Over the past two years, my wife Sheila and I have volunteered at Northwest Compass. Clients come to the agency due to food or housing insecurity or for assistance on a variety of issues from job search skills and managing personal finances to navigating government programs and benefits. I have volunteered, coordinating capital improvement projects for the organization.
Northwest Compass recently received a $100,000 Illinois state grant to address the worn-out parking lot, create an ADA front entrance ramp necessary for clients, and address parking lot lighting needs. The concrete slabs at the front entrance were heaved by tree roots, creating significant tripping hazards. The parking lot surface was uneven, creating slippery areas where water could not drain properly in the winter. Parking lot lights were inoperable creating safety and security issues for clients and staff.
These badly needed improvements are underway but there have been a few unforeseen problems leading to overruns to the grant budget. Electrical wiring had to be rerun from the main panel as none of the existing power supply was useable. In addition, the sub-base of the parking lot proved to be in very poor condition.
Bottom line, despite our best efforts in managing the work and by our contractors to mitigate costs there is a
$28,000 overrun.
As a social services agency, funding is always in short supply. There is rarely money available for facility maintenance or improvement yet, facilities wear out and in some cases safety concerns creep in.
If you can spare something extra, to support Northwest Compass Inc. we can assure you it will provide dividends in our community. There are many families who just need a hand to get back on track. Every dollar that Northwest Compass must spend on this project is a dollar that is not available to provide service to their clients, so your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for contributing what you can and for supporting the staff and clients of Northwest Compass Inc. Please share this with anyone that may be interested in giving back to the community.
Lew Coffin