Someone to be thankful for: Making veterans' days just a little bit better
As a statement supporting MaryAnn Ogilvie's volunteerism, it's a strong one.
"Veterans, to me, don't get the respect and the financial support they deserve when they risk their lives so that we can live in the country that we live in, which is the best," she said.
Ogilvie's doing something about it.
A Schaumburg resident for 50 years, Ogilvie commutes to Wheaton at least twice a week to volunteer at the Enger Adams Veterans Center, part of the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans.
Opened in 2007 and co-founded by Vietnam veteran Bob Adams and Gulf War veteran Dirk Enger, both of Winfield, the shelter offers veterans transitional and permanent housing help, as well as other supportive services and an employment program. It also runs the Freedom Commissary that provides veterans clothing and household, hygiene and cleaning items.
The organization reaches more than 400 veterans and their families annually.
A volunteer at the Enger Adams Veterans Center for about the last year and a half, Ogilvie answers phones, fills veterans' requests for commissary items, does data entry, takes inventory and greets the veterans when they pick up their orders.
"It's behind-the-scenes work, which is kind of what I like," she said. "Just a piece of the puzzle to help the veterans."
MSHV Executive Director Christine Lewis is thankful for Ogilvie all year long, not only during the holidays.
"Things don't run at Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans without MaryAnn," Lewis said. "Her support allows the staff to focus their time on serving our veterans through more crucial programming, and to be out in the community securing resources and partnerships. She keeps things running smoothly and efficiently.
"When I see MaryAnn, my spirit feels an instant lift. My admiration of her is high."
Ogilvie - her husband of 30 years, Bob, is a nephew of the late Illinois Gov. Richard Ogilvie - is friends with MSHV President Scott Ziemba, who mentioned he was affiliated with the shelter and described what it did.
"That's really cool," she thought.
She started her own donation drive for MSHV, which raised money and a sizable amount of items for the commissary.
Having retired as a physical therapist and manager at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, and with the Ogilvies' six daughters and a son grown and out of the house, MaryAnn was seeking something to do when not babysitting grandchildren or attending their ballgames. She and Bob also are active with the Schaumburg Township Mental Health Board.
Ogilvie called the Midwest Shelter to see if it accepted volunteers. Of course, it relies on them.
"I kind of missed the sense of belonging and contributing to larger projects," she said.
Lewis does not take this for granted. She appreciates Ogilvie's consistent reliability in volunteering at MSHV when she could do anything else in retirement.
But it seems like this is a calling.
"It's just important to get out in the world. We only have one life, so do what you can with it," Ogilvie said.
"I figure God gave me one chance," she said. "He's blessed me and my family immensely, and I'm so thankful. It's good to give back and appreciate what other people are going through."
For more information about the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans, visit helpaveteran.org.