Since 1975, People’s Resource Center has been bringing neighbors together to respond to hunger and poverty in DuPage County. With a team of over 1,500 volunteers, we offer nutritious food and other basic necessities like clothes and rent assistance for people facing tough times. And we connect people with resources— education and tutoring, jobs, technology, art, a caring community—to create a future of hope and opportunity for all.

Mission Statement: People’s Resource Center exists to respond to basic human needs, promote dignity and justice, and create a future of hope and opportunity for the residents of DuPage County, Illinois through discovering and sharing personal and community resources.

Meeting Our Community’s Needs – Neighbor to Neighbor

Spring 2013

A PRC Milestone: 10,000 Computers for

Neighbors in NeedIn March, People’s Resource Center gave away its

10,000th free, refurbished computer to a PRC client. Natasha Cody of Lisle received the milestone

computer. She takes computer classes and is also studying for her GED here at PRC.

“It’s an honor to receive this computer,” she said. “When I started here I never expected this! But everything here is great – the classes, the food pantry and the volunteers. I love coming to PRC. I get a one-on-one learning experience.”

For more than 15 years, People’s Resource Center has offered free computer classes, and students in these classes are eligible to receive a computer for their home. PRC clients are also eligible for computer support and repair services provided by the “Dr. Fix It” team. Volunteers teach classes, refurbish computers, and provide tech support services for clients.

The program was designed to help eliminate the “digital divide” – a lack of access to technology and training facing many low-income DuPage residents. PRC’s program gives people access to technology skills and resources – tools necessary for success in work and school.

Frank Goetz of Wheaton spearheaded the program. “This celebration is wonderful,” said Goetz. “I never thought we’d give away 10,000 computers.

“Each of those 10,000 computers has a story behind it involving a person or organization that donated the computer to PRC, a person or team that made it operate to our standards, and usually one or more persons that trained the recipient in its use,” he added.

PRC receives donated computers from schools, libraries, individuals and community partners including Tellabs, College of DuPage, DeVry University and Cadence Health. PRC is a Microsoft Registered Refurbisher, which allows refurbished computers to be equipped with Microsoft software for a nominal licensing fee.

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Natasha Cody, our 10,000th computer recipient, with Debbie Suggs, recipient of PRC’s very first refurbished computer.

John Victor, PRC’s Director of Computer Access and IT, along with Frank Goetz, creator of the computer access program.

Executive Director Kimberley C. Perez

Director of Operations Linda Cheatham

Senior Director of Programs Melissa Travis

Senior Director of Programs Elizabeth Higgins

Development Director Jennifer Barger Williamson

Editor Susan Bax Manning

Board of Directors

President Barbara Tartaglione

Vice President Mark Demich

Secretary Henry Davis, Jr.

Treasurer Bill Blum

Jim Doyle

Paul LeFort

Sr. Mariette Kalbac, OSF

Kris Maybach

Kathryn Mlsna

Thomas Paulick

Robert Russo

Andrew Schlickman

Keith W. Suchy, D.D.S.

Connie Sunderhaus

Dave Wood

Founder Dorothy McIntyre

People’s Resource Center201 S. Naperville RoadWheaton, IL 60187

PRC Southeast649 Blackhawk DriveWestmont, IL 60559

Phone: (630) 682-5402Fax: (630) 682-5412www.peoplesrc.org

Address changes?Please let us know at 630.682.5402

People’s Resource Center celebrated a significant achievement in our history, as we gave away our 10,000th free computer to Natasha Cody, a student in our computer training program.

Distributing 10,000 computers is an enormous milestone. These computers make it possible for children to do their homework at home, for students of all ages to improve their computer skills by practicing what they’ve learned, and for job seekers to keep up with their job search without needing to leave home to do so. I am so grateful for the countless hours of service our dedicated volunteers have provided and also the generous donations from supporters like you which have made this program possible.

As has been the case since PRC began, new initiatives continue in efforts to meet the needs of our struggling neighbors. Recently, PRC began distributing a gallon of milk to families with young children who visit the food pantry, in addition to the other nutritious staples we provide. You can read more about this service on page four.

