Give. Get involved. Spread the love!
Pioneer Center for Human Services
Mission: To work with children and adults to explore opportunities for personal accomplishment through education, and vocational and community participation. Contact: 815-344-1230, www.pioneercenter.org.
For more about Pioneer, see sidebar at the very bottom.
Service League of Crystal Lake
Mission: To help residents within Crystal Lake who are in need of immediate aid.
Contact: 815-261-4590,www.slcrystallake.org.
Helping Our Heroes
Mission: To raise money to help active duty Illinois military personnel, veterans, firefighters and police officers with residential-related expenses due to their financial distress.
Contact: 847-302-1395, www.helpingourheroes.org.
Hooved Animal Humane Society
Mission: To promote the humane treatment of hooved animals through education, legislation, investigation and, if necessary, legal intervention (impoundment).
Contact: 815-337-5563, www.hahs.org.
Options & Advocacy for McHenry County
Mission: To enhance and protect the lives of children and adults with disabilities.
Contact: 815-477-4720,
www.optionsandadvocacy.org.
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County
Mission: To preserve scenic, natural and agricultural resources in McHenry County by working with private landowners, communities and developers.
Contact: 815-337-9502, www.conservemc.org.
Home of the Sparrow
Mission: To offer a transitional shelter program providing housing and supportive services for homeless women and their children in McHenry County.
Contact: 815-271-5444, www.h-o-s.org.
It’s All About Kids
Mission: To help children with cancer and their families.
Contact: 815-482-1985, www.itsallaboutkids.info.
Environmental Defenders of McHenry County
Mission: To preserve and improve the environment and to build sound ecological relationships between people and the natural world that supports all life.
Contact: 815-338-0393, www.mcdef.org.
Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois
Mission: To enhance life by providing dignified, compassionate care and guidance to those coping with loss and the end of life.
Contact: 847-381-5599, www.hospiceanswers.org.
Faith in Action of McHenry County
Mission: To assist seniors (and their families) in maintaining their independence, dignity and quality of life.
Contact: 815-455-3120, www.fiamchenrycounty.org.
Animal Outreach Humane Society
Mission: To help McHenry County become a community where no adoptable or treatable animal or healthy feral cat is euthanized.
Contact: 815-385-0005,
www.animaloutreachsociety.org.
Helping Paws
Mission: To improve the quality of life for the homeless, needy animals of the community through a number of services.
Contact: 815-338-4400, www.helpingpaws.net.
R.E.A.C.H. a Child
Mission: To put smiles on the faces of children through the power of books.
Contact: 815-236-9357, www.withwingsandahalo.org/illinois.html.
Adult and Child Rehabilitation Center
Mission: To provide the highest level of service to the physically challenged and disabled of every age, bringing hope and creating confidence to realize individual maximum levels of independence.
Contact: 815-338-1707, www.adultchildrehabcenter.org.
Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association (NISRA)
Mission: To enrich the lives of people through meaningful recreation experiences.
Contact: 815-459-0737, www.nisra.org.
Family Health Partnership
Mission: To provide quality health care to the uninsured and underinsured residents of McHenry County.
Contact: 815-334-8987, www.hpclinic.org.
Family Alliance
Mission: To enable seniors to remain at home by providing best-of-practice day programming, advocacy and counseling, while supplying respite, education, training and support to their caregivers.
Contact: 815-338-3590, www.familyallianceinc.org.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of
McHenry County
Mission: To help children find safe, permanent homes where they can thrive.
Contact: 815-363-5920, www.casamchenrycounty.org.
Turning Point
Mission: To confront violence against women and children in McHenry County.
Contact: 815-338-8081, www.mchenrycountyturningpoint.org.
Habitat for Humanity of McHenry County
Mission: To build simple, decent and affordable houses for low-income families in McHenry County.
Contact: 815-759-9002, www.habitatmchenry.org.
Girls on the Run McHenry of Northwest Illinois
Mission: To help girls climb out of the “girl box” using a 24-lesson curriculum designed to promote good choices for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.
Contact: 815-893-0259, www.mchenrycountygotr.org.
Northern Illinois Center for Autism
Mission: To integrate community and loved ones through education, awareness and medical interventions.
Contact: 847-658-5607, www.nicautism.org.
Loaves & Fishes
Mission: To provide food to those in need via a mobile food pantry.
What is needed: Cash and volunteers.
Contact: 815-575-4745.
Main Stay Therapeutic Riding Program
Mission: To provide equine-related therapy to people with physical, emotional, developmental and social challenges.
Contact: 815-653-9374, www.mstrp.org.
Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting Services
Mission: To provide women and men with up-to-date information in order to make informed choices about pregnancy, sexual health and relationships.
Contact: 815-455-0965, www.informedchoices.org.
Gigi's Playhouse McHenry
Mission: GiGi's Playhouses are Down syndrome awareness and educational centers that provide resources, specialized teaching, and support to individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community.
Contact: 815-385-7529, http://mcgigis.blogspot.com.
Collier House
Mission: Named after the late Army Spc. Collier E. Barcus, of McHenry, Collier House provides a safe, comfortable home, free of charge, where families can heal from the trauma and stress in their lives upon a ridge overlooking the beautiful Fork River near Mount Carmel Youth Ranch in Cody, Wyo.
Contact: 815-385-4881, www.collierhouse.org.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County
Mission: To help children realize their potential and build their futures, nurture children and strengthen communities.
Contact: 815-385-3855, www.bbbsmchenry.org.
McHenry County Music Center
Mission: To provide financial assistance to children up to the age of high school seniors, enabling them to participate in the musical education and performance opportunities by the McHenry County Music Center and Music Academy through private music lessons, youth orchestra and chamber ensembles.
Contact: 815-356-6296, www.mcmusic.org.
Jail Brakers
Mission: To raise awareness about the needs and concerns of the children and families who have been affected by incarceration. Jail Brakers will provide opportunities that will give these children and families a voice and a place to be listened to with respect and compassion.
Contact: 224-422-7431, www.jailbrakers.org.
Sidebar: Pioneer Center – Empowering the Community Through Service What began over 55 years ago as a small group of parents who wanted a better life for their children with disabilities has become Pioneer Center for Human Services — the largest social service agency in McHenry County. Today, the organization provides direct services to more than 2,500 community members and education an advocacy to an additional 10,000 plus individuals annually. Recently, the organization was awarded the Better Business Bureau’s charity seal; meeting 20 out of 20 standards. For a nonprofit to be granted this accreditation it must operate at a 65% program ratio meaning that .65 cents of every one-dollar donated goes directly towards programming. Pioneer Center not only met this standard but exceeded it by achieving a 91.7% program ratio. “We are not only committed to those we serve, but to the fiscal responsibility of this organization and our donors.” says Jeff Kurth, Vice President of Finance for Pioneer Center. Take a closer look at the vital service areas that make up Pioneer Center — and see all of the great ways this organization makes a huge, positive difference in our community: Mission: To work with children and adults to explore opportunities for personal accomplishment through education, and vocational and community participation. Contact: 815-344-1230, www.pioneercenter.org.
