Public Action to Deliver Shelter of Elgin will hold its annual Winter Harvest for the Homeless: Stars Dance for PADS of Elgin on Jan. 28.
Festivities for the event are set for 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn, 800 S. Route 31 in Crystal Lake, and will include dinner, a silent auction and a raffle. Tickets are $85. A total of 5 dance teams from the community will also showcase their moves during the dance competition.
“This is the 11th year we’ve done the dance competition,” said Brittany Mitchell, special projects coordinator for PADS of Elgin. “This is our biggest fundraiser. The goal of this fundraiser is to keep the doors open during the coldest part of the year.”
Mitchell said the event is sure to please.
“It all culminates with a dance,” she said. “We’ll have lots of fun stuff to do as well.”
Past dancers competing in the contest include city council members, business professionals and other community leaders.
“We think it’s a really cool way for people to support the shelter,” Mitchell said, noting that they can raise funds for the shelter by voting.
Typically, the fundraiser sees between 300 and 350 attendees.
“It definitely grew from the first year,” Mitchell said. “This year, there are a lot of different kinds of team. For the most part, the dances involved couples. This year, there are teams. We’re trying to give the audience something new and exciting they haven’t seen.”
On average, dancers bring in between $15,000 and $20,000, she said.
Proceeds will help PADS of Elgin to continue serving the homeless with shelter, case management and other services.
Mitchell said seeing the community’s support for PADS of Elgin is essential to supporting the homeless.
“We want people to know PADS is here to be a hand up, not a handout to people in crisis,” She said. “We’re here to be a support system to people who are in crisis. We the provide the kind of service to help people regain their independence.”
People can vote for their favorite dancers at the event or online at padsel.ejoinme.org/dance2017
For more information, call the PADS office at 847-608-9744 or go to padsofelgin.org