When Samantha, a mother of three, lost her husband and then her job, volunteers at the Elmhurst Walk-In Assistance Network covered her rent. Without that help, her family would have been homeless, according to a testimonial shared on EWAN's website.
Samantha is one of more than 200 households EWAN serves each year. And the nonprofit's latest fundraiser just wrapped: the "In Lieu of the 'Cue" online auction closed Wednesday, July 15, raising $22,535, according to campaign data from the organization's GiveButter fundraising page. A final certified total has not been announced.
The auction is part of EWAN's shift away from its longtime "Cue for a Cause" barbecue, which the nonprofit ended after more than a decade to pursue new fundraising approaches. The final barbecue, held Aug. 31, 2025, raised $68,600.
This year's auction ran from Monday, June 1, through July 15 at 7 p.m. on GiveButter. Five packages were up for bid: reserved York High School parking spots at Elmhurst Presbyterian Church, a Lake Michigan yacht cruise with a view of Navy Pier fireworks, a three-night VIP experience with the Elmhurst Symphony, Chicago Bears tickets for the game against the New Orleans Saints, and a day at River Forest Country Club.
By Monday, June 29, the auction had already pulled in $17,500, according to the Elmhurst Beacon's earlier reporting. The final two weeks pushed the total past $22,500.
Nearly three decades of emergency help
Since 1997, EWAN has distributed more than $2 million in emergency financial assistance to Elmhurst neighbors, according to the organization. Services include rent and mortgage help, utility payments, car repairs, dental care, prescription assistance, and a food pantry. Roughly 1,000 visits come through the door at 125 W. Church St. each year, staffed by more than 60 volunteers.
To qualify for help, residents must have lived in Elmhurst at least 90 days, have children in an Elmhurst school, or belong to a covenant church in Elmhurst.
How to help or get help
Residents who want to donate can visit elmhurstwalkin.org/donate, where the organization accepts credit cards, Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Suggested amounts range from $25 for fuel assistance to $2,500 for the Hope Fund, which supports families in crisis.
EWAN's summer hours through July 2026 are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to noon, with after-hours appointments available. Associate Executive Director Kim Anciulis can be reached at 630-782-6006 for questions about volunteering, donating, or seeking assistance.