Thank you for being a part of this community of caring neighbors. Together we’re making a difference!

With sincere appreciation,

P.S. We are proud to announce our “Many Hands, One Heart” Gala will take place on Friday, May 3. The evening promises to be one of food and fun. Tickets are now available at www.peoplesrc.org. I look forward to seeing you there!

A Message from the Executive Director

After distributing 10,000 computers, PRC is seeing requests for new computers starting to decline, while tech support requests are rapidly increasing. It’s an indication that many more low-income DuPage families are now using computers at home, compared to when the program began. Together, we’ve made a significant impact on the “digital divide” in DuPage County. Thank you for your support!

10,000 Computers(Continued from page 1)

Want to volunteer?Individuals with a technology background are encouraged to volunteer in the Computer Access program or become a tutor for a computer class. Classes are held at both PRC locations (Wheaton and Westmont) and partner sites around the county. A new session of classes starts every seven weeks. To volunteer, go to www.peoplesrc.org and fill out the volunteer application.

Have a computer to donate?PRC Wheaton (201 S. Naperville Rd) accepts PCs from 9:00am – 4:00pm Monday – Friday, and Saturday mornings from 9:00am – 11:15am. Computers currently being accepted include: working Windows-compatible standard desktop/tower computers (minimum speed: 2.0 Gigahertz), with typical equipment such as CD-ROM, memory, hard drive, 56K modem, Ethernet adapter. Hard drives are “wiped clean” before computers are refurbished and distributed to clients.

A cake to celebrate our 10,000th computer.

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Did you know that PRC’s clients come from more than 100 different countries?

Throughout the month of May, People’s Resource Center will sponsor activities in celebration of the many cultures which come together as one community through PRC’s programs and services. The month of celebration kicks off on May 3rd with the 2013 “Many Hands, One Heart” Gala at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Brook. The theme of the event, “Cultures Coming Together,” recognizes that the contributions from people all over the world make PRC what it is today.

Throughout the month, PRC’s staff, volunteers and students will lead additional activities and discussions. Please join us to learn more about ourselves and our neighbors.

A calendar of events will be posted. Watch for updates on www. peoplesrc.org or www.Facebook.com/peoplesresourcecenter for information about the month’s events.

PRC Plans Month to Celebrate Our Many Cultures

Words of Thanks From a PRC ClientI have been a watercolor student of Ratindra Das in Wheaton for most of 2012. I would like to express my appreciation to him and class coordinator Lesley Gena, for their interest and valuable time and commitment in sharing their skills with us. It is clear that they both enjoy working and meeting with students and are very welcoming to new people.

Having a creative outlet such as painting lifts my spirits. Ratindra’s simplified approach, quiet assurances, color and design theory have improved my final paintings enough that I am beginning to frame some. I feel my self-esteem is enhanced when I am satisfied and proud of my accomplishment.

I thankfully express my appreciation.

Sincerely,

MelissaWatch a video about the PRC Art Program — scan the code or visit YouTube.com/user/peoplesresource.

Ratindra Das and the Monday morning watercolor class.

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Milk Now Available at the Food Pantry

Since October, People’s Resource Center has been distributing fresh gallons of milk to food pantry families with children 10 years of age and under.

“The Northern Illinois Food Bank has developed a relationship with a dairy that delivers milk to us every week,” said Melissa Travis, Senior Director of Programs at PRC. “We buy 60 gallons each week at a discounted price, and because we have a walk-in cooler at our Wheaton location, we can store the milk and give it out to families.

“It’s a benefit for them, since milk is so expensive right now,” she added. “They are excited because this is normally a huge expense. Free milk is a huge help for these families.”

PRC hopes to expand its participation in the food bank’s “Milk2MyPlate” program in the coming year. PRC is currently able to provide milk to 240 families each month. On average, over 3,000 families visit PRC’s food pantries monthly.

