Naomi’s House (NH) is based in Wheaton, IL and started in 2016. It is estimated that an astounding 24,300 people are trafficked in Illinois each year. (Safe House Project 2023 Annual Report and Polaris Project) NH provides tailored support to victims and survivors wherever they are. Whether that is fully ingrained in commercial sexual exploitation, preparing to leave it, or beginning a new life of their own, NH wants women to know that they are not alone. The majority of their clients are from DuPage, Cook and Kane counties. In 2023, they helped 194 women. For more information about Naomi’s House, go to https://www.naomishouse.org/.
NIFB relies on the community at large and organizations like the Ladies Auxiliary to help feed neighbors in need. This year the Auxiliary created a fundraiser on the NIFB website. This way we could track our personal donations through our Fundraiser and when it reached $1,000 of personal donations, the LAX would donate a matching $1,000. Happy to report that reaching our goal didn’t take very long and a check was issued to the Food Bank in January 2024. We chose this charity as we knew that the need has grown over the last couple of years. In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, the NIFB served more than 500,000 neighbors each month, 30% more than last year and 75% more than pre-pandemic. For more information on the Northern Illinois Food Bank, go to https://solvehungertoday.org/.
Several ladies enjoyed the St. Peter’s Rorate Coeli Mass at 6:45AM on December 14th followed by breakfast at First Watch. A Rorate Coeli Mass is traditionally celebrated just before dawn in Advent as a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Mass is only lit by candles, representing Mary’s role in bringing the Light of the World into the darkness of the world.
Update:
In 2023, CASA Kane County was able to serve 663 children who were removed from their homes in Kane County due to neglect and abuse (the highest number in their 35 year history). Our support provided for these children in the following ways:
Our June meeting is usually a social occasion to celebrate the past year’s accomplishments and install the new officers. This year, we celebrated 15 years of accomplishments.
