Community Comes Together to Celebrate LPCS Volunteers

Staff and volunteers mingle before the show

Last night, LPCS staff, volunteers, guests, and Graduates came together to celebrate all of the work that volunteers do for LPCS.  It was a fun-filled evening of food, conversation, and cabaret at the Greenhouse Theater!  Attendees were treated to a performance of classic songs, Broadway tunes, and modern classics by James Edward Dauphin and Anita Kallen and were accompanied by Christie Chiles Twillie on piano.  All three of the performers generously donated their time.  Before the show, volunteers and guests mingled while munching on a variety of snacks. After the show, volunteers were treated to a table full of delicious desserts!

Every year, volunteers donate nearly 18,000 hours of service to LPCS.  That is the equivalent of adding 8 1/2 full-time staff members to LPCS!  Volunteers help teach life-skills classes, make and serve meals, work at the front desk, serve on a variety of committees, stay overnight, and serve in a variety of other positions.  Without the continued support of LPCS volunteers, our programs wouldn't be nearly as successful as they are.  All of the hard work that volunteers put in translates directly to our guests.  Thank you LPCS volunteers for all of your time, energy, and dedication!

A huge thank you to Popcorn Palace, Potbelly Sandwich Co., Starbucks Coffee, and Swirlz Cupcakes for generously donating food and drink for the event.  Thank you too to the Greenhouse Theater for donating the space.  And of course,  a huge thank you as well to the performers without whom we couldn't have had a show!  Last, but certainly not least, thanks to the Volunteer Committee who helped organize the whole night.  Thank you everyone!

Learning through Teaching

Imaginarium, 2010

I first heard about LPCS when I was a student at School of the Art Institute in Spring 2010.  Our class worked with some of the guests for several weeks on a Community Art Project entitled Imaginarium, which we then displayed in a one-night show. We worked together, on separate panels that were finally interlocked to make a free-standing sculpture. Each piece was different, and couldn’t stand up on its own, but together they made a wonderful thing, much like each one of us in our community.  I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but found the guests to be so friendly, eager to learn and try new things, expressing themselves through different visual media, I felt privileged to be a part of it. The staff and guests are so welcoming, some of my classmates and I didn’t want our "Art Class Wednesdays" to end, so we continued them weekly throughout the summer.

Now I teach it one day a month, and it is one of the most gratifying things I have ever done: for example, when a guest who claims “oh, but I’m not an artist,” jumps in anyway and tries, and ends up creating something beautiful and unique, the smile on their face is priceless. Even though it takes a bit of planning to balance time for my own homework and hunt for art supplies, I love the friendly creative energy at LPCS so much, working with the guests in these art classes is absolutely worth it. I am honored to have been invited back to participate with the LPCS guests and students in this year’s SAIC Community Art Practices class, and look forward to the new amazing work we will create. We look forward to meeting you at our truly unique show in May, so mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 4th!

--Leona, SAIC student and LPCS volunteer

Our Community, part 2

On Wednesday, as I sat warm and dry inside my apartment, marveling at the change in the weather (what a difference a day makes, eh?), I saw something wonderful happen.  About 10 people in the building across the street from me, gathered together, snow shovels in hand, and worked as a community to clear their parking lot (complete with a six-foot snow drift in the middle).  It was wonderful to see so many people come together as a community to accomplish such a feat. Wonderfully, the same thing was happening right here in Lincoln Park!  One the neighbors who lives just down the street from LPCS gathered up shovels from other neighbors, gathered some guests up, and a shovelin' they went!  According to one neighbor, "it was a great day and we had fun.  We also did a great thing for the neighborhood!"  Thanks to everyone for helping make Lincoln Park easier and safer to get around!

