DuPage County residents will be able to pick up free gun safes at a Safety Saturday event on Saturday, Oct. 3, after the county's Finance Committee approved a $25,000 pilot program on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

The money will be transferred from the county's contingency fund to the Health Department General Fund, which will run the distribution. Board member Michael Childress moved the item, seconded by member Cynthia Cronin Cahill.

Committee members called the pilot a great first step in preventing gun violence, according to Finance Committee minutes. If the October event goes well, the program could expand.

The committee also approved $30,000 in ARPA interest funds for Repeat Boutique Center, a Carol Stream nonprofit that gives away free clothing and household goods to families in need. Cronin Cahill moved that item, seconded by member Jim Zay.

Repeat Boutique, founded in 1973, is an all-volunteer organization led by director Linda Murphy. It serves more than 200 families a month, most in DuPage County, with referrals from agencies including Catholic Charities, PADS and World Relief. The $30,000 is earmarked for an infrastructure expansion, according to the county agenda.

Separately, the County Board's Aug. 25 agenda listed a $50,000 funding request from the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn as a discussion item. The MAC, which opened in 1986 and is celebrating its 40th anniversary, hosts more than 380 events a year and draws 100,000 to 140,000 visitors annually.

"Over the last five years our audience has really grown," Executive Director Diana Martinez told the Chicago Tribune on Aug. 24. "We work hard to keep customers happy and build a community."

Two other nonprofits appeared on the same discussion list: Doodlebug Workshop Vocational Training Center ($20,000) and Poised for Success ($18,000). Whether the board voted on any of the three requests could not be confirmed from available records.

The gun safe distribution is set for Oct. 3. The county has not announced a location or registration details for the event.