CHIP IN Batavia would like to introduce you to a family we have been helping and would like to ask for the community’s assistant. We are looking for donations of gift cards for gas, Aldi, Target or Walmart or monetary donations. THANK YOU For reading this story.

The Shutkina’s are a Russian family that immigrated to the U.S. in 2015 for a better life, the father being a skilled carpenter. With their 10 children, they moved to Batavia in the summer of 2016. In October the father left for work one morning and got on a plane to Russia deserting the family. As you can imagine this has been devastating and overwhelming to the mother, Lyubov, who was left on her own to raise this large family in a foreign country with no income and not knowing the language.

There are many obstacles for this family. The children, however, have thrived in the Batavia school system. All of the kids in school are doing great with their English. They have been very blessed by Sofyia, a volunteer from the Russian community, and a single mom, that has taken them under her wing. She has literally spent countless hours interpreting, finding them pro-bono doctors and lawyers (to help with their immigration paperwork), as well as searching out charitable organizations to provide financial and other assistance.

St. Vincent DePaul, First Baptist church Geneva, Batavia United Way, Salvation Army, CHIP IN, and the Batavia and Elgin food pantries have all provided support to the family. They are receiving $760 a month in public aid but their monthly expenses include rent $1200, all utilities, household needs and phone $500, consumables $300-$500, Gas $200, and car insurance $130. Churches have helped with rent, and their lease now is month to month, a big stress for Lyubov, so we are all helping with alternative rentals.

Our hope is the mom, Lyubov, can become self-supporting. Lyubov
was a trained nurse in Russia. Our hope is to get her the classes she needs to complete her nursing certification in the US. This is probably a 2 year project. The two oldest children, ages 16 and 14, have summer jobs at Pal Joeys thanks to John Hamel's generosity and compassion.

As always we appreciate the generous support we receive from our community. Thank you! And happy to answer any questions…can comment or sent a PM.

Checks can be made to BFEE (Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence)- every penny will go to the Shutkina family. In the memo line of the check, please mark: Shutkina family. You can also use Paypal on this

website. We have a separate Paypal section just for donations to the Shutkina family. Go to the “How Can I CHIP IN” page.

Gift cards and checks can be mailed to: Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence, PO Box 1003, Batavia, IL 60510 
Or 
Dropped off at the front desk at the Rosalie Jones Administration Office, 335 W. Wilson St., Batavia IL 60510 (mark envelope: CHIP IN Batavia/Shutkina Family).
Open M-F 8-3 (closed July 4, 7, 14, 21)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

BIRTHDAY IN A BAG---PROJECT FOR INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS

For those who want to get involved with a project, here is a new one!  Birthday in a Bag.  We want to provide a bag of treats to local students to help them enjoy a birthday party on their special day.  Every elementary school is supporting this, and will distribute bags to the students.  Happy to answer questions.  We are looking for complete bags, labeled for a boy or girl, and can have a theme if you choose...please label what the theme is. (We do have people who have offered to put together complete bags, decorations and all, if anyone wants to donate individual items to them....just email us!)  We hope this is a fun project to work on, and we know it will be a fun gift for our kids to receive.  THANK YOU!  YOU CAN DROP BAGS OFF AT ANY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL- In the summer,

you can drop them off at the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry.

School Supplies 

Thank you so much for your generous donations to our supply drive. This past year, we had donations from churches, businesses, service groups and individuals.  A shout out to VWR International, The Holmstad, Congregational Church, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Batavia United Methodist Church, The Well. The Batavia Rotary, Vikings, and so many more!  We made about 260 backpacks to help students in BPS101 as well at Batavia Township.  Parents were so grateful...tears and hugs, and smiles...THANK YOU!!!!!  

We are collecting supplies for 2017-18 now.  Together with BPS101, Batavia Marching Band, The Well,  VWR, Immanuel Lutheral and many local churches and community members, we are again collecting supplies to help every student in need.  Drop off any unused or gently used supplies at Rosalie Jones Administration Center this summer.

PROM DRESS DRIVE

Our 3rd prom drive was a big success.  We moved to the Batavia Public Library and had a 1-day giveaway.  We gave away over 165 dresses, as well as shoes, jewelry and purses.  We helped students in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Naperville, Elgin, Yorkville, Mooseheart, Rosary, and donated dresses to RMS for the 8th grade dinner dance and 65 dresses to the Clothes Closet.

Welcome Home Baskets all ready to go!  

With the help of BHS Cheer team for the second year, we collected oodles of items to make Welcome Home Baskets to give families when they move into their own home. Thank you Louise VonHoff for your work and creativity to make these!  They include:

A shower curtain and liner, laundry basket, set of towels and wash cloths, hooks for shower curtain, paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, laundry soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dish soap, dish towels, dish wash cloths, hammer and nails, measuring tape, coupon from Pal Joey;s for a free pizza for the family, and more!  Thank you Cheer Team and Pal Joey's!

