Volunteers needed for holiday meals program for needy seniors
The Humanitarian Service Project (HSP), a Carol Stream-based charity, is looking for volunteers to brighten the lives of low-income seniors they serve by making or purchasing a holiday-themed meal and delivering it to a senior's home.
“Through our Senior Citizen Project, we provide needy area seniors with a monthly delivery of 90lbs of fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen meats, non-perishable food, paper and household products. We recently started the Holiday Meal program as another way to show these impoverished seniors that someone cares and they are not forgotten” said Karole Kettering, May's holiday for the program will be Mother's Day.
The volunteer will talk with the senior to determine what type of meal to make or purchase and then will set up a time to deliver it. The meal does not need to be delivered on a holiday and it can be whatever the volunteer and the needy senior decide on.
“We just wanted to make one day a month special. The needy seniors in our program have such struggles and stress just trying to pay for rent and medications, and the bare necessities. The feedback we've gotten from the seniors has been extraordinary. They can't believe someone would take the time to provide the meal and visit them in person!” said Sarah Grindstaff, coordinator of the program.
The program seems to be a hit with the volunteers as well. Here are some quotes from volunteers after delivering last month's Holiday Meal:
“Providing this meal made Valentine's Day a special day for my senior, and also very rewarding for me.”
“I had goosebumps all the way home after delivering a meal to a very sweet senior. I would love the opportunity to continue volunteering for this worthy project.”
Currently, the program has openings for 11 volunteers to pair with seniors in the Aurora, Bensenville, Downers Grove, Glendale Heights, Naperville, Villa Park, Westmont, Wheaton, Willowbrook and Woodridge areas. If you would like to volunteer for the Humanitarian Service Project's Holiday Meal Program, please call 630-221-8340 or hsp@humanitarianservice.org.
For more information about the Humanitarian Service Project call 630-221-8340
465 Randy Road, Carol Stream, IL 60188
hsp@humanitarianservice.org
website: www.humanitarianservice.org
blog: humanitarianserviceproject.blogspot.com.
HSP has earned Charity Navigator's highest Four Star rating for the sixth consecutive year. HSP's mission is to alleviate the pain and suffering that poverty creates in children, families and seniors living in DuPage and Kane counties, Illinois. Last year during the Christmas Offering, 1,264 children received gifts and 150 impoverished families received three weeks of groceries, frozen meats, and fresh produce. With the Senior Citizen Project, HSP provides a monthly food delivery and secret pal gifts to 120 low-income seniors. The Children's Birthday Project reaches the youngest underprivileged, making birthdays and Christmas truly memorable occasions for 700 children. Feed the Kids provides low-income families with groceries and fresh produce. HSP conducts an annual school supplies drive, which donates supplies to the DuPage Back to School Fair in addition to furnishing schools and individual children with necessary supplies.