Sharing, awareness the meaning of St. Charles homeless shelter dinner
Jeff and Dyzzy Kramer of North Aurora walked into the Free Methodist Church in St. Charles on Sunday morning.
They deposited a box full of food, including pasta and cookies, for the annual Christmas Day brunch hosted by Lazarus House, the homeless shelter located at the church, 214 Walnut St.
But the Kramers also had another motive: serving as an example to their 11-year-old son, Sean.
“We just want to show to our kid what Christmas is all about,” said Dyzzy Kramer.
Jeff said the couple has been involved with Hesed House in Aurora in the past. This is the first time they have given to Lazarus House.
“I think it is important to remind everyone how lucky we are to have a roof over our heads,” Dyzzy said. “We can open our gifts in our own house. There are kids who live here who are transient and don't have a place to put their toys.”
She said people should be aware that is a disparity in our community and in the country.
“Poverty and homelessness is really a big issue,” she said. “Everyone should not just turn their head.”
Dave Mann, pastor of the St. Charles Free Methodist Church, said some years ago Lazarus House was looking for a place to conduct its ministry and perform outreach to people in transition.
“This community dinner is one of the things that they do,” he said. “We try and partner with them and make available our facilities.”
He said homelessness is a growing problem in the Fox Valley.
“With the inability to get jobs, you're finding a lot of people that are in transition, and also a lot of programs that have kept people in their homes — rent subsidies and things like that — because of the political situation in the country, are going away.”
Liz Eakins, executive director of Lazarus House, said the event is about more than serving the poor — it is a wonderful community celebration of Christmas.
“We don't want anyone to be alone at Christmas,” she said.
Lazarus House is a homeless shelter and transitional living program that serves the homeless and those at risk of homelessness in the Tri-Cities and western rural Kane County.
Eakins said Lazarus House serves between 65 and 70 in the shelter, with another 55 households on rent subsidies, with assistance from federal and state grants.
In all, the service population is about 200 on any given day.
Eric Lambert has lived at Lazarus House since he was evicted from the home he and his mother shared until her death.
“They are lifesavers. They really are. They are very nice people,” he said, noting that they arranged psychiatric services as well as a place to stay.
A part-time employee at Jewel, Lambert, 56, said he will soon be eligible for Social Security and be able to move into an apartment of his own.
”I'll be fine on my own when I get an apartment,” he said.
For more information about Lazarus House, visit www.lazarushouseonline.com.