Individuals in need often take refuge in their local library – which is why the Forest Park Library staff is sending thanks to those who hosted and gathered for the August Soup and Bread West Fundraiser that benefited the library’s community outreach efforts.
Vicki Rakowski, director of the Forest Park Library, spoke excitedly about the $900 the library received from the fundraiser; the money will support the Forest Park Cares Fund.
“The wonderful folks at Soup and Bread offered the library the opportunity to be the latest recipient of the Aug. 20 Soup and Bread event, and we were extremely happy to take them up on it,” Rakowski told the Austin Weekly News.
Because Library tax funds cannot be used for non-library purposes, library staff about a year ago created the Forest Park Cares Fund. This fund consists solely of donated or grant money to help stock the library’s Comfort Cabinet, Little Free Pantry and other initiatives that support those experiencing everything from homelessness and housing insecurity and poverty.
Separately, the Forest Park Library received $21,293 in Public Library Per Capita state funding, awarded annually to support local public library services.) Other area libraries also received some funds.) Those funds, however, can only be used for operational purposes and not for any kind of outreach.
The Cabinet consists of things like socks, toiletries and other things that people may need to help make themselves more comfortable.
“As a result of the fund, we’ve been able to expand what we can give to people such as the CTA passes that someone may need to get to a shelter that we connected them with across town.” Rakowski said. “We’ve partnered with Sunrise Laundry in Maywood to offer laundry kits.”
The event was held at Robert’s Westside, a Forest Park venue for live music and community events.
Soup and Bread West could not be reached for comment.
“We’ve seen an increasing need for support and wanted to do whatever we could to provide a feeling of care and support to patrons going through a hard time,” Rakowski said. “We are so grateful for all the community support we have received in order to keep this service thriving. We are very thankful for the enthusiastic support from the great folks at Soup and Bread, and are so proud to work for such an incredible community,”
A community meal and hunger-relief fundraiser, the original Soup and Bread is based at the Hideout, a bar and music club in Chicago. A sister Soup & Bread in the Western suburb of Forest Park, was started in 2013 by regulars at the Hideout event who wanted to do outreach closer to home.
“Community organizations are a little bit more strained,” Rakowski said. “This is a way to offer some things we really couldn’t offer without a little bit more steady income for it.”
She added: “I think our community organizations in all communities have seen a strain on resources and an increase of people in need and suffering. It’s very hard for a person who works with the public to not be able to help people in need.”
State funds
Libraries throughout the 4th Senate District, serving over 111,000 people, are receiving a combined $325,551 in grants as part of funding announced earlier this summer, according to information provided by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.
“Libraries throughout the state must have the resources and financial support they need to provide high-quality materials and programming to Illinois residents,” Giannoulias said. “Libraries serve as centers for lifelong learning and are critical to providing opportunities for children and adults to enrich their lives.”
Grants awarded throughout Illinois, included annual per capita and equalization aid funding, public library construction grants and one-time newly created technology grants to help libraries most in need to upgrade their technology infrastructure:
- Bellwood — $77,901
- Berkeley — $7,926
- Broadview – $11,877
- Forest Park — $21,293
- Hillside — $12,355
- La Grange — $24,236
- La Grange Park – $20,059
- Maywood — $112,498
- Oak Brook — $12,122
- Westchester — $25,084
If you are interested in learning more about the Forest Park Cares Fund or would like to donate, go to fppl.org/forestparkcares.