The Chicago Cubs have teamed up with Chicago-based National Runaway Switchboard to provide a Thanksgiving dinner for runaway and homeless youth on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 6:30pm at St. Luke’s Church, 1500 West Belmont Avenue.

“The National Runaway Switchboard is a valuable resource for runaway and homeless youth and their families,” said Mike Lufrano, Cubs senior vice president, community affairs.

“The Cubs are proud to support National Runaway Switchboard and the work they do in our community. This is our fourth consecutive Thanksgiving together and we have seen first hand the impact it can make.”

National Runaway Switchboard’s mission is to keep America’s runaway and at-risk youth safe and off the streets.

The organization operates a national communication system for runaway and homeless youth through its 1-800-RUNAWAY crisis hotline and 1800RUNAWAY.org Web site.

Youth and family members call the hotline to work through problems and to find local agencies and organizations to help.

“November is National Runaway Prevention Month and this dinner provides National Runaway Switchboard the opportunity to educate area runaway and homeless youth about the help they can receive by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY,” said Maureen Blaha, National Runaway Switchboard executive director.

“And thanks to the Cubs, we’re able to let these youth know they’re not alone and help is available.”

The youth come to the dinner from local organizations including: The Night Ministry Open Door Shelter Lake View, The Night Ministry Open Door Shelter West Town, Center on Halsted, Teen Living Program/Belfort House, Heartland Alliance/Neon Street Program, Alternatives Inc., La Casa Norte, and Boys and Girls Town Shelter.

Several members of the Chicago Cubs front office staff and WGN’s Cubs television producer Bob Vorwald will volunteer at the event.

For more information on the event, contact the Cubs Community Affairs office at 773-404-CUBS or Joel Kessel of the National Runway Switchboard at 773-209-6125.

National Runaway Switchboard Statistics

National Runaway Switchboard is the national communication system for homeless and runaway youth. Through its 1-800-RUNAWAY national crisis hotline, the organization handled 114,097 calls in 2008.

Out of all crisis calls National Runaway Switchboard handled throughout the country with youth in 2008, more than 50 percent were already on the street as a runaway, throwaway, or homeless youth.

And it is estimated that between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away in a year in the United States. The top reasons youth call are family dynamics (divorce, remarriage, problems with siblings) and abuse (substance, physical, sexual, neglect).

About National Runaway Switchboard

Established in 1971, National Runaway Switchboard serves as the federally designated national communication system for homeless and runaway youth.

Recognized as the oldest hotline of its kind in the world, National Runaway Switchboard, with the support of more than 150 volunteers, handles an average of 100,000 calls annually-more than 3 million calls since the organization’s inception.

NATIONAL RUNAWAY SWITCHBOARD provides crisis intervention, referrals to local resources, and education and prevention services to youth, families and community members throughout the country 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

More than 13,000 youth have been reunited with their families through National Runaway Switchboard’s Home Free program done in collaboration with Greyhound Lines, Inc.

National Runaway Switchboard’s crisis hotline is 1-800-RUNAWAY.

For more information, visit 1800RUNAWAY.org.