Neighbors helping neighbors
The Des Plaines Community Foundation, T-Bob's Smoked Bar-B-Q, 1165 S. Elmhurst Road, Sysco Foods Chicago and Panera Bread in Metropolitan Square worked together Wednesday, November 27th to provide and deliver Thanksgiving Day dinners. As a result, more than 130 families, seniors and people with disabilities had a very Happy Thanksgiving.
According to Argus, the list of people served at Thanksgiving consisted of Des Plaines residents who request assistance by calling the Neighbors Helping Neighbors hotline at 888-646-8898.
Everyone on both the Neighbors Helping Neighbors list and the church lists were called to confirm they would be home on Thanksgiving Day and enjoyed having a cooked meal delivered.
Sysco provided 80 pounds of turkey breasts, vegetables and potatoes. T-Bob's roasted the turkey. Volunteers packaged the corn, sweet potatoes, main entrée, bread and pumpkin pie.
Sadie Argus, Brendan and Kate Joyce picked up Panera Bread's contributions of bagels, other bread and pastries and delivered them to T-Bob's. Other volunteers, including a large number from Sysco Foods and the North Maine Firefighters, delivered meals between 10 a.m. and noon on Thanksgiving Day.
Sadie Argus commented, “I like to give back to the community that has provided me so many opportunities in life.”
“This really was a touching, Neighbors Helping Neighbors program to provide dinners for these needy families,” said Argus. “We appreciated all the volunteers' hard work on Thanksgiving Day. This was one of the most satisfying things that we've done.”
Neighbors Helping Neighbors also delivered on about 400 requests for help from Des Plaines residents in need this year. The NHN Program links community volunteers with residents in need of transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, yard and home care, installation of emergency response boxes, wheelchair ramps and decks.
Chris Peterson, owner of Corporate Coach leads volunteers who provide transportation to Des Plaines residents. All residents have to do is call the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Hot Line (1-888-646-8898) and request help.
The Foundation has no paid employees and is 100 percent volunteer. Foundation is a 501c3 organization and funds are obtained from individuals, businesses, and corporate tax-deductable contributions as well as from other foundations.
For more information go to www.DPCharties.org or www.desplainescommunityfoundation.org or call Rosemary Argus at 847-297-4932.