Neighbors Helping Neighbors: A record-breaking number of meals served on Thanksgiving Day
The Des Plaines Community Foundation, Sysco Chicago and Sunrise Grill all worked together to provide and deliver Thanksgiving Day dinners recently. As a result, more than 460 individuals — homebound seniors and people with disabilities — had a very happy Thanksgiving.
“This is our 14th year making the meals and delivering the turkey dinners and 460 is the highest number of meals to date,” said Rosemary Argus, executive director of the DPCF. “It’s a group effort. Turkey dinners were delivered to those in wheelchairs, on oxygen and the blind; all those who have difficulty leaving their homes.”
Sunrise Grill, at 1930 E. Touhy Ave., joined in on the Thanksgiving Day dinners. The owner Chef Jose Medina and his wife Maria and staff donated their time and skill to help on Thanksgiving. This is the sixth year the restaurant roasted all the turkey breasts and prepared all the fixings for all 460 dinners.
“People are struggling in this economy and this group-effort program is very necessary and an important factor to some resident’s lives, especially during the holidays,” said Rich Holke, president of the DPCF. “The Foundation is happy to help to improve the lives of Des Plaines residents and provide food during the holidays.”
Sysco Chicago provided all the food, including 300 pounds of turkey breasts, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, roll with butter, an apple and a slice of pumpkin pie for dessert. Volunteers delivered all the meals.
Pete’s Coffee also donated 100 pounds of coffee, distributing one-pound bags to many families and/or groups with dinner.
Maine West High School students and District 62 schools created personal handmade cards wishing residents a “Happy Thanksgiving.”
According to Argus, the long list of people who were served dinner through the Thanksgiving-Day program consisted of Des Plaines residents who requested assistance by calling the Neighbors Helping Neighbors hotline at (888) 646-8898.
Everyone on both the Neighbors Helping Neighbors list and the City of Des Plaines lists were called to confirm they would be home on Thanksgiving Day and enjoyed having a cooked meal delivered, said Angelika Danek, LCSW, CRADC, Community & Police Social Worker from the Police Department. “The City of Des Plaines Engineering Department and the GIS staff created the maps of routes for the volunteer drivers.”
Local volunteers helped pack the meals for the Sysco volunteers who delivered meals between 9 a.m. and noon on Thanksgiving Day.
Tanzania Harper-Frazier, Sales Administrative Assistant at Sysco Chicago Inc., coordinated the Sysco volunteer-driver pickup.
“We are thankful for all the Sysco volunteers and drivers who include Bryce Burton, Juan Florez, Richard Jurczak, Steve Luczak, Mathew McCammon, Tim Muelleman, Josh Kackley and Alejandro Resto,” Harper-Frazier said.
DPCF Board Trustees who came to work and help pack the meals into travel boxes were Rich Holke, the president; Kathy Puetz; Bob Argus; Jan Goczkowski; and Sandra Hansen.
“Our Foundation donates to all the local pantries as well as many of the religious organizations that provide meals during the week for the needy of Des Plaines,” she said.
Some of the DPCF programs include Neighbors Helping Neighbors Program Committee; Healthy Community/Healthy Youth Program Committee; Intergenerational Program Committee; and Seasons of Service program Committee.
The Foundation has no paid employees and is 100-percent volunteer. The Foundation is a 501c3 organization and funds are obtained from individuals, businesses, and corporate tax-deductible contributions as well as from other foundations.
For more information on becoming a student volunteer visit desplainescommunityfoundation.org. Future volunteers can call Rosemary Argus, at (847) 525-5566.