Don’t forget about homeless on the Southwest Side

By Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

We have talked about the plight of the migrants that have been living at the 8th District Police Station, and I’m sure you hear more daily.

And it is a sad story indeed. But, as has also been said, we can’t forget about folks here that have fallen on hard times. I was driving down 71st Street and passed the Southwest Chicago Homeless Services building, known for many years here as PADS.

An unassuming building, it does not attract a lot of attention, yet the folks inside have helped a lot of people over the years.

I remember going back to the late 1990s and early 2000s when we would have an event at St. Rita Parish and had ordered more food than we needed. We would always call over to PADS and ask if they would like us to drop some off for their guests.

When I got home the other day after driving down 71st Street, I called over there and spoke to Eva Schultz. I asked her what they needed and she said toiletries, socks and underwear always. Eva said they are open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday at 3121 W. 7st St.

So, if you were looking for someplace to help, this might be a nice opportunity. I think I’ll drop off some toiletries this week. It won’t be a case-full or anything but every little bit helps, right?

The Young Adult Group at St. Thomas More has new leaders, Hanna O’Neil and Clarissa Sapien. They will be facilitating the meeting coming up this Saturday, June 17 in the Mission Center after the 4:30 p.m. Mass. Any young adult between the ages of 19 and 39 is welcome to attend. During this meeting, future dates and times will be secured, as well as an explanation of the purpose and goals of young adult ministry.

Teens ages 13 to 19 are invited to join in at the Teen Zone in the Chicago Lawn Library, 6120 S. Kedzie Ave., this Sunday, June 18 when Community Cinema shows the 2022 Marvel film “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” beginning at 2 p.m.

The 40th Annual Senior Amateur Championship Golf Tournament at Marquette Park will take place next Saturday, and Sunday, June 24 and 25, with 18 holes of stroke play each day. The tournament is open to seniors age 50 and over, and the $80 entry fee includes green fees, prize fund, tee gifts and a daily lunch. To register for the tournament or for more information, go to MarquettePark.cpdgolf.com.

Also next weekend, the Midwest Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel invites Catholic women interested in spiritual development to the first annual three-day Women’s Retreat from Friday evening June 23 to Sunday, June 25 at the Carmelite Spiritual Center in Darien. For more information and to reserve your spot, go to www.midwestaugustinans.org/retreat

Coming in July, Mary Mother of Mercy Parish will celebrate the fifth anniversary of the merging of Queen of the Universe and St. Adrian. The celebration will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 14 at the Chicago Park District Building, 3330 W. 71st St.

Tickets are $65 and includes the banquet, live mariachi music, dancing, singing, raffles, auctions and more. Tickets for a virtual dinner (to go) will be $45. For ticket sales or more information, call (773) 245-3399.

Some of you may remember Adrian Dominican Sister John Norton (Catherine)

Barrett, who recently passed away at the age of 96. Sister taught at St. Mary Mount Carmel and St. Kilian in the 1950s.

And for anyone that attended Visitation in the 1960s, Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Leonius Skaar also recently passed away. She was 85.

When we left 1973 last week, we had been shopping at A & P, and what trading stamps were we getting at the checkout? Anna B. was the first to fondly remember Plaid Stamps with the picture of the Scottish dancer on the stamp.

Fifty years ago this month, Miracle Drive-In Cleaners was offering a free geranium plant with each $3 order. What a deal! They had seven locations, ours, as I’m sure you remember, being at 6025 S. Kedzie.

And this week in 1973 a grand opening celebration was continuing over at 2908 W. 63rd St. They advertised the finest in Irish breakfast and dinner served every Sunday by Ray Lantry, one of Chicago’s finest cooks. They had entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings with this particular week featuring Bonnie O’Donnell, Jim Crawl’s Band and Cal Starr.

Sound familiar to anyone?