Countryside firefighters shop for Thanksgiving dinner for needy families
Countryside firefighters prowled the aisles of Mariano's grocery store in Vernon Hills on Friday morning, but it wasn't to prepare for a firehouse meal.
Instead, about a dozen Black shift members and supervisors were gathering fixings for complete Thanksgiving dinners for four families in need - one each in the townships served by the fire district.
"It's one of those things. You never know who needs help," said Jeff Thier, a firefighter with the Countryside Fire Protection District. The district serves Libertyville, Vernon, Ela and Fremont townships.
The event, sponsored by the Countryside Firefighters Association, has become an annual tradition and has been held for several years. The union uses donations from its pancake breakfast and other sources to provide $150 for each dinner that will be packaged in a big basket and delivered to the townships next week.
"It's a very affluent area, but we do have folks that do have hardships," said Ben Mosko, a firemedic and union president.
The shopping list Friday included only nonperishable items, such as boxes of turkey stuffing and packets of gravy, cans of green beans, baking pan and aluminum foil, dessert and snacks. The basket also will include $25 gift cards for a turkey and movies.
"Literally everything you would need for a Thanksgiving dinner," Mosko said.
Vernon Township Supervisor William Peterson said many people don't realize that townships provide various forms of assistance to those in need. While that number has been decreasing as the economy has come around, the list is still long, he added.
"There's still a need and we do help families at Thanksgiving," he said. "We have 120 families we're preparing for."
Suggestions come from schools and local religious organizations. Peterson said local organizations, such as the fire district, are very supportive when the township needs help. Countryside firefighters also adopt several families for Christmas.