CCO Christmas Letter
Tag: cornerstone
Fund Forward Campaign Letter
$2,400 will cover the cost of one person for an entire shelter stay.
$520 will cover the cost of one person for 20 days and nights of shelter and care.
$260 will cover the cost of one person for 10 days and nights of shelter and care
$130 will cover the cost of one person for 5 days and nights of shelter and care.
$26 will cover the cost of one person for 24 hours of shelter and care.
Click the button below to donate to provide shelter and transform lives!
Download the 2024 FU
Statement on CTA Murders of 4 Unhoused People
It has grieved Cornerstone Community Outreach to learn of the murders of Sean Jones, Simeon Bihesi, Adrian Collins, Margaret Miller, and one unnamed person on the CTA Blue Line. All of the victims were unhoused and sleeping on the train. Two were seniors over the age of sixty.
The crime has sent shockwaves through Chicago’s community of unhoused people and those who are committed to providing shelter and care. We want to offer our enduring sympathy to the friends and families of those who were lost.
Back-to-School Party Photo Album!
The CCO Back-to-School Party was a hit! Children at CCO enjoyed games, art projects, new books, high-energy dancing, face painting, and academic motivation! Parents and children alike were thrilled the kids got new backpacks, shoes, school supplies, and support to start the academic year off right. Each year, staff, volunteers, and donors go all out to make the B2S party memorable. Scroll down to enjoy the 2024 Back-to-School Photo Album & Sponsorship logos!
Sponsorship is an integral part of making CCO events remarkable. This year’s generous sponsors were Baird & Warner, Tiny Giants Early Learning Center, Twinkling Stars, and Lakefront Roofing Supply. Thank you to these fabulous local businesses who put their time, energy, and financial support behind kids sheltered at CCO! We couldn’t do it without you!
Thank you!
Do you want to learn how CCO cultivates every child’s potential? Click here to learn more.
Many thanks to our generous and dedicated donors!
Click on the logos below to learn more about these generous local business that support CCO’s mission, shelter guests, and events.
Click the link below to give a gift that will improve the lives of unhoused children while supporting CCO’s mission to Address Homelessness, Provide Shelter, Accept People,
and Help them find a Home.
CCO Community Spotlight
CCO is honored to be chosen for the September Community Spotlight for the University of Illinois in Chicago Office of Community Engagement and Neighborhood Health Partnerships (OCEAN-HP). OCEAN-UP “fosters partnerships to bring together the expertise, resources, and wisdom from the community with that of the university to strengthen the quality of life for all beneficiaries. The OCEAN-HP mission is to promote health equity, actively participate in revitalizing historically underserved communities, and build leadership capacity through service, education, and research.”
We are grateful for the invitation to share CCO’s mission, work, and background in the September publication. Thank you, OCEAN-HP!
Child at CCO to Medical Technician!
This story is from the CCO Archives.
When Lillian’s* family came to CCO, she was 12 years old, but she wasn’t new to the homeless experience. For years, she and her family had shuffled from one extended family member’s house to another. At each new destination, disputes erupted, and she and her family were again displaced, forced to move on to the next couch, floor space, or basement. Lillian grew up with a front-row seat to the destabilizing effects of homelessness but she found hope.
“It was always the same, every day after school. I would make up a story to tell my friends why I was walking the other way. ‘I’ve got to go to my uncle’s house.’ I didn’t want them to know I was homeless. I was ashamed of it. I never shared it with anybody, and they never knew.
Cultivating Every Child’s Potential
In 2023, 244 children called CCO home; over half were school-aged. Education has a powerful influence on the life of a child. CCO aims to equip children with confidence and support to begin and maintain an exceptional school year. The Back-to-School Party and its Sponsors ensure children receive backpacks, supplies, and other essentials to start the year right. Academic support is part of each child’s experience at CCO. Through one-on-one tutoring, specialized family support, dedicated open-air play spaces like the CCO Rooftop Playground and Garden, computer labs, and advocating for children’s academic rights, we work to ensure children at CCO have every opportunity to learn and grow.
In the 2023-24 school year, Chicago Public Schools identified 26,800 students as experiencing homelessness, a more than 50% increase from the previous year. The data reflects a shocking acceleration in homelessness among school-aged children. Research studies in the U.S., U.K., and beyond say that homelessness leads to adverse educational outcomes.
Thank You Chicago’s Best Baker!
Thank you to the Chicago’s Best Baker Contest! The competition and tastings raised funds to cover the cost of 269 shelter beds and wrap-around services! Genesis Winter, founder and organizer of the Best Baker Contest, had good things to say about a new baking category, artistic bakes, and attention to detail at this year’s fabulous fundraiser.
“Once again, I am amazed at the talent and generosity of the bakers of Chicago. We had a new entry grouping this year, the Heirloom category and I wasn’t sure how it would go. We had to set up an extra table to hold all the entries because so many people shared their family recipes with us. It was my favorite category because of the incredible mix of baked items. We had everything from cheesecakes to curry-spiced pastries filled with potatoes.”
Your 2023 Annual Report!
“Cornerstone gave me the chance I needed. It was so hard to find a decent job
when I was sleeping in my car every night.
I had no place to wash up, no rest, nothing to eat.
I couldn’t get past the first interview.
Thank you for everything!
You helped me get my life back!”
– Former CCO Guest
Your support has paved the way for many CCO success stories! The 2023 CCO Annual Report offers information about the good things that have happened at CCO in the lives of shelter guests. We thank you for ensuring shelter residents access shelter beds, enjoy nourishing meals, and get individualized professional care leading to housing.
Your donation will guarantee stabilizing opportunities and housing for those experiencing homelessness.
Wrap-Around Services Fight Poverty!
Wrap-around services are a daily extension of the care shelter guests experience at CCO. Most shelter guests arrive with no income, support, and limited resources. Once guests enter CCO, immediate needs are met, such as meals, clothing, bedding, and hygiene items.
However, CCO’s wrap-around services go far beyond the immediate needs of families and individuals. The support needed for success is different for each person. A young mother with two children will have different needs than a senior with a chronic health condition. Case managers work alongside guests to create an individualized plan to link shelter guests with practical assistance that brings income, health, and housing stability.
Cornerstone needs your financial support to continue to provide services and shelter. Click here to donate today and make a difference in the lives of families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
