Marklund's volunteers help staff, residents in making everyday life possible
Marklund had been serving individuals with severe and profound developmental disabilities in DuPage and Kane counties for more than 60 years when it acquired the Little Angels Center in Elgin in 2016.
The two organizations had similar stories. Both started back in the 1950s when a registered nurse - Claire Haverkampf in Elmhurst and Pat Wasmond in Elgin - took into their homes a child with severe disabilities.
In Haverkampf's case, she brought into her family 5-day-old Mark William Lund, who was born with Down syndrome and severe cardiac complications. His name lives on, and reflects a vision to provide a purpose-filled life for every individual with disabilities.
"Marklund started as a children's home," says Dawn Lassiter-Brueske, communications manager, "when people weren't able to keep children with severe disabilities at home.
"But now, with all of the technology and medical advances, more children are able to stay in their own homes," she adds, "so our biggest percentage of clients are aging adults."
The expanded organization now serves more than 275 people, including 183 in residential care and 93 in day schools in Bloomingdale, Geneva and Elgin. The need continues to grow, especially for its day schools, which serve as alternatives for districts that cannot serve students with multiple needs.
Marklund employs more than 500 staff members to care for these medically fragile clients, but it is the 1,700 volunteers who help the organization deliver its mission of "making everyday life possible."
"Our volunteers are an extra set of hands for our staff," Lassiter-Brueske says. "They work with residents and clients in activities either on-site or on outings."
She points to volunteers helping with modified gym activities, in arts and crafts, music therapy, aquatic therapy and modified baseball games in the summer on its Miracle Field located on its Geneva campus.
"Part of everyday life is meeting new people and making new friends," Lassiter-Brueske says. "Our volunteers bring the community into Marklund and help us get our residents and clients out into the community. They are a wonderful asset."
Still, with its growing numbers, Marklund always needs more volunteers.
"The number one reason people want to help is to give back to others in need," says Cathy Nikrandt, manager of volunteer engagement.
Opportunities range from working one on one with residents to helping in supporting roles. They draw a wide range of individuals to help, from teenagers 14 and older to retired adults, entire families, corporate employees and sports teams.
"High school students make up a big percentage of our volunteers," Lassiter-Brueske says. "Some fulfill service hour requirements and others do it as entire teams."
She points to the Kaneland High School boys and girls cross-country teams, which often come at the beginning of their season. They visit with residents, but during one memorable visit they did manicures and hand massages for residents.
"That was quite a sight to see, the boys doing manicures," she says. "Our residents loved it."
Most recently, the girls soccer team from Geneva High School made more than 50 hand-tied, fleece blankets for residents and came to distribute them.
A favorite Marklund tradition is opening gifts with residents on Christmas Eve. This year, Marklund residents drew more than 1,000 presents - a record - from donors fulfilling wish list items on holiday trees throughout the counties the organization serves.
Even more impressively, on Christmas Eve morning, some 370 volunteers came to help clients open gifts, including plenty of families, officials say.
"It was so heartwarming to see so many people give up their Christmas Eve morning to be with our residents," Lassiter-Brueske says.
Beyond the holidays, Marklund welcomes volunteers weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Help is needed in its Community Day Services Program at the Geneva and Elgin campuses, and at the day school on the Bloomingdale campus.
Marklund also needs volunteers on the weekends at its group homes in Geneva and at its Bloomingdale and Elgin homes. Volunteers help with community outings, arts and crafts, sports games, reading, or playing board games.
For information about volunteering, contact Nikrandt at (630) 593-5468 or cnikrandt@marklund.org for the Geneva campus, or Lisa Esposito at (630) 397-5661 or lesposito@marklund.org for the Bloomingdale and Elgin campuses.