ROCHELLE — The Foundation for Focus House and Community Programming will be holding a Recipe Book Fundraiser to generate money for Focus House youth and programs.

Recipe books are $10 each and they can be purchased by contacting Jeni Hardin at jhardin@oglecounty.org or calling 815-562-5881. Payments can be made in person or online through PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/FoundationFocusHouse.

Hardin said there will be no deadline for sales and the foundation hopes to keep the fundraiser running through the holiday season. Hardin also said those who purchase recipe books can either pick them up or have them delivered for an added shipping charge.

“The money raised from the Recipe Book Fundraiser will go directly to the needs of the youth at Focus House,” Hardin said. “Some examples of things the funds will cover are hygiene items, clothing, winter weather needs, books and games, appliances and supplies needed for the homes and minor maintenance and repairs at the homes.”

The fundraiser will help make up for donations and funds lost after the foundation was forced to cancel its Spaghetti Supper and Car Show due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recipes were submitted from Focus House staff members and the local community through Facebook. The fundraiser stems from when another Focus House recipe book was made 10 years ago.

“We decided it would be fun to revamp the project and to include our community while raising funds for the Foundation for Focus House,” Hardin said. “Recipe books make great gifts and being that the holidays are just around the corner, it seemed like the perfect time to put this fundraiser together… Our Foundation was forced to cancel both of our main fundraisers for the year. This took a big hit on our donations coming in and funds that help the youth and the programs at Focus House. We have been trying to supplement these lost funds by still holding our auction, just online, and now with this recipe book fundraiser.”

Focus House is a shelter care facility that has been operating in Ogle County since 1975. The facility serves primarily in-county youth that need residential treatment, but over the years, Focus House has also taken out-of-county youth as well.

Focus House treats Ogle County youth that are involved in the justice system, not just residentially, but also through outpatient mental health services and alternative programming for kids that are suspended from school.

Hardin would like to thank Jennie McLaughlin at ReMax for sponsoring the recipe book fundraiser and making it possible for Focus House to have no upfront costs.