The season of giving extends year-round at Fox Valley Community Services (FVCS) in Sandwich, Ill., where many members actively pursue a variety of projects to benefit local charities and families.
This community organization and active senior center offers a homey environment where members find they can use their talents to help others and to continue to enjoy activities they have developed through their lifetimes. Hundreds of people have volunteered through the years to help at the regular programs at the center.
However, some have found ways to their hobbies and professional talents into charitable endeavors to make a real difference in the lives of the community around them.
Activities and Travel Director, Becky Lueken encourages and advertises their philanthropic efforts in each edition of their bi-monthly newsletter.
One example is Leonard, a skilled volunteer who provides watch battery replacement services to help other seniors for a nominal cost of the batteries.
Volunteer, Ellen, takes in mending projects each week, completing them as she is able. “Sometimes Ellen takes home the larger projects but many she can complete at the center by hand or by using a sewing machine on hand at the center. Ellen has been doing these projects for free for over a year,” Becky said. “She just came to me to help out like so many others, just out of the goodness of their hearts.” Repairing wallets, pants, shortening sleeves, and replacing buttons are easy tasks for Ellen.
Several volunteers participate in the “Finishing Touch”. Theses volunteers have a diverse set of skills but are willing to finish projects left behind by someone who has passed away or who can no longer complete their projects. It may be a baby quilt, or blanket, or something else more unique that family cannot accomplish, but these volunteers offer skills they have honed for years. Family members can bring unfinished items in, volunteers consider picking the item up and finishing the project, preserving the precious memories which are later returned to the family.
Novelty “Happy Hats” are made by members year-round and regularly distributed by two regional organizations who support children with pediatric cancer. “Our volunteers have been making the hats for almost seven years now,” Becky said. “Some hats are also for sale at the center to help offset supply costs,” she added.
And there is a group of volunteers who meet monthly to prepare “plarn” and then to crochet Bags for Beds to donate to the homeless in the regional area. The finished mats are distributed to food pantries, church groups, and local police.
“We like to keep our members involved with community events,” Becky said. “For the past couple years, volunteers have helped fill hundreds of shoeboxes for those in need, helping a local church complete its overseas outreach during the Holidays.”
Most volunteer whenever and wherever they can. One particularly active volunteer is Jim, volunteering wherever needed, from calling bingo to helping with decorating, he accidentally let his true talents and singing voice ring out. Jim spontaneously broke into song one day to cheer up the seniors in the adult day services, and now he sings to them each day at lunch just to see their smiles. As a bingo caller, Jim offers his services each week for daytime and evening bingo and calls for the Beecher Center in Yorkville too, each week. “My wife volunteered me to volunteer,” he said. “I just try to help with anything I can.” Most notably, Jim has become known as the Singing Santa, bringing unexpected joy everywhere he goes. Jim donates everything he earns as Santa to support the Meals on Wheels program operating out of the center. Last year, he raised over $600, and this year hopes to donate over $1,000 to help provide meals to seniors at home.
Fox Valley Community Center offers endless opportunities, but an especially vibrant life of service to others in need, because of their generous volunteers. You can learn more about these projects, and other activities at the center by visiting online at www.fvoas.org.
Barb Nadeau is a freelance writer who has worked in public relations, as a television producer and an on-air host for television and radio, as a print journalist and managing editor, as well as in the non-profit sector networking among several social service agencies and service providers throughout Illinois. She is also serving a third term as an elected Alderman in the City of Plano Illinois. Contact Barb at bvnadeau@gmail.com.