Naperville's Holiday Housewalk full of surpirses

I wasn't expecting much the first year I toured the four houses in my subdivision's Holiday Housewalk, but I was surprised and impressed. A small group of neighborhood women, with no budget, had created a beautiful and deluxe event worthy of a larger and well-funded professional organization.

The fourth River Run Holiday Housewalk is Dec. 3. The one-day event sells out to neighbors and friends. It benefits Lamb's Fold, a women's center in Joliet. In 2002, its first year, the housewalk, luncheon and silent auction raised $8,000 for the women and children who shelter there; in 2004, $17,000; and in 2006, $20,000.

Rhonda Sykes, director of Lamb's Fold, is grateful for the effort.

"I was quite amazed with the whole thing. I couldn't believe that a group of women would take this kind of time out of their lives for Lamb's Fold," Sykes said. "They raised the funds, secured the raffle items, organized the luncheon. We've never had anybody do anything like that for us."

Sykes said the event is a beautiful way to start December and praised the decorations at both the individual homes and the subdivision clubhouse.

"These ladies work on the event for two full years," she said. "I can't tell you what it means to us. We're small, so $20,000 is a lot."

The money pays for a full-time staff member and allows the center to accommodate 25 percent more clients.

Sykes says the housewalk committees, and homeowners who open their homes to neighbors and friends, are aware of their material blessings and take action to help others.

"It's one thing to have life good," she said. "It's another thing to know you have life good and do something (to share it). It symbolizes the love of Christ in action.

"The real blessing is giving back. I'm just grateful that we're the beneficiaries!"

The idea was sparked when River Run resident Carey Rysiewicz first toured Cup of Cheer, a venerable housewalk open to the public, put on annually by the Naperville Garden Club.

"I thought it was magnificent," Rysiewicz said. "I've always loved to decorate, especially for the holidays. I thought it would be neat to do something similar within the neighborhood for charity."

Rysiewicz gathered her neighbors and the idea snowballed. With no budget and no professional help, friends helped each other decorate. They used the subdivision clubhouse for a luncheon and raffle.

"We wanted it to be cozy. There is narration (by each homeowner for the tour participants) and sharing of the family's traditions," Rysiewicz said. "We asked friends to help with the lunch. The neighborhood women served, cleaned up and did the dishes so every penny could go to Lamb's Fold."

With an enthusiastic response to the inaugural event in 2002, the event grew. Realtors and other businesspeople donated a drinks table, dessert table and money for centerpieces, which Rysiewicz made.

"We tried to be as economical as possible," Rysiewicz said, so funds could go to Lamb's Fold.

The second year, 2004, they added a silent auction and an evening tour.

"There were a lot more neighbors interested who couldn't go during the day, and the homeowners were willing to accommodate them in the evening, so it helped us raise more money," Rysiewicz said.

The symbol of the Holiday Housewalk is an angel ornament. It represents the angel in all of us who is just looking for an opportunity to give, Rysiewicz says. The silent auction is one way to do that, with many items coming from those who can't chair a committee or open their homes for tour but want to contribute.

Former and current chairwomen, including Kayla Goss, Jean Esbjornson, Jill Olita, Susan Leshock, and Cindy Scorpio, like working with Lamb's Fold.

"They've always been so appreciative," Rysiewicz says. "They emphasize the training and the teaching for their residents; they help them get re-established in the work world. They don't just house them temporarily and send them back into the same situation.

"We want to be able to give to a group that's making a difference."

For information about Lamb's Fold, call (815) 723-5262.

• Cheryl Stritzel McCarthy writes about Naperville monthly in Neighbor. E-mail her at otbfence@hotmail.com.