Elgin Chamber gives thanks to unsung community volunteers

In the spirit of the holidays, the Elgin Area Chamber gave thanks to Elgin's nonprofit service agencies at the 36th annual Community Thanksgiving Luncheon on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at Elgin Community College's University and Business Center.

During the program, the chamber recognized 11 unsung, behind-the-scenes heroes whose volunteer efforts are the heart and soul of these vital community service organizations.

The following is a summation of each nominee's accomplishments as submitted by their nominating organizations:

Sherry Lenz of Administer Justice:

Sherry Lenz has been a volunteer administrative assistant with Administer Justice since 2011. Each Wednesday, Sherry performs a myriad tasks including typing letters, assisting with mailings, filing, and overseeing client satisfaction surveys. The returned surveys confirm that the work being done by the staff and volunteers at Administer Justice is making a difference in the lives of the underresourced people they serve. There is no task too big or small for Sherry. She always brings a positive attitude and a smile.

Ron Barkby of PADS of Elgin:

Ron Barkby has been a large part of the PADS organization for over 26 years. He was brought on board by his pastor, one of the original founders of the program, and has been active ever since. Ron has served as board chair on and off for approximately half of the organization's existence. He continues to volunteer with his church several mornings a month at the shelter and serves as a valuable means of both emotional support and grounded stability for the executive director as well as other staff members.

Lucille Matejka of Senior Services Associates:

A relative newcomer to Elgin, Lucille Matejka can be found very regularly at the Elgin Senior Center. Every Monday she teaches country line dancing and accompanies her group when they perform in the area. She has been trained as a leader of Senior Services' "Evidence Based" wellness programs, including "Matter of Balance," "Fit and Strong" and "Chronic Disease Self-Management." She also leads a Prayer Shawl crafting group and a group of seniors that makes baby blankets given to the Gail Borden Public Library as welcome packages for new babies.

Lydia Turgeon of YWCA Elgin:

Lydia Turgeon is one of those quiet volunteers in the community that makes a difference. It is staggering what the efforts of one person can do. Thanks to her unique and creative fundraising ideas, YWCA Elgin has raised record dollars at their annual meeting. Lydia is the type of person that does what she promises to do including leading the YWCA through some challenging budget talks. She is committed to making our community a better place with the sacrifice of her time and efforts through local volunteerism. Put simply, she is just a person who cares.

Marge Zawadzki of Easter Seals DuPage and Fox Valley:

As a volunteer stand-in front desk receptionist at Easter Seals DuPage and Fox Valley Region, Marge Zawadzki helps out on a regular basis. She has been very quick to learn front desk procedures and keeps therapy appointments running smoothly. She is friendly and smart, and the staff love her quick sense of humor. She also volunteers for the Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin Senior Services, and St. Hugh of Lincoln Church in Elgin.

Mitch Esterino of Community Crisis Center:

Mitch Esterino is the Community Crisis Center's "go-to" volunteer. He started in the late 1990s as a volunteer with fundraising and special events. He also delivers weekly donations of milk, fresh fruit and clothing; provides greeting card project supplies; assembles furniture; and organizes fellow Lions Club members as volunteers. As an Affordable Care Act Navigator, he provides outreach services about health care once a week to walk-in clients.

Dave Edmundson of Food for Greater Elgin:

Dave Edmundson, one of Food for Greater Elgin's first volunteers, is still a vital part of the team. Prior to hiring staff, Dave ran much of the organization's warehouse operations. His wealth of knowledge and guidance were instrumental in training new staff and even today, Dave is the only person within the organization who can help with the mechanical aspects of managing the warehouse in the absence of staff. Always available and always willing to go above and beyond, Dave is a cherished, invaluable member of the Food for Greater Elgin team.

Terry Morris of Association for Individual Development:

Over the past decade, with painstaking detail, Terry Morris has created hundreds of bold, eye-catching, whimsical baskets for the annual Association for Individual Development benefit auction. She is a perfectionist, never settling for mediocrity, knowing full well that basket packaging needs to be exciting, dynamic in order to create sales. Terry also helps load/unload the truck, set up displays, working the evening of auction. Terry is an amazing person, an invaluable volunteer, and is generous with her time and talents.

Jude Cavallaro of The Literacy Connection:

Jude Cavallaro has been volunteering weekly for The Literacy Connection for nearly 10 years. She started as a volunteer tutor and worked with an adult learner, Claudia, for about five years. In addition, she offered to help in the office. She enters the tutoring and volunteer hours for nearly 200 tutors in the database every week and as logged hundreds of hours as a volunteer, saving significant staff time and resources. She has also been a regular Trivia Bee volunteer, helps organize the annual tutor/learner recognition, and helps with other projects as needed.

Bonnie Kirmse of Gail Borden Public Library:

Bonnie Kirmse is a retired Elgin Area School District U-46 teacher who spends countless hours working behind the scenes with all manner of used books. Her dedicated team brings gently loved books to community members and funds to the library Foundation so that they can support exciting exhibits and other enhancements for the library. She represents over 540 library volunteers who enhance library services by shelving books, DVDs, and other materials, giving warm greetings as a program host, working on outreach events or helping others learn about technology.

Ursula Wilson of Centro de Informacion:

Ursula Wilson does so many things quietly and without fanfare. She has been a member of the board of directors of Centro de Información since January 2008. During her tenure, she has been secretary of the board for 5 years and treasurer for 2 years. She has been the driving force of the marketing committee of the board of directors, helping in the planning of the annual Community Day Luncheon and the annual gala. Ursula also attends many events to represent the organization.

More than 150 guests attended the event, which featured live musical entertainment from opera singers Julie Baker and Solange Sior, a video outlining the impact of Elgin's nonprofit agencies and festive Thanksgiving table décor created by Elgin Area School District U-46 students.