As the holidays approach and we seek the comfort and security of those we care about, we invite you to reflect upon those in need in our community and most importantly, how your support offers stability, empowerment and hope for a stronger tomorrow for our neighbors.

With your help, neighbors like Anna turn crisis into opportunity.

Anna was always proud of the fact she was able to provide for herself. Anna was the kind of person who would work a second job if she needed something extra. Things changed when Anna became a single mother in need of a place to live a month after giving birth to her son. Anna was able to stay with her brother for a little while but had to leave when his family moved to a new community. Anna knew she needed help and approached numerous social services organizations before meeting the staff at Northwest Compass who found an apartment for Anna and her baby. She also received immediate food support through the Northwest Compass Food Connection program.

Today, Anna is working at a hospital and simultaneously obtaining a degree in business management. Anna is saving her money to purchase a home and plans on donating to Northwest Compass in the future.

Detailed below are examples of how your gift directly supports and advances the mission of Northwest Compass to help individuals receive the care and support needed:

• With a gift of $25.00 we are able to help a family gain access to all the resources available for their recovery.
• Your donation of $50.00 helps as many as ten people learn about resume building and employment options.
• A $100.00 donation provides a homeless youth transportation to work for a month.
• A $500.00 donation provides a homeless veteran with all the household items needed to move to a transitional living program.
• A $1,000.00 donation helps us provide rent and supportive services for a family of four for two months.

We thank all those who support us this holiday season. Please help us create a Stronger Tomorrow for our neighbors by giving what you can today.

Mark your calendars now and get ready for Northwest Compass’ Harvest Night—our annual evening of giving thanks— honoring the dedicated volunteers and generous donors that support us throughout the year.
– Meet NWC Leadership Team and Board Members
– Cocktails & Lite Bites Provided
– Door Prizes & Free Raffle
– Live Entertainment
– Presentation of Mission in Action and Spirit of Giving awards.
– Please Note: this event is Invitation Only.

WHEN
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
from 5-7:00pm

WHERE
Metropolis Performing Arts Center
111 W Campbell St
Arlington Heights, Illinois

 

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
We hope you will help us make this evening possible. To discuss opportunities, please contact Dr. Cheryl Novas, PhD, Managing Director, Partnership & Development for more information:
+1 847 637 0969 or cnovas@northwestcompass.org

Download the Harvest Night Display Advertising Form today.

 

The Coordinated Entry Walk-in Center is open daily to provide in-person comprehensive intake and referrals for clients experiencing homelessness or housing crisis and to effectively match clients to available housing and supportive services resources based on need and preferences.

We are pleased to serve as lead agency for Coordinated Entry across Chicago’s Northwest suburbs. Our new Coordinated Entry Walk-in Center is nearing completion, and we’re celebrating our Grand Opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Summer solstice—the first day of Summer and longest day of the year—was a clear, crisp day in Mount Prospect. Many organizations serving the homeless have selected the Summer solstice to commemorate those who have overcome homelessness, and this seemed a fitting day to commemorate the Grand Opening of Northwest Compass’s Coordinated Entry Walk-in Center. NWC was joined by Mount Prospect mayor, Arlene Juracek, District Director for Illinois’ 56th District Mussman, Christi Wessel and representatives from Mount Prospect, Des Plaines, Journeys, Elk Grove Village Township, St. Mary’s Services, Center of Concern and Harper College to mark the occasion. As a lead agency in the North for Coordinated Entry, NWC looks forward to working closely with agency partners to help end homelessness in our community. See pictures from the event:

RSVP
Space is limited, so if you would like to learn more about Coordinated Entry or see the physical improvements to our space, kindly contact Sonia Ivanov.

WHEN
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
10am to Noon

WHERE
Northwest Compass
1300 W. Northwest Highway
Mount Prospect, Illinois

As Memorial draws closer, we invite you to stop and consider the true meaning of this holiday. Yes, days are getting longer, temps are heating up, and like you, we at Northwest Compass can almost taste summer. But as we’re planting in the garden, firing up the old grill and gearing up for the first long weekend of the year, it’s important to remember that Memorial Day is a day to honor and celebrate American service men and women who have given their lives in service to our country.

