In a move that speaks to the enduring spirit of community and resourcefulness in the face of closure, Cook County's Department of Facilities Management has made a significant contribution to the New Life Center. Almost 1,000 new articles of clothing, originally from the now-shuttered Oak Forest Campus Long-Term Care Facility, found a new purpose in supporting new arrivals through the "New Vecinos" team's efforts. This donation, detailed in a press release by Cook County, encompasses 866 pairs of shoes and 81 pairs of pants, set aside from the campus which is slated for partial demolition.
The salvage initiative, which lasted several years, aimed to repurpose or donate useable items from the campus. With the discovery of a surplus of new, packaged, and unworn clothing, the Department of Facilities Management took to the task of assessing, tallying, and distributing these unexpected resources. The choice of recipient, New Life Center, was a strategic one, aligning with the center's mission to aid those fresh to Chicago with essential items at key 'landing zones'. "When we discovered the clothing--most of it still in the original packaging and unworn--I saw an opportunity to give back," said Evadne Garth, Business Manager and head of the Cook County Salvage Program, according to the official press release.
President Preckwinkle lauded the program's dual benefit: minimizing waste while providing for community needs. "The Cook County Salvage Program has been an important initiative for Cook County Government to reduce, reuse and recycle materials throughout our buildings," she expressed. "We are glad to give back to our newest neighbors and contribute to organizations doing great work in our communities." The impact of the salvage program is further evidenced by Cook County's previous donation—more than 200 pairs of pants—to the Stroger Hospital Inpatient Care Coordination program just last month.
