Mary Brandt of Peru won the quilt raffle at Lily Pads Resale Boutique in Peru.

Carol Alcorn, executive director of Illinois Valley Public Action to Deliver Shelter, said more than $350 was raised during the several months the quilt was on display. The Nine Patch Quilters Club in Oglesby designed, created and donated the quilt to PADS.

The fundraiser benefited Illinois Valley PADS emergency shelters. IV PADS, along with the assistance of many local resources work with people who are homeless to encourage them to help themselves. Lily Pads Resale Boutique in Peru helps PADS to lead by example by helping to fund projects through retail sales.

"Seventy percent of our operating costs have always come from generous donations from the communities we serve. This has funded supplies, operational expenses and direct service to the homeless in our area," Alcorn said in a press release. "The success of the new Lily Pads Boutique is helping to make up for the cuts in government funding that happened in 2009 and future cuts, which are sure to come in 2010. We originally started the Lily Pads project before the cuts happened in order to expand programs. Now Lily Pads, along with donations from the community, is what will keep the shelters open."

Two-thirds of the operating costs of PADS shelters are funded by donations from within the community.

Illinois Valley PADS operates emergency shelters in Ottawa and Peru 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 warm bed in a nurturing environment.

Due to funding limitations, PADS is open Oct. 1 and closes April 30 each year and provides shelter from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. 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.

From October 2008 through April 2009, PADS served 188 individuals, 92.5 percent of whom were local. Since the shelters opened for the 2009-2010 season, there has been an increase in need due to the economy. So far in 2009-2010, the need has been greater than in past years. There have been more children and families in the shelters due to the slow economy and high unemployment. Volunteers and employees also opened the shelter early, or kept the shelter open during dangerously cold weather and storms the area experienced this winter.

For more information, visit www.ivpads.com.