs, cats and other animals with them.
The Women’s Shelter website says the organization “is dedicated to providing comprehensive support, resources and shelter for survivors and their pets, while also raising awareness about the impact and origins of domestic abuse.”
“People immediately think of physical abuse when they think of the shelter,” Peterson said. “But abuse can be emotional, psychological, financial … and that’s why it’s so important to provide the counseling that we do — to offer such holistic support, because you need all the different things to be successful.”
