Thanks to The Source…Fortitude Community Outreach

Thanks to The Source…Fortitude Community Outreach

Can Now Help the Homeless in Kankakee County, IL

The next two months are not only a-dream-come true for Fortitude Community Outreach (FCO), but a timely blessing before the cold winter arrives.

The Bourbonnais, IL non-profit, that provides services and street outreach for the homeless in Kankakee County, is now operating a new Dignity Bus named “The Night Fort.” This bus is appropriately named as the organization operates a service center named Day Fort. They serve hundreds of homeless individuals each year with the help of a multitude of volunteers and with the support of their local community.

The five man Bus-Building team, headed by The Source’s Anthony Zorbaugh, Executive Director, officially “hit the trail” on Tuesday, October 10 from Vero Beach for the 1,300 plus miles trek that brought them to their destination on Thursday, October 12 with a return flight on Saturday October 14 after leaving their 4th converted bus in the able hands of FCO.

This is the 2nd bus to go national but as luck would have it, Tony discovered a bus that was handicapped equipped with a rear lift for wheelchairs. Dawn Broers, Executive Director of FCO was extremely pleased about being the first organization in the nation to provide this type of shelter with wheelchair access. She shared, “This was a rare find for The Source, and we are paying an increased cost to allow for a rear lift for handicapped access. We do however feel it is a small price to pay to benefit those with very special needs. Our bus has been reduced from 20 beds to 19 beds, allowing for one fully handicapped accessible bed.”

Meanwhile, Tony continues to get calls and emails from non-profits located in cities across the country who are also interested in the concept of Dignity Bus for the homeless in their own communities. “While we were in the O’Hare airport awaiting our flight back to Florida, I received a call from an organization in nearby Orlando interested in owning a Dignity Bus,” Tony shares. “We are profoundly overwhelmed. We knew we had a unique idea that could serve the homeless population as a short term housing remedy. This is becoming a means-to-an-end for many people. We have 36-beds (in two buses) locally and now have 39-beds (in two buses) nationally. This is more than amazing, it’s simply a miracle.”

For more information on Dignity Bus contact Executive Director Anthony Zorbaugh at 772-564-0202, Ext. 204 or visit www.iamthesource.org.