The new 10,000-square-foot Lily Pads Resale Boutique on Progress Boulevard in Peru launched its grand opening celebration recently with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Several board members, volunteers from the Public Action to Deliver Shelters in Ottawa and Peru and Lily Pads Resale Boutique attended as Carol Alcorn, executive director of PADS, cut the ribbon. The grand opening was timed to coincide with National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week — Nov. 15 to 21. Each year, one week before Thanksgiving, National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness co-sponsor National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

"It is important to dispel myths that label homelessness as someone else's problem or claim that an end to homelessness is impossible," said Alcorn. "PADS emergency shelters along with the assistance of many local resources work with the homeless to encourage them to help themselves. Lily Pads helps PADS to lead by example by helping to fund their projects through retail sales."

A total of 70 percent of PADS operating costs have always come from generous donations from the communities it serves, Alcorn said. This has funded supplies, operational expenses and direct service to the homeless in the area.

The success of the new Lily Pads Boutique will help to make up for the cuts in government funding that happened earlier this year. Fortunately, PADS had started the project before the cuts happened in order to expand programs, Alcorn said.

"All of the money raised by items donated and sold in the Lily Pads store supports and provides service to the homeless people in our area. It doesn"t leave the area," said Beverly Briddick, store manager. "We are truly overwhelmed by the generosity of the people who have made donations.

"One thing many people are surprised to see in our store is furniture." said Briddick. "We have had many large furniture items donated in good condition and they have sold very quickly. It would be easy for someone to purchase many of the necessary items for the home inexpensively here at the store."

In addition to furniture and clothing, the store sells gently-used smaller household items, home décor, jewelry, shoes, accessories, books, appliances and many seasonal decorations.

Lily Pads has been open to the public for a few weeks, and has been accepting donations of items from the public.

The new building consists of 6,000 square feet of retail space and 4,000 square feet of receiving and preparation space, which is an increase in space from its original building, which was smaller than 900 square feet.

Clothing and furniture donations can be dropped off at Lily Pads just east of Menards in Peru.

Supplies to help run the shelters are often donated. At this time of year both shelters need paper plates, paper towels, plastic utensils, laundry soap, powdered drinks, coffee, toilet paper, men's disposable razors, travel size toothpaste and 33-gallon garbage bags. Donations can be dropped off at the Peru Shelter, 1320 Menards Drive, or the Ottawa shelter, 120 Canal St.

Illinois Valley PADS operates two emergency shelters that serve La Salle, Bureau, Putnam, and parts of Marshall and Grundy counties. PADS offers a safe place for those in need by providing meals, showers, laundry and a bed.

The Peru shelter has 22 beds. In Ottawa, an 1,800-square-foot addition increased the shelter to 3,000 square feet, from 18 beds to 26. Alcorn says there is a conference room added in the new space where residents can study, take classes in literacy, GED, and alcohol/substance abuse. The Ottawa shelter renovation took place over the summer when the shelters are not in use.

Due to funding limitations, PADS is open Oct. 1 and closes April 30 each year. PADS provides shelter from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day during those months. Two-thirds of the operating costs of PADS shelters are funded by donations from within the community.

From October 2008 through April 2009, PADS served 188 individuals, 92.5 percent of them were local. In the six weeks since the shelters opened for the 2009-2010 season, there has been an increase in need due to the economy. Most notably there have been more children in the shelters than have been seen in past years.

An open house is planned for later this fall. For more information, visit www.ivpads.com.