P.A.D.S is the acronym for Public Action to Deliver Shelter, and in Aurora, their campus is known as Hesed House.

Hesed House is located at 659, S. River St, Aurora, Illinois. It is the second-largest homeless shelter in the State of Illinois, and the largest shelter outside the city of Chicago. The Hesed House campus hosts a family shelter, a women’s shelter, and a men’s shelter.

Hesed House is a national model for ending homelessness – one person, one family at a time. Their mission is “to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, and give people the chance to hope again”.

Hesed House relies on more than 7500+ volunteers from area churches, businesses, and service organizations to support their work through volunteers, food, and financial donations. This allows Hesed House to assist more than 1000+ individuals and families who experience homelessness every year.

To watch the Hesed House Informational Video, use the link, or scan the QR code below:

What Do We Do at OLM PADS/Hesed House?

“Act Justly. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly.”

Our ministry is rooted in missionary discipleship. Fueled by our faith and transformed by a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, we share in His mission to bring hope, hospitality, and encouragement to those living on the margins and weighed down by poverty.

To this end, Our Lady of Mercy PADS/Hesed House Ministry partners with Hesed House in Aurora to provide the following meals, supplies, volunteers, and unconditional hospitality to their guests:

1. Prepare, cook, and serve dinner to about 250 guests in both their family shelter and adult shelter, on the first Tuesday of each month;
2. Prepare, cook and deliver breakfast on the first Wednesday of each month (comprising 184 breakfast sandwiches, yogurt, orange juice, coffee, tea).
3. Pack and deliver 120 bagged lunches for use on the first Wednesday of each month (each bagged lunch includes either a turkey, ham, or PB&J sandwich, a granola bar, a fruit, cookies & a bag of chips)

How You Can Help

If you wish to participate in this important mission of mercy, there are 3 ways to help:

1. Volunteer – give the gift of your time, energy, and grace. This ministry is supported by selfless and caring volunteers (18 years and up) who live out their faith by committing their time, energy, and hospitality to feed the hungry.
2. Donate items listed on the PAD/Hesed House board, displayed in the Atrium (Door B Entrance). All donations must be dropped off at the weekend Masses before the first Tuesday of each month. To learn more, please refer to the FAQS on PADS/Hesed House Board below.
3. Support with a monetary donation. Funds are needed to make up for any shortfall in ingredients for food preparation or supplies. Donations can be made via the Online Giving Portal (please specify the donation is for Hesed House), or make checks payable to Our Lady of Mercy Church and write on the memo “Hesed House-PADS”.

To volunteer, or for more information, please email Maybird D’Silva at maydsilva@aol.com

FAQs on the PADS/Hesed House Board

1. What is the PADS/Hesed House Board?

The PADS Board is an appeal board that contains a “wish list” of items, ingredients, condiments, and supplies needed to prepare meals to be served at Hesed House on the first Tuesday of each month.

2. Where do I find the PADS/Hesed House Board?

The PADS Board is displayed at the church Atrium (Door B Entrance).

3. Why display the PADS/Hesed House Board?

The board is a call for help/donations from all people of faith, to assist us in our mission of mercy, to feed the hungry. Our ministry relies on the goodwill and generosity of our community, believing that we are all united in the mystical Body of Christ, and called to bring His light, hope, mercy and grace, to the last, the least and the lost.

4. How to interact with the PADS/Hesed House Board?

You will see a list of items with the quantities requested.  Below each item is a column titled “name”, and another column titled “tear-off reminder”. If you are willing to donate one/some of the needed items, write your name below the item and tear off the corresponding reminder tab. This is your commitment to drop off the specific items and quantities you have selected at the designated drop-off date.

5. When is the drop-off date/time for donated items?

All donated items must be dropped off in the PADS/Hesed House Drop-off bins (placed by the board) before all weekend Masses preceding the first Tuesday of each month.

**We ask for your thoughtful cooperation in dropping-off donations promptly on the drop-off date/time stipulated on the tear-off stub. We also ask that you conform to the items specified on the board – please avoid substitutions or variations, as they alter carefully calibrated menu plans and cooking measurements.

GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS.