Hunger Walk Raises Funds For Local Hunger-Relief Programs

CCIL participated in the 24th Annual Greater Chicago Food Depository Hunger Walk on Saturday, June 20, 2009. The 2.5 mile walk along Lake Michigan raised support for CCIL’s residential foodservice program and CCIL's Community Food Pantry. CCIL residents, staff, volunteers and Community Food Pantry clients all joined together to take a stand against hunger in Chicago.

The Hunger Walk benefits the 600 foodservice sites that make up the GCFD network. CCIL’s residential foodservice program provides three meals a day for more than 300 CCIL residents while the Community Food Pantry provides for over 150 North Lawndale households weekly.

Contact Chris Wiens at 773-435-8385 or cwiens@ccilworks.org for more information about CCIL's Community Food Pantry.

Just Like Me and You

Children in grades 3rd – 5th at Chalmers Elementary School, located across the street from CCIL, focused their service learning project on homelessness this spring. Upon visiting CCIL, the students learned first-hand about the issue. Compelled and motivated by their CCIL experience, the students thought about various ways they could help. In partnership with America SCORES Chicago, the girls’ team presented the poem below.

Just Like Me and You
America SCORES Chicago
Chalmers 3rd - 5th Grade Girls Team

Help the homeless,
Yeah, that’s what we said.
You can’t treat them like garbage
just because they don’t have a roof over their head.

CCIL (repeat x4)

Homelessness can happen to anyone,
it could happen to you.
We’re the Chalmers Cavaliers
here to tell you what you can do.

Donate money.
Volunteer your time.
Read books to kids.
Write a poem.
Draw pictures for the families.
Cook a meal.
Shake their hand.
Smile and laugh.

Don’t be afraid to reach out your hand.
We need to understand
the lesson that we planned.

CCIL (repeat x4)

They might need a friend.
The CCIL knows what to do.
Think about how we can help.
Homeless people have talents too.

At first we felt sad
because we didn’t know what to do.
Now we understand that they are families,
just like me and you.

Happiness comes from who we are
not from what we have.
So do something to make a difference,
and you will feel glad.

About America SCORES…
America SCORES Chicago strives to empower students in urban communities using soccer, writing, creative expression, and service-learning. With teamwork as the unifiying value, America SCORES Chicago inspires youth to lead healthy lifestyles, be engaged students, and become agents of change in their communities.

Save the Date - 24th Annual Hunger Walk

Staff and volunteers of the Chicago Christian Industrial League (CCIL) and more than 5,000 others will join the march against hunger on Saturday, June 20, 2009 at Montrose Harbor. The 24th Annual Hunger Walk directly benefits participating food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters that are member agencies of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, including CCIL. Food Depository pantries have seen an increase in demand of 33 percent in the past year, including many people who have never turned to a pantry before.

CCIL is seeking walkers and donors for this year’s Hunger Walk. To pledge your support, call Bob Joens at 773-435-8331 or Chris Wiens at 773-435-8385. Registration on the day of the event begins at 8 a.m., and step off is at 9:30 a.m. Free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Look for the CCIL sign and join us on Saturday, June 20, 2009!

5th Annual RU Caring Spring Into Health & Fitness Fair a Success

A special thank you to everyone who helped make the 5th Annual Spring Into Health & Fitness Fair hosted by Rush University Medical Center a huge success on Saturday, May 16, 2009! The citywide health and job fair was held at CCIL's main campus on Roosevelt Road and was the hub for a variety of activities.

Rush University's student-run organization RU Caring worked under the supervision of Rush attending physicians, nurse practitioners, professional nursing staff and faculty in helping provide better access to healthcare for underserved communities from across the city of Chicago.

"RU Caring and the health fair are key components of the community benefits Rush offers annually to people in need from the west side and greater Chicago area," said Sharon Gates, MA, director of Rush University Community Services. "With RU Caring, not only are our nursing and medical students getting hands-on leadership experience in the community, but they are witnessing first hand the impact that they can make as health professionals."

More than 315 people received triage treatment, 100 immunizations were administered, at least 160 people completed a history/physical examination, nearly all participants received at least one referral, more than 175 people visited the job fair and most everyone received valuable information from one or more vendors present at the event. Free snacks and entertainment were enjoyed by all!

Citywide Health & Job Fair at CCIL

Rush University Medical Center will be hosting its annual "Spring Into Health and Fitness Fair" at CCIL this Saturday, May 16, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. CCIL is located at 2750 W. Roosevelt Road in Chicago. Some of the FREE services include: health screenings, school physicals, immunizations, dental, vision and health counseling. The event will also include a job fair for those interested in positions at Rush University Medical Center. Free snacks and beverages will be available while supplies last.

Rush University's student-run organization RU Caring, Rush University Medical Center, CCIL, Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation and the Chicago Department of Public Health are sponsoring this event to provide better access to healthcare for underserved communities across the city of Chicago. An estimated one million people in the Chicago metropolitan area are living without health insurance. The "Spring Into Health and Fitness Fair" will provide much needed care to this growing demographic.

Contact Sharon Gates at 312-942-3670 for more information.

About RU Caring...

RU Caring is a student-run, volunteer organization that provides healthcare to underserved communities through health fairs and educational programs. It is the only student organization at Rush University to utilize the interdisciplinary team model.

About Rush University Medical Center...

Rush University Medical Center is an academic medical center that encompasses the more than 600 staffed-bed hospital (including Rush Children's Hospital), the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center and Rush University. Rush University, with more than 1,270 students, is home to one of the first medical schools in the Midwest, and one of the nation's top-ranked nursing colleges. Rush University also offers graduate programs in allied health and the basic sciences. Rush is noted for bringing together clinical care and research to address major health problems, including arthritis and orthopedic disorders, cancer, heart disease, mental illness, neurological disorders and diseases associated with aging.

CCIL Celebrates Earth Day & Arbor Day

On Saturday, April 25, 2009, Mayor Daley joined CCIL’s Landscape Services team, Gateway Green and 140 volunteers from Bank of America in planting more than 100 trees in celebration of Earth Day (April 22, 2009) and Arbor Day (April 24, 2009). A majority of trees were planted in a vacant lot donated by the City located along the I55 expressway near the Chinatown. Gateway Green, in conjunction with the City of Chicago and state of Illinois, works to beautify the expressways.

About CCIL’s Landscape Services…
CCIL’s Landscape Services is an award-winning social enterprise that’s been replicated throughout the country. CCIL, the City of Chicago and ARAMARK created a Landscape Services program more than 16 years ago. Through this on-the-job training program, participants are placed in a paid work environment and are trained to do landscaping and grounds maintenance. For two consecutive seasons of eight months each, trainees are provided with technical skills and experience in grounds care, equipment use and safety standards. CCIL Landscape Services have become an integral part of the beautification of the city, providing maintenance services to a large portion of downtown-area medians, sidewalk planters, malls and plazas, and numerous green spaces throughout Chicago. This program assists more than 1,000 formerly homeless men and women to gain skills and employment in landscaping and related industries.

Contact Eric Hage at 773-435-8393 for a FREE estimate on your landscaping needs.

Save the Date - Citywide Health Fair at CCIL

Rush University Medical Center will host their annual "Spring Into Health and Fitness Fair" at CCIL on Saturday, May 16, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Services will include FREE health screenings, school physicals, immunizations, dental, vision and mental health counseling. There will also be a job fair component to the event this year. Free snacks and beverages while supplies last.

Rush University's student-run organization RU Caring, Rush University Medical Center, CCIL, Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation and the Chicago Department of Public Health are sponsoring the event to provide better access to healthcare for underserved communities in Chicago.

Contact Sharon Gates at 312-942-3670 for event information.