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Together We Cope’s main building at 17010 So. Oak Park Avenue in Tinley Park remains closed while repairs continue after a November fire there shut down our client services office, food pantry and Nu2u resale shop. Nevertheless, we have been able to continue assisting families in need in a variety of ways because of the generosity of our donors.

“Our greatest need at this point is money,” said Executive Director Kathryn Straniero. “Our friends and neighbors have been amazingly generous to us during this time with large and small monetary donations, as well as grocery store gift cards for our clients. They also provided toys and pajamas to hundreds of area children in our annual Santa’s Workshop Christmas program.” However, funding continues to be a problem for the agency as we move forward. We have at least $100,000 in losses not covered by insurance, such as older office furnishings and some older office equipment. Additionally, we’ve lost the daily income from our resale shop, money that is vital to our client programs. Insurance coverage for that loss is limited. We are without our van due to an accident that occurred before the fire, and are down to one working truck due to other mechanical problems.

Despite those issues, Together We Cope is functioning. Most staff members have been relocated to our administrative building at another location, where they see clients in immediate need and refer most to other local food pantries for groceries. We are unable to accept food, clothing or furniture donations at our main building while repairs are being made, but can accept some personal care items for families in immediate need. Diapers and baby food are especially welcome at this time. Donors can call 708-633-5040 to arrange for delivery of such items to our administration building.

“We also ask our donors to keep their like-new or gently-used clothing and housewares for an eventual resale shop opening,” Straniero said, “because that will be a big boost to us when it’s time to open our shop again.”