Suburban Unity Alliance

As I was driving to a community event, I saw a father, mother, & child standing at the corner of a local grocery store holding a sign. Cars were simply driving by & no one seemed to be interested in helping or learning more about why this family was standing at the corner in 80 degree weather. 

As I was running late, I called my sister to help our organization learn more about this family & if any help could be provided. The sign the father was holding is what is posted. We learned that this hard working father, like so many across the country had lost his job & is in desperate need of employment & food. 

Another community member helped us translate as the family's primary language was Spanish. While the father adamantly stated that he did not want money, simply wants to find work & food for his family, our organization Suburban Unity Alliance has started this fundraiser to not only support this family in purchasing food, but also the help with bills & a job search. 

So many of us are struggling & as the great Martin Luther King Jr. was said, "Life's most persistent & urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?"

We are asking our communities, what can we do to help support this wonderful family in their time of need? 

Please consider donating. We also will be accepting grocery items. If you would like to drop off grocery items or gift cards, please email us @: [email redacted]

to learn the drop off location. Also let us know if you are aware of any work opportunities that exist as the father is a hard working laborer. 

Thank you,

Suburban Unity Alliance

Local small businesses along with service/essential workers are the heart and soul of our communities. Due to the corona virus, as well as continued construction in areas of the Oak Park community, Oak Park small businesses and service workers are facing a crisis. Social distancing and government-mandated shutdowns are disproportionately affecting small businesses that require foot traffic to survive. Whether it's the local breakfast spot, ice cream shop, or shoe store, they are in need. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, over 40% of small businesses surveyed believed they have less than six months until permanent shutdown. 

The possibility of permanent shutdown has created strain between our local government and small businesses looking for ways to stay afloat. 

Suburban Unity Alliance's small business and service/essential workers relief fund will provide micro-grants to each Oak Park small business & employee that have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The micro-grant process will be 100% transparent to the community as the fund provides financial assistance to our local small businesses and employees. 

Governor Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly have provided relief for small businesses hit hardest by COVID-19. However, based on the qualification process and high amount of applications, there have been delays in the grant process, as well as many businesses in communities like Oak Park not qualifying, despite being in need. 

The Oak Park Chamber of Commerce also has provided information and links to provide Covid-19 resources. Link: https://www.oprfchamber.org/covid-19-resources

As community members, we have the ability to play our part from ordering out when we can, tipping when possible, and raising money when appropriate. 

Our goal is to help as many small businesses and people as we can. Help us help others by making a donation today! As funds come in, they will be dispersed as quickly as possible with a detailed record of who has received support.  It takes a commUNITY! #smallbusinessrelief #workerrelief

Suburban Unity Alliance is an official 501c3 nonprofit.

Please join Suburban Unity Alliance and the commUNITY as well look to raise $1,500.00 to provide the homeless with love and some level of warmth this winter. 

The $1,500.00 raised will purchase portable camping heaters and propane tanks for the homeless of Chicago who fight for survival each winter. The small but powerful heaters ($25 each) can run up to 43 hours on a single 20lb. ($30 each)  propane tank. 

It takes a commUNITY. Join ours as we play a small part in showing love and compassion to our commUNITY members.

This summer (2017) Suburban Unity Alliance in collaboration with Westside Health Authority and the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago is launching our Youth Job Creation Challenge to community members and individuals across Chicago and the western suburbs. Our goal is to build on the landscaping and community work opportunities that have been created, transitioning to sustainable work opportunities for young adults that will be offered year-round.

 Our objective is to challenge our communities to help us raise $6,000 by mid-July, with 100% of the proceeds going to the purchase of a landscaping vehicle and equipment for our nonprofit business. To date, we have provided over 15 young adults with job opportunities through the awesome participation of our communities and utilizing the meager equipment we have. With the ability to purchase the proper equipment, we will be able to turn this initiative into an actual company and employ large numbers of young adults for years to come. This not only provides avenues to keep our young adults off of the streets, but provides them with valuable work experience as several of our former workers have parlayed their community work experience into fulltime employment with several reputable businesses throughout the community. The vehicle will also serve as a further bridge builder by allowing our organizations to deliver food and other goods to community areas in need.

An investment in youth learning and development is good for our youth, is good for business and is good for our communities.

 We cannot do this without community support! Can you help today? $1, $5, $10, $20, it all helps. Suburban Unity Alliance is a 501 c3 organization; all monetary or material donations receive verification letters for tax purposes.