It has become Bread & Roses' pleasure to support local charitable organizations, and area nursing and retirement homes with our voices as special event entertainment, and also with monetary donations, through our holiday benefit concerts .  In addition, we often take our act "on the road," sharing our musical messages with various churches who support and reflect our views on social justice, human rights, peace, and environmental issues.  Here are some worthy causes and places we have supported, and links to their web sites (where applicable).  Note:  When available, a description of the organization has been quoted directly from it's website.

Mutual Ground (Aurora)

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American Cancer Society: Relay For Life

"A fun-filled overnight activity that mobilizes communities across the country to celebrate survivorship, remember those who lost their lives to cancer, and raise money for the fight against cancer. This is an American Cancer Society signature activity."

 

 

Church World Service CROP WALK

"A community-based fund raising event, to raise money for local hunger-fighting agencies as well as the international relief and development efforts of Church World Service."

 

Community Crisis Center

Mission:  "To advocate for a healthy non-violent environment for all people, providing information, resources, and support necessary to help individuals move through crisis to develop and pursue their own goals."

 

DeKalb Area Women's Center

"The mission of the DAWC is to create a safe, supportive environment which celebrates women, promotes women’s culture, and encourages the empowerment of women, while working toward the elimination of sexism and other forms of oppression. The goal of the Center is to build a healthy and harmonious community reaching out with educational, arts, and cultural programming."

 

 

DeKalb County CASA  

DeKalb County CASA's vision is  "to provide individualized advocacy for every child who is judged deprived and under the protection of the DeKalb Juvenile Court who has no one to champion his or her cause."  They also provide special gifts and events for CASA children throughout the year, particularly during the holiday season.

 

 

Family Service Agency of DeKalb County  

"Family Service Agency is a not-for-profit organization which offers comprehensive services to children and adults." It's mission is "supporting individuals and families throughout the life cycle."  It's vision is to "be recognized as a caring and quality conscious provider of vital human services that assist individuals and families in need." 

 

 

Friends Outreach Network

Affiliated with Northern Illinois University, "The Women's Resource Center" supports a volunteer group who delivers food and services to people living with HIV/AIDS.

 

 

Kishwaukee College Family Literacy Program

"This program offers on-site child education activities for children whose parents are attending Adult Basic Education or English Literacy classes."

 

 

Kishwaukee Valley Habitat for Humanity

K.V.H.H. is a division of Habitat for Humanity International.  Habitat is a "nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization" who "welcome[s] all people to join [them as they] build simple, decent, affordable houses in partnership with those who lack adequate shelter."

 

 

Kishwaukee Valley Habitat for Humanity Women Build Program

 A special program empowering women to take an active role in building new homes as part of Habitat for Humanity.

(We performed for their ground-breaking ceremony.)

Habitat for Humanity International Women Build Program

 

 

Hope Haven

"Hope Haven offers a variety of services for homeless residents and their families including a transitional housing program, counseling, GED courses, parenting programs, vocational training and life skills training."
 

 

Mountain Moving Coffeehouse

Mountain Moving Coffeehouse is a "volunteer and lesbian run collective that presents lesbian-feminist oriented culture and music for the women's community in the Chicago-land area."

 

Mutual Ground

Located in Aurora, Mutual Ground "provides services in southern Kane County and Kendall County for Victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.  [They] empower victims to make their own decisions when provided support, encouragement, and information."

 

NIU Stop-the-Hate Vigil

"In response to hate crimes across the country, NIU [held] a Stop the Hate Vigil—complete with speakers, a candle-lighting ceremony and time to remember the victims of hate crimes, especially in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks against America." (October 4, 2001)
 

Pay-it-Forward House

"Pay-it-Forward House is a charitable and benevolent not-for-profit corporation organized to provide rest and respite in a comfortable, home-like environment for family members and friends of patients at Kindred Hospital in Sycamore, Illinois."

 

Safe Passage

 (a local domestic violence shelter)

Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence