Wheeling woman’s decade of good deeds inspires

Impressed by a Wheeling woman’s work with children who have life-threatening diseases through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a Schaumburg plumbing contractor decided to repay her with a good deed of his own Wednesday and repair her collapsed sewer pipe for free.

Vinay Rajput, owner of Mr. Rooter Plumbing, said he looks upon Gloria Voit of Wheeling almost as an honorary grandmother.

“She deserves something like that,” said Rajput, who estimates the value of the work at over $5,000. “We want to take care of her because she has done so much for others.”

Voit said she has been a volunteer “wish granter” for 10 years, working with approximately 40 children during that time.

Her job is to talk with a family and find out what the child wants, then coordinate with the organization’s Chicago office. She also gets to tell the family that the wish will be granted.

“That’s the best part,” she said.

Voit said her sewer problems surfaced two weeks ago. After others’ unsuccessful attempts to address the problem, she called Rajput’s office asking about his services. The two did not know each other before Voit called.

Rajput said Voit’s sewer problem most likely was caused by tree roots.

Voit said it would have been difficult to come up with the $5,000 herself.

“I know how my kids feel now when I tell them their wish is granted,” she said. “If that’s the way they feel, I’m going to keep doing it all my life.”