Village Treasure House announces new grants to nonprofit agencies

Village Treasure House (VTH) announced its spring 2024 six-month grant funding of $114,000 with total funding exceeding $4 million since 1998, when the charitable organization began distributing grants to local nonprofit agencies.

A second year-end grant distribution is planned for December 2024.

A unique, charitable consignment warehouse featuring upscale and vintage furniture and home décor, VTH is at 1460 Paddock Drive, Northbrook, and has an online store at villagetreasurehouse.org.

100% of its profits are donated to local agencies serving people in need in our communities.

Reflecting on the success of VTH through the years, Kathryn Hall, chairperson, VTH Philanthropy Committee, said: “I would like people to know what special volunteers we have. What makes new volunteers stay, besides our mission, is discovering what great people they will be working with.

“We have volunteers who put in multiple hours each week for the same reason.

“Besides the good feeling that we all have from helping numerous organizations, we are a fun group!”

In addition to the dedicated volunteers, Hall emphasized the “support of consignors of their furnishings and decorative items as well as customers are absolutely critical in helping us achieve our mission in supporting nonprofit organizations.”

Meet the spring 2024 service agency grant recipients

The recent round of grant funding selected by the VTH philanthropy committee was distributed to 15 agencies and included five special grants voted on by the VTH volunteers.

VTH grant recipients include these nonprofit agencies:

• Connections for the Homeless

• Erika’s Lighthouse

• Family Promise North Shore

• Family Service Center

• Haven Youth and Family Services

• Hunger Resource Network

• Metropolitan Family Services

• Northfield Township Food Pantry

• Shelter, Inc.

• The Children’s Advocacy Center

• The Harbour

• Wesley Child Care Center

• Wings Program, Inc.

• Youth Services: Bringing Kids Hope

• YWCA Evanston/North Shore

Representatives of two grant recipient organizations commented on the importance of VTH funding to maintaining and growing their community service offerings.

WINGS Program, Inc.: Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence

The largest provider of domestic violence services in Illinois, WINGS Program Inc., has served the Northwest suburbs of Chicago for 39 years. The agency’s mission is to provide housing, integrated services, education, and advocacy to end domestic violence.

WINGS offers critical resources across Metropolitan Chicago, including two Safe Houses, Transitional Housing programs, comprehensive children’s programming, and Community-Based Services like hospital partnerships, mentoring, and counseling through the agency’s new Foglia Family Resources.

According to Rebecca Darr, WINGS president and CEO, “For decades, WINGS has received grants from Village Treasure House to support our Children and Family Services program.

As a result, thousands of children and their guardians have been provided with safety, therapeutic counseling, and resources to thrive. Through these interventions, children ultimately break the cycle of violence.

“Our long-standing partnership with Village Treasure House has resulted in youth being able to identify actions they can take to feel safe and recognize that the violence that occurred in their family was not their fault.

“These are critical benchmarks in their healing journey.” Darr emphasized.

Visit: wingsprogram.com. Experiencing domestic violence? Call the Illinois Statewide 24-hour hotline: (847) 221-5680. Learn more about WINGS counseling services, call: (847) 519-7828.

Family Promise Chicago North Shore: Helping Homeless Families Regain Stability

Open 24/7/365 days, Family Promise provides homeless families with young children with emergency shelter and meals/services. The team keeps families together, even men and boys who would normally be sent to a separate men’s shelter.

Since 2010, Family Promise has helped families stay stable and housed, find affordable housing, secure employment, learn budgeting skills, and understand community resources to address their challenges.

Unlike other shelter organizations, it offers more comprehensive and tailored services to match the needs of each family.

“Many of the families we serve find themselves in this situation because of poor financial decisions. Families that reach out to us are working low wage, full-time jobs where their rent is close to their monthly income,” said Tracy McKeithen, executive director, FPCNS.

“Families are forced to choose between various expenses and sometimes, rent is last. These families are the working poor and a paycheck away from homelessness,” she added.

The funding from Village Treasure House, McKeithen points out, “has helped us to serve over two hundred families each year through out various programs including our Rotational Shelter, Homelessness Prevention, Shelter Diversion and Community Professional & Personal Development Workshops.”

Visit: familypromisechicagons.org or call 847-475-4500.

Five special grant recipients announced

“Besides their general grant proposals, we ask our organizations to tell us what they would do with an unexpected grant. Volunteers are then asked to vote for the proposals that “pull at their heartstrings,” Hall explained.

The Spring grant distribution included five special grants voted on by VTH volunteers and was awarded to:

• Connections for the Homeless for its Medical Respite Program, giving those experiencing homelessness a place to heal following serious illness or injury.

• Hunger Resource Network to provide nutritious meals and snacks on weekends and holidays to students receiving free or reduced lunches at school.

• Children’s Advocacy Center to furnish its “calm down room,” where clients can regain their composure following their forensic interviews about their sexual assault.

• Northfield Township Food Pantry to purchase feminine hygiene products.

• YWCA Domestic Violence Services to provide assistance to clients needing help with rent, utilities, food, child care and transportation to stay free from abuse.

About Village Treasure House: Our Doors and Online Store Are Open to You

Village Treasure House (VTH) is a nonprofit 501 C (3) consignment home store featuring upscale and vintage furniture and home décor.

100% of its profits are donated to local agencies serving people in need in our community.

VTH is staffed by over 100 dedicated volunteers residing throughout the North and Northwest suburbs. Village Treasure House is a member of the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce and Glenview Chamber of Commerce.

It is the recent recipient of the “Glenview Environmental Sustainability Award.”

Browse the inventory and shop online 24/7: villagetreasurehouse.org.

Showroom Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Located at: 1460 Paddock Drive, Northbrook. Phone: (847) 832-1030. Village Treasure House — Our Mission — YouTube

For additional information, visit: villagetreasurehouse.org.