Cathy Barrett of Benji's Barking Lots (dog grooming) in Batavia collected donations for CHIP IN and offered donors a free nail trimming for their dogs- Donations included monetary donations, non perishable food, toiletry items, and cleaning supplies.   Olaf did a collection drive to raise money.  First State Bank did a Dress Down day to raise funds. The Fox family asked their children's friends to donate to CHIP IN instead of bringing gifts for their daughters.  That is also what the Marotta family has done for their children's birthday parties for a few years....thanks so much for thinking of CHIP IN and our students in need!

Bikes for Batavia

Donations -  2016-2017 THANK YOU for your kindness and generosity!!

Appolo Development & Investment, LLC

Batatia Woman's Club

Batavia Township

Batavia Mother's Club

GMW PTO

Batavia Fire Department

Batavia Police Department

Congregational Church of Batavia

Aurora Chiropractic

1st Baptist Church of Geneva

1st Congregational Church of Geneva

AGS ECC

Alan and Sheila Morgan

Alma J Karas and Yang-Ling Zhang

Amber Gillio

Amy Smith

Andrea William

Angela Merritt

Ann Drover

Ann Hejna

Anna and Paul Adams

Anne and Joe Purpura 

Anne Rudd

Baird and Warner

Batavia Bunco Babes

Batavia Covenant Church

Batavia Rotary

Batavia United Methodist Church

Batavia Vikings Ring Lodge #18

Bethany Lutheran Church

BHS Cheer Team

BMC Mattress

Blake Schraft

Bonnie Dannenberg

Boutique Repeats

BP Pride

Calvary Episcopal Church

Cassandra Hinkle 

Cheryl Birkett

Cheryl Dalisay

Cheryl Hasenjaeger

Christine McFadden

Chrys Lewis

Craig and Joyce Elliott

CrossFit OLAF

Crystal Louden

Cynthia Rendel

Daisy Troop 2029

Daniel and MaryKay Dowling

David and Cindy Morgan

David and Laurie Lundborg

Dawn Pratt

Dean Alan Design

Deanna Modaff

Deb Ditchman

Diane Schultz

Donald Scharbert

Douglas and Stephanie Bery

Dr. Szdelko

Drs. Crosby, Martin and Kolinski

Ellen Stewart

Eric Poliarskis

First State Bank

Fox Family Birthday Parties

Fox Valley Orthopedics

Freddy Martinez

Funway

Gregory Olson and Katherine Kratzer

Heidi Kauffman

Helen Kennedy

Howard and Harriet Bernstein

Immanuel Lutheran Church

Janice Kirk

Jeanne Fornari

Jeff Robinson

Jennifer Bowman

Jeri O'Kane

Joan Vick

John Biancheri

John Martzel

Jose Alba

Judy Huddleston

Julie Allen

Julie Howard

Julie Monk

Kane County Cougars

Karen Holden

Katherine Weaver

Kathleen Wolf

Kelly Yee

Kristen Hett

Kristi Parrott

Laura Michells

Lincoln Park Zoo

Lisa Thurston

Marotta Family Birthday Parties

Mary and Virden Von Qualen

Mary Grant

Mary Kilberg

Mary Waterson

Matt Zagoren

Matthew Thomas

Mary Carr

Maureen Mrenna

May Wang

McDonald's Walkers and Talkers Club

Mike Burke

Monica Hess

Morton Arboretum

Nancy Gamble

Nancy Wolford

Naper Settlement

Nikki Rousseau

Pal Joey's

Pam and Doug Bellm

Paramount Theatre

Pat Stare

Patricia Novak

Prairie State Packaging

Rebekah Pircon

Rejoice Lutheran Church

Richard Barton

RMS 7th graders

Ruth Coyne

Ryan Fasshauer

Sabrina Martin

Samuel Bartels

Sandy Marakaitis

Sarah Stepina

Shear Ambition Hair Salon/Freddy Martinez

SHINE Yoga

SpiritCorner.com

STAGE

Susan Dienslake

Suzanne Fruendt

Tanya Albers/DoughNation Bakery

Tara Gray

Taylor Rental Party Plus

Teresa Vongphakdy

Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva

Virginia Karstens

VWR International

Walmart

Woodridge Park District

XFinity

Yuru Hard

Zano Salon and Spa

Many people who donated prom dresses, gift cards and clothes through facebook requests!

We are always looking for individuals, groups, churches, service agencies...anyone who wants to help!! You can always email us at chipinbatavia@gmail.com