We ask that you also please remember the heroes behind the scenes—the estimated 5.5 million military and veteran caregivers across the country. At Northwest Compass, we are honored to support our nation’s heroes.

But we cannot continue this important work without the support of a caring community. Please consider supporting the mission with a donation in honor of a friend or family member who has given their life in service.

Please Support Our Memorial Day Appeal

Young Adults Helping Young Adults
We are pleased to present the first annual Young Talent Festival. Net proceeds from this event will be used to support of our HYPE (Helping Youth on the Path to Empowerment) program!

Admittance is FREE, and all teens and young adults are welcome, so be sure to let your friends know! There are plenty of activities lined up, including:

• Young Performers – Magicians, Dancers, Musicians and more
• Teen Vendors – FLYR Apparel, Inner Diamond, Pura Vida Culture, Skyline Studios and more
• Raffles, DJ, Food and more

WHEN
Saturday, May 20, 2017
11am to 2pm

WHERE
Northwest Compass
1300 W. Northwest Highway
Mount Prospect, Illinois

EVENT UPDATE: Thank you Neighbors! This year the donations of non-perishable food to Northwest Compass Food Connection equaled 27,000 pounds—more than 3x last year’s collection! We are grateful to the NALC for coordinating this effort each year, and thankful to the post office staff, Mount Prospect residents and our own volunteers for the overwhelming support to this year’s drive.

Working alongside letter carriers and post office staff, 45 Northwest Compass volunteers provided 99 hours of service to retrieve and begin sorting food from 385 postal bins. Check out photos from the day of (courtesy of Justin S. Goh):

Last year we gratefully accepted more than 6,000 pounds of food, thanks to Stamp Out Hunger Letter Carriers Food Drive. We’re hoping for your support again this year. Help us send a message on Saturday, May 13, 2017 that we won’t let our neighbors go hungry.

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…

1. Collect and bag non-perishable food items. Please do not include food items that are expired/nearing expiration or packaged in glass jars. Most needed foods:
– Canned Meat and Fish
– Macaroni & Cheese
– Peanut Butter & Jelly

2. Place your bag near the mailbox and mail carriers will collect on Saturday, May 13, 2017.

3. USPS postal workers will insure delivery of collected bags to Northwest Compass Food Connection.

All donations go directly toward supporting our neighbors in need and helping to create a hunger-free community. Not able to collect food, but still want to help? Please consider making a donation in support of Northwest Compass Food Connection today.

SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE

We understand that veterans and active military personnel and their families live to serve others and rarely reach out for help. At Northwest Compass we’re committed to helping our nation’s heroes through our caring professionals and dedicated volunteers. That’s why we’re honored to join forces with the Evanston Vet Center to present Veteran Resource Fair ’17.

WHO
All area Veterans, Active Military and their Immediate Family

WHAT
Connect with agencies providing military-specific resources and information,
including but not limited to:
– Northwest Compass Intake (NWC Veteran & Military Services)
– Veteran Service Officers (VSO) Application Updates
– Food Pantry (NWC Food Connection)
– Medical Exam Station (Vet Center)

WHEN
Saturday, 18 March 2017
1000 to 1300

WHERE
Northwest Compass
1300 W. Northwest Highway
Mount Prospect, IL

At this time of year, many of us are preparing to open our homes for celebrations with family, friends and colleagues. But at Northwest Compass, we’re gearing up to count those with no place to call home.

Planning has been underway for months, and on January 25, 2017, dedicated staff, interns and volunteers from NWC will seek out those in our community without a home. Between 8pm and 2am, we will conduct a tally and survey of every homeless person, including a canvass of the streets and public spaces for those unsheltered.

We do this to track our progress and to better understand factors surrounding homelessness in our community. But, most importantly, we count our undomiciled neighbors in an effort to generate the support and services they need and deserve. Please help us insure their voices are heard.

Without the support of a caring community, we would not be able to continue helping our neighbors turn crisis into opportunity. Learn more about how we help the homeless, hungry and heroes in our community.