Thank you, Anderson Automotive Group
Stepping Stones gives a big THANK YOU to the Anderson Automotive Group for the $5,000.00 donation. From Anderson's website: "We're celebrating 50 years of serving the Rockford area by continuing to give back to the terrific community that has supported us for a half century. Each month for ten months we're making a $5,000 donation to a local non-profit organization." Congratulations to Anderson for 50 years of service to our community. To learn more about the Anderson Automotive Group Donations: 
https://www.driveanderson.com/50-years/ https://www.facebook.com/AndersonAutomotiveGroup/

Oh, Christmas Tree!
The City of Rockford installed the annual Christmas tree today... which was very exciting for our agency as the tree was donated from one of our residential sites! The Rockford Register Star writes: "This year's tree was donated by Stepping Stones of Rockford. It was harvested around 7 a.m. by Tree Care Enterprises, Creative Crane and Stenstrom crews before Howe Freightways delivered it with a police escort to downtown."

The tree's original home was at our City View Supervised Apartment site, a 24-hour supervised, residential site with 15 men. The tree, which was planted in 1993, will be on display at Davis Park through the 2020 holiday. No worries about the tree; it was way too big for its location and needed to be removed. This is definitely win-win, with the tree certain to bring much holiday cheer to all who visit.

To read more about the Stepping Stones of Rockford Tree:
https://www.rrstar.com/story/news/2020/11/17/rockfords-official-christmas-tree-arrives-davis-park
Live footage of the tree being harvested and transported (WTVO/Channel 17): 
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/rockford-christmas-tree-goes-up-at-davis-park/

Live footage of the tree being harvested and transported (WREX/Channel 13): https://wrex.com/2020/11/17/rockfords-christmas-tree-arrives-at-its-new-home-in-downtown/

Report from WIFR/Channel 23:
https://www.wifr.com/2020/11/18/davis-park-tree-installed/

To learn more about Stroll on State: 
https://www.gorockford.com/stroll-on-state/tree/

To watch the full length installation of the tree:
https://fb.watch/1PTtGmMiW9/

Riding the Wave, the Stars of Lights Way
The pandemic has brought stress, losses and challenges for everyone. The Stars of Light, the acclaimed stigma-busting theatre troupe, may have had to suspend all group activities and performances due to COVID-19, but that doesn't mean they haven't been busy! Enjoy their recent efforts by watching their latest video about mental illness and the pandemic, complete with input from our CEO, Sue Schroeder. 

Check out "Riding the Waves: Clients and Administrators Share Their COVID experiences," https://youtu.be/RsaBgUTWZKA

For more information on the Stars of Light: 
https://steppingstonesrockford.org/stars-of-light/about-the-stars

#GivingTuesday
Stepping Stones of Rockford will once again take part in #GivingTuesday, this year on December 1, 2020. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this global event: "GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past seven years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity." Who doesn't love a little internet shopping or a bit of gift giving? Your participation in GivingTuesday directly helps the clients at Stepping Stones of Rockford. We guarantee you'll feel fabulous for doing good! This year, the agency is featuring three ways to donate as part of this international effort: 

MONEY: https://steppingstonesrockford.org/donate/donate-now
AMAZON WISH LIST: https://a.co/ajfIkeK
TARGET WISH LIST: https://www.target.com/gift-registry/giftgiver?registryId=b1f32a72013047ccb109b77621826b32

For the record, you do NOT have to wait until December 1st to give, nor do you have to stop giving after December 1st. If you have questions about GivingTuesday at Stepping Stones of Rockford or donations in general to Stepping Stones, please contact Randy Roberson at 815.963.0683 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also check out the website at
https://steppingstonesrockford.org/donate

To learn more about Giving Tuesday:  
https://www.givingtuesday.org/

We're Grateful!

Follow us on Facebook to see what gratitude looks like at Stepping Stones--we're taking part in #NationalGratitudeMonth. Although we are grateful every day of the year, November reminds us to reflect on all things of which to be grateful. Help us celebrate our clients, staff, funders, supporters and community with a gratitude post on our page!