Feeding America is the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization and provides more than 3 billion pounds of food

and grocery items to 200 food banks and 61,000 local food pantries each year. About 40% of the food distributed by PRC’s food pantries comes from the Northern Illinois Food Bank, our local Feeding America member food bank. Learn more about these important partners and find great educational resources about the crisis of hunger in America at: feedingamerica.org or solvehungertoday.org.

Our own PRC Food Supervisor, Hank Anzelone, took home the prestigious Westmont Citizen of the Year award,

which recognizes residents who have demonstrated exceptional community involvement and leadership.

PRC Westmont volunteer Linda Sobotka also won the Rotary’s Paul Harris Award for outstanding charitable contribution to the community.

Congratulations to both!

Partner Spotlight: Feeding America

Westmont Community Awards

MILK MONEYIt costs PRC about $2 per gallon to provide milk to families visiting the food pantry. Donations to PRC’s food pantry to help expand the milk program are welcomed.

Bob Aiken, President and Chief Executive Officer of Feeding America, recently volunteered in PRC’s food pantry.

Westmont Community Award winners Hank Anzelone and Linda Sobotka.

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Oscar and his mom Norma are happy to receive milk during a food pantry visit.

PRC was the recipient of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Gamon Award for Large Non-Profit of the Year. Here are PRC’s Elizabeth Higgins and Debbie Lunger with the award!

With help from Gary United Methodist Church in Wheaton, PRC has a new bookshelf chock-full of children’s books in the lobby. Church member Bob Isgren made the bookshelf while Gary’s confirmation students bought and inscribed their favorite books. Hannah Cary (pictured) chose Madeline because she “used to read this book all the time and loved to look at the pictures.” Thank you Gary Church!

Students and instructors from PRC’s Spanish GED program pose for a ‘class photo.’ The class, which meets on Saturday mornings at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wheaton, teaches students in their native language so they can take their GED equivalency test in Spanish.

Front Street Dance Center’s Wheaton Starz were “Dancin’ for Food” by performing a dance recital and asking for non-perishable food items as admission. The night was successful — dancers brought over 100 pounds of donated food to PRC. Thank You!

PRC wishes to thank the Whole Foods Markets in Wheaton and Willowbrook for raising over $33,000 during the holidays to benefit the People’s Resource Center food pantry. Members of Whole Foods Markets and the PRC Board present “the check” at the Wheaton pantry.

PRC has begun teaching Microsoft Office Certification classes in Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook. The past series of classes were taught daily in Westmont and upon finishing, students took certification tests for each package. Five students passed all the tests and are now Microsoft Office Specialists. Many of the students have gone on to find jobs or promotions due to their newfound skills. Congratulations to the class!

Neighbor to Neighbor

In This Issue10, 000th Computer Giveaway - 1

Celebrating Cultures at PRC - 3

New Milk Program - 4

http://www.peoplesrc.org/

Join ‘Team PRC’ for the Second Annual DuPage Human Race, Saturday April 27

The Human Race is a 5k Run/Fitness Walk which brings the community together in support of charities serving DuPage

County. Walkers and runners have the opportunity to raise pledges for the charity of their choice and participate on their behalf.

• It takes place at the Esplanade at Locust Point, 1901 Butterfield Road in Downers Grove at 9am.

• To register, go to www.peoplesrc.org under “Upcoming Events” or www.dupagehumanrace.org.

• Registration is $35 for the 5K, and $30 for the Fitness Walk. All ages, pets, and strollers are welcome.

May 3rd, 20136pm-11pm

DoubleTree Hotel Oak Brook

You’re invited to the 2013 “Many Hands, One Heart” Gala. Come and enjoy an evening full of food and fun, including

live entertainment and an auction. You’ll be supporting a terrific cause – People’s Resource Center!

Tickets: $150 per person

To buy tickets or learn more about sponsorship/donation information, go to our website at www.peoplesrc.org.

Save the Date“Many Hands, One Heart Gala”

People’s Resource Center201 S. Naperville RoadWheaton, IL 60187

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDCarol Stream, IL

PERMIT 6030