Baby Items for PADS Emergency Shelter (St. Mary of Vernon)

Your baby donations support young homeless mothers seeking support for their newborns and young toddlers. We typically supply them for up to 6 months. Here are two personal stories from the shelter describing how Stevenson’s donations have helped…

One mother and father brought their newborn two-day old baby directly to the homeless shelter from the hospital. The only supplies they had for the little girl were a couple of diapers and one bottle of formula the hospital provided them when the mother and baby were discharged. The PADS shelter was able to supplement with Stevenson supplies and get this couple proper nutrition and an array of supplies to give this newborn a solid start to life.

Two children (each younger than two years old) accompanied their single mother and arrived at the shelter during a cold winter day with their only clothing being torn, dirty pairs of pajamas and a sweatshirt. They lacked any replacements diapers for those that had been soiled for way too long. A small quantity of snack foods and other non-nutritional items had been provided to the boys rather than the proper quantities of formula and baby food necessary for proper growth and development. The shelter was able to provide these necessary (and typically expensive) items to the mother at no cost.

Non-Perishable Food for Vernon Township Pantry

Your food donations typically support the Vernon Township Pantry for up to 6 months. Here are two personal stories from the pantry describing how Stevenson’s donations have helped local families receive nutritious food in a time of need…

One family that visited the pantry included a single mother with 5 children who lost her job because her car broke down. Something as simple as transportation, that we take for granted, changed her life. The only means of transportation was bicycles, until the pantry could help them with an Emergency Assistance Grant. With no income and no child support, the Food Pantry was the only source of food for this family of six. They were so grateful for food on their table and lunches for the kids.

The pantry also serves many senior citizens who barely make rent payment, because their only form of income is social security. Many of these seniors have a total monthly income of about $700. With that amount, they need to pay rent, utilities, a car payment, gas, and prescription medicine fees. When the pantry provides these seniors with food and hygiene items, the $700 can stretch much further and improve quality of life.

Holiday Gift Program (REGISTRATION CLOSED)

In past years, Stevenson High School's efforts have supplied holiday gifts for 300+ families annually (more than 1500 individuals). 15,000 people in Lake County typically sign up for the gift program through Catholic Charities and Stevenson High School has historically sponsored 10% of the total Lake County gift requests! Please take a moment to view the video below (filmed on site at the end of a past Give-A-Thon) from one of our former students who was personally served by the gift program and later became one of our Give-A-Thon Leaders!