No one goes away hungry at Hemmens

Zenia Topps, 7, of Elgin, learned a valuable lesson about giving back on Thanksgiving Day.

The little girl was one of the volunteers responsible for handing out desserts and pouring beverages for the people showing up for the 26th annual Thanksgiving Day lunch at the Hemmens Cultural Center. There were more than 100 volunteers from all over the Fox Valley on hand to make sure the lunch went on.

"I learned that you should help the homeless people who need food to try to give them hope," Zenia said. " 'Volunteer' means giving for your heart."

Zenia's parents worked with their daughter.

Her father Michael helped Zenia with desserts while her mother Laverne helped serve food to the more than 700 people who enjoyed a meal.

"This is the way we want to rear her - to give, give give," Laverne Topps said. "God gave us his only son ... so this is the least we can do among us."

This year, the Salvation Army put the dinner on by setting up a committee that secured donations for free food from local eateries.

As well, EFS Foundation gave $2,400 that the committee used to purchase plates, plastic ware, cups and aluminum foil for carryout meals.

"I'm just so thankful it came together," said John Shales, a committee member. "You honestly see the Lord's hand in this."

St. Joseph Catholic Church had organized and hosted the lunch for the last 24 years, but last year its coordinator stepped down, and the Community Crisis Center took care of the lunch.

But with the Crisis Center in financial straits, the Salvation Army came forward for Thursday's meal.

Major Ken Nicolai, head of the Salvation Army in Elgin, says the organization would be more than happy to put the meal on again next year.

"There's so many people in need and we wouldn't want them to be without dinners," he said.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Photo Galleries</h2> <ul class="gallery"> <li><a href="/story/?id=340013">Celebrating Thanksgiving in the suburbs </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>