One by One
PADS of Elgin, Recipient

PADS of Elgin

Elgin, Illinois

Custom branded polo shirts help nonprofit staff stand out

Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) of Elgin is a nonprofit providing shelter, support, services and advocacy to people experiencing homelessness in the Illinois townships of Elgin, Hanover, Dundee and Rutland. Launched in 1989 in a church basement, PADS of Elgin has grown to provide more than 12,000 nights of shelter a year to over 100 guests, including children. The organization also served 40,000 meals and helped 39 guests find sustainable housing last year.

PADS of Elgin operates as a congregate shelter, meaning guests stay together in a shared space, not individual rooms. People who come through the doors are assigned a case worker who helps connect them with the resources they need.

“We house 30 people at a time,” said Catie Early, development and grants coordinator. “It’s not a nightly program. It’s more of a weekly or monthly program. People come to us when they get evicted, have lost a job or have been couch surfing for a while and don’t really have anywhere else to go.”

Around-the-clock welcome

While many shelters operate around a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. or similar structure, PADS of Elgin launched a 24/7 operation in 2021. That means people working third shift have a place to go to get some sleep, do their laundry, shower and prepare for the next workday.

Along with its core shelter program, PADS of Elgin has an outreach center in its lobby. This is a place where anyone can come for a variety of resources, including food, water, clean clothes or a pair of work boots they need to start a new job. “The outreach program is open to anybody, whether it’s a student from the nearby community college or somebody in need of a bottle of water and a meal,” Early said.

Branded polo shirts give a uniform look

A one by one grant provided custom branded polo shirts for PADS of Elgin staff members to wear while working at the shelter or during community outreach. They also received promotional pens, which help boost brand awareness. The shirts are blue to match the organization’s branding and feature a white embroidered logo that stands out. They help employees feel more like a team and bring a polished, professional look to events like rotary club breakfasts and community gatherings.

“It’s really helpful to have a shirt on that helps people connect with our organization immediately,” Early said. “When people see my face and my name tag and the logo on my shirt, they connect the dots right away. They know who I am and what I represent. I think it helps the interaction stick in people’s minds.”

A note from Cheryl

For decades, PADS of Elgin has connected community members in need with shelter, food and other critical resources. We were grateful to be able to provide custom branded polo shirts to help give the team a bold, unified and professional look. If you’re interested in a one by one grant, visit onebyone.4imprint.com.

For more information about PADS of Elgin, please visit https://padsofelgin.org

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