Longtime suburban volunteer coordinator retires
When Jean Lamantia sat listening to her friends and co-workers tell their favorite stories of her service earlier this month, she couldn’t help but smile. Exactly 14 years ago to the day, she began what became a remarkable career as a volunteer coordinator at The Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago, a nonprofit organization that connects volunteers in the Northwest suburbs with the resources they need to make an impact on the community.
Through her work at The Volunteer Center, which is now called HandsOn Suburban Chicago, she was able to help countless individuals find meaningful volunteer opportunities in the Northwest suburbs. Never satisfied with the status quo, Lamantia was a constant innovator that always looked for ways to improve the community.
“The genius of Jeanie is that she is always looking for ways on how we can improve the way we help others,” said Mary Fitzgibbons, executive director of HandsOn Suburban Chicago. “She was excellent at organizing our organization, and helping us better serve volunteers and the agencies at which they served.”
Lamantia’s day-to-day duties featured working as a volunteer connector. When someone would call The Volunteer Center to express interest in volunteering, she would take the time to find them the perfect opportunity. Then she would always make sure that the volunteer would get all the support they needed to make their experience meaningful.
Her work wasn’t limited to The Volunteer Center, though. Lamantia also was a longtime volunteer with the Special Olympics, where she helped organize raffles and set up fashion shows for years.
Her most memorable and endearing contribution though, may have come years ago when a 10-year-old girl called The Volunteer Center looking for help.
Abby Horan was a 10-year-old girl from Arlington Heights who saw a program on television about the lack of dental hygiene products for the homeless population. Her heart went out to those less fortunate than her, and became determined to help.
With the support of her parents, Horan set out collecting donations in the community from local dentists and neighbors. Eventually she was able to put together 100 hygiene kits.
Unfortunately this was when Horan got lost. Since she was only 10-years-old, she had no idea where to donate these hygiene kits. After an article about her charity in the Daily Herald donations started pouring in, she decided she had to get some help. After looking at The Volunteer Center’s website, she decided to give them a call.
Jean Lamantia was the one who answered that phone call. Horan and Lamantia ended up talking for over an hour about her charity. Lamantia was very excited about the program, and immediately set out to arrange deliveries of Horan’s hygiene kits to area shelters, and even helped her think of more ways to attract donations.
“Jean offered me advice and encouragement, just when I really needed it. She mentored me in every way possible with advice, comfort and kind words,” said Horan.“You may think that Jean only did this because it was her job. It wasn’t at all. Jean simply did this out of the kindness in her heart. She didn’t have to contact agencies, or set up delivery dates, or access information for me. She didn’t have to do anything, but she did.”
Over the years, Lamantia and Horan developed a strong relationship. Horan just graduated from high school, and now runs three charities. “In a way, Jean is kind of like my fairy godmother. She comes to my rescue every time I need her. She is definitely the nicest, most committed volunteer that always believed in me.”
As her friends and co-workers said goodbye to her before retirement, it was clear from their stories that they couldn’t agree more.
Lamantia’s one wish for retirement was for HandsOn Suburban Chicago to get the resources they need to continue serving nonprofits and volunteers in the community. In addition to connecting volunteers, HandsOn Suburban Chicago also sponsors training events, provides consultations to agencies developing volunteer programs and mobilizes citizens for special one-day projects. To help further the work of HandsOn Suburban Chicago, donations can be sent to HandsOn Suburban Chicago, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005.
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