Letter from Executive Director Dave Anderson
As the recession wears on, Safe Families is receiving more and more calls for help. In fact, we are projecting that our number of placements will double to about 600 this year compared to 2008. Why? The main reason seems to be the economy, which has been bringing a different type of family to our ministry—those facing financial distress, foreclosure or bankruptcy.

A recent front page story in the Sunday edition of the Chicago Tribune illustrated this point. The story was about Safe Families and focused on several clients, including Jenny Lass, 20. Things had gotten so bad for Jenny that she called a local adoption agency to see about giving up her infant son, Zachary. The agency referred her to us, and now Jenny’s son is staying with Safe Families volunteer Amanda Pinc. “I was unable to get a job because I don’t have money for day care,” Jenny says. “I don’t have money for gas.” Now Jenny, who’s living with her mom, has a chance to find a good job, save some money and create a better life for herself and Zachary. All because Safe Families was there for her in a time of crisis.

We are always looking for new Safe Families volunteers. Learn more by contacting Heyward Watford by  or call (773) 653-2255.

Help us Meet the Match!
Safe Families has received a generous $15,000 matching grant from a local foundation! Our deadline to raise matching funds is May 1, and we’re two-thirds of the way there. Can you give toward the last $5,000? Give online or by mail: 4300 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60641, attn: Sylvia Ortiz.

Give Creatively! (and Without Sending Money)
You can give to LYDIA from the comfort of your own home—without even writing a check!

• Donate gently used items that you no longer want and LYDIA will list them on eBay and keep the proceeds. It’s part of our new “Goods4Good” initiative. Items should be in good condition and can include name brand, designer and vintage clothing, shoes and designer handbags; jewelry; silver; and electronics. Unsold items will be given to families and children in need. For more information or to arrange pick up, please contact Sean Durbin at (773) 794-3300 or by . You can drop off items at 4839 W. Irving Park Road (a LYDIA facility). 
• Designate LYDIA as your charity while selling items on eBay, and LYDIA will receive a percentage from your sales through an eBay program called Giving Works. Click on Giving Works from the eBay home page to learn more.
• Register with the search engine GoodSearch.com (and designate LYDIA as your charity). Every time you use GoodSearch, LYDIA will receive a credit of about a penny. If 100 people average just two searches a day for a year, LYDIA will receive about $730.
• Use GoodShop.com to shop online, and LYDIA will receive a percentage of the money you spend (percentages vary). Over a thousand online retailers participate, including Target, iTunes, Travelocity, Amazon and Old Navy. If 100 people purchase $500 in merchandise with an average of 3% donated to LYDIA, the estimated revenue would be $1,500.

Visit LYDIA on Facebook!
LYDIA has a new "fan page" on Facebook, designed to help people connect with the ministry and each other in new ways. As we continue to develop the page, it will keep visitors informed about upcoming events and initiatives, provide links to media stories about LYDIA and tell them more about how LYDIA is changing lives. Find us by searching "LYDIA Home Association," and click on "Become a Fan."

projectMUSIC Hits a Real High Note
projectMUSIC was a big success! The event’s 114 guests enjoyed an inspiring concert by recording artist Angel Taylor and a performance by the Divine Inspiration Dancers (whose members live at LYDIA’s Residential Treatment Center). The event raised $27,000 to cover the cost of camp for kids who live at our Residential Treatment Center.

Many thanks to event organizers Dan and Kim Michelson for pulling everything together so beautifully...to Catered by Design for donating all of the food and catering services...to Catalyst Ranch for donating the event space on a Saturday night...to Aware/Columbia Records for Angel’s transportation and entertainment costs...and to all our volunteers and silent auction donors.

Join Us for Our May Open House
Join us for an informational Open House on Thursday, May 21, which will feature a tour, Q&A time, short testimony from an LUA student and a brief presentation by Dave Anderson. To make your reservation, please contact Erica Postma, Associate Director of Development, by  or (773) 653-2249.

How Does Our Garden Grow?
“The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.”
Dorothy Frances Gurney

Kids who live in our Residential Treatment Center are preparing for spring with an eye toward their gardens, which have become a source of inspiration, recreation, salad fixins, flowers and more! We want to extend a special thanks to Nature’s Perspective Landscaping for providing consultation services at no charge this winter. They developed exciting plans for LYDIA’s grounds and for our vegetable and flower gardens (immediate improvements call for the addition of raspberry bushes and a pumpkin patch).

Volunteers are needed to assist with soil preparation and planting in May. To help, please contact Mel Gonzales by  or (773) 653-2233.