Our Community

From Left to Right: Jeff Lawler, Elizabeth Rossdeutscher,
Colette Rodon Hornof, Gil Matar, and Deanne Liaros

A few weeks ago, several members of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce came to LPCS to make breakfast.  Volunteers arrived around 6:30am to begin cooking.  Scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes, oatmeal, fruit salad, and toast were on the menu.  Once the food was cooked and set out, everyone helped themselves to the "incredible breakfast," including the volunteers.  One volunteer commented, "What a terrific experience! Everything came together perfectly, and it was nice to have some time with the guests."  

The group came together with the idea that they would come to make a hot breakfast for LPCS guests, once every three or four months.  By the end of the morning, they had decided to do it every month!

Without such a supportive community, LPCS wouldn't be as successful as it is today!  Breakfast is one of the opportunities that we are always looking for volunteers to help with.  If you are interested in getting a group together, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Julia, to get on the calendar.  You can reach Julia at 773-549-6111 or lpcsinfo@lpcsonline.org.  

"I will never forget my visit..."

A few months ago, some students from Columbia College visited the Lincoln Park Community Shelter.  We recently received a donation from the students, along with letters about their experience.  Below is one example of the letters we received. 

Dear LPCS guest, 


My name is Jessica D., and I am one of the students from Columbia College who visited LPCS about a month ago.  I interviewed two residents, and their stories changed my entire outlook on life.  I will never forget my visit to LPCS and I am much more aware of the social issues involved with homelessness now.  I am more aware and empathetic citizen, thanks to the two people I talked to.  You and all the other residents of LPCS are in my thoughts and prayers daily, and I wish you the best for the future.  I hope you enjoy the holidays and keep feeling inspired, because I feel inspired myself after visiting LPCS.  


Sincerely, 


Jessica D.

Rogue Show

 Image featured in the last LPCS/CPC photo show

Don't miss tomorrow night's opening reception of the "Rogue Show" at the Chicago Photography Center!  Join us at 7pm as we celebrate the photographic creativity and talent of LPCS guests and Graduates.  Each month, volunteers at the Chicago Photography Center volunteer their time teaching skills and techniques to community groups, including the Lincoln Park Community Shelter.  This is the second time the work of LPCS guests and graduates has been featured in a show at the Chicago Photography Center.  The "Rogue Show" will run from January 14-February 5th.

The Chicago Photography Center is located at 3301 N. Lincoln Ave.  For more information on the CPC, please visit their website at: http://www.chicagophoto.org/.

Can you imagine?

I just spent a good amount of time talking with a client who sleeps on the streets. In this weather. Can you imagine?

Of course, the obstacles that homeless people face are forefront in my mind all year, but even I pause when the weather gets to be this brutally cold, wondering how in the world people survive?

Of course, many don’t. Each year, on Dec. 21 (the longest night of the year), we remember those who have passed away as part of Homeless Memorial Day.  Already, news stories have reported several deaths since this unforgiving cold snap.

Our client has been sleeping on the streets for 25 years. He spends most of his time at the library, learning languages (he is currently learning German), is an expert chess player, and has a beautiful singing voice. He sometimes makes money at chess or in karaoke contests. He spends entire days looking for a safe place to hide his personal belongings, including his precious blankets that mean the difference between life and death on the streets. In the time I’ve known him, over the past 8 years or so, he has been attacked and robbed several times.

He is a brilliant man, and also profoundly paranoid. He found LPCS by accident years ago, and for whatever indefinable reason, felt safe here. Despite his undiagnosed and untreated mental illness, he feels a connection with our staff, and continues to visit us regularly, although has never registered to become an overnight guest. He comes for basic services, to pick up his mail, and calls when he can’t make it in person. Although he is largely isolated from the outside world, preferring to stay invisible, he keeps his connection to LPCS.

As he was explaining to me the benefits of various building materials, cardboards, etc. with which to construct a makeshift shelter, and his tips for staying warm by sleeping in port-a-johns, I am both saddened and hopeful. Because lately, he has been talking about coming inside for the night, and applying to housing programs. He is getting tired, and I am waiting. I know we can’t push him to come inside, but when he’s ready, LPCS will be there.

--Erin Ryan, Executive Director