Des Plaines Community Foundation, local businesses deliver Thanksgiving dinners
The Des Plaines Community Foundation, Sunrise Grill and Sysco Chicago worked together to provide and deliver Thanksgiving Day dinners. As a result, more than 200 families, homebound seniors and people with disabilities had a very happy Thanksgiving.
"This is our eighth year making the meals and delivering the turkey dinners," said Rosemary Argus, executive director of the Des Plaines Community Foundation. "It's a group effort. Turkey dinners were delivered to those in wheelchairs, on oxygen and the blind, who have difficulty leaving their homes."
Sunrise Grill, 1928-30 E. Touhy Ave., joined in on the Thanksgiving Day dinners for the second year, led by owner Chef Jose Medina. Jose and his wife, Maria, their three sons, friends and staff donated their time and skills to help the Des Plaines Community Foundation on Thanksgiving.
The Medinas roasted the turkey breasts and fixings for the dinners this year. Sysco Chicago provided 80 pounds of turkey breasts, vegetables and sweet potatoes.
Lacey Belle Argus and her schoolmates from Maine West made Thanksgiving Day "We Care About You Cards," which were included with the meals.
According to Kathy Puetz, Health and Human Services, the list of people who were served through the Thanksgiving Day program consisted of Des Plaines residents who requested assistance by calling the Neighbors Helping Neighbors hotline at (888) 646-8898.
"We had close to 200 on our list, and then we had a volunteer take five meals to a young mother and her three children at her apartment," said Argus. "There was plenty of pumpkin pies left over, so Kathy Puetz from the city of Des Plaines took them to the Des Plaines Police Department.
"This is a really touching program to provide for these families," said Argus. "We appreciate all the volunteers' hard work on Thanksgiving Day. This is one of the most satisfying things that we've done."
More than 100 local volunteers, including a large number from Sysco Foods, delivered meals between 9 and 10:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving. The Engineering Department at the city of Des Plaines made a map of the routes for the volunteer drivers.
"We had 20 volunteer drivers and close to 100 volunteers helping out," said Argus. "Many of the volunteers were Sysco Chicago employees. There were a few local community drivers as well. All went well."
Sysco Chicago also recently donated $15,000 to support Des Plaines Community Foundation programs. The donation was a result of the Sysco Chicago's "Nourishing Neighbors" initiative for community outreach in the city of Des Plaines.
"Nourishing Neighbors is an endeavor that directs Sysco's charitable donations primarily to local agencies working to get healthy and nutritious food where it's needed," said Gary Salvestrini, president at Sysco Chicago. "We care for people by giving back, doing well and changing lives in our communities."
Argus said a donation of this magnitude goes a long way to enhance the programs that provide direct services to those in need.
"We are honored that Sysco Chicago chose to support the vital work we do in the community to heal and strengthen the lives of children and families," said Argus. "We are fortunate to have such a support system of sponsors, friends and family that have come together to help the Des Plaines Community Foundation initiatives.
"Also, a special thank you to all who donated, and a special thank you to Lynne English and Gary Salvestrini from Sysco Chicago; board Trustees Rich Holke, Jan Goczkowski, Margaret Polovchak with her son Khyler, as well as Kathy Puetz, who were on hand to help, as well as Andrew Goczkowski, 8th ward alderman of the city of Des Plaines," said Argus.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors delivers on about 500 requests for help from Des Plaines residents in need every year. The Neighbors Helping Neighbors Program links community volunteers with residents in need of transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, yard and home care, installation of emergency response boxes, wheelchair ramps and decks.
The foundation also helps to keep the elderly living in their homes for as long as possible since volunteers help by cutting the grass, shoveling snow and providing emergency plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning repairs as they occur.
"We want seniors to live with dignity and independence for as long as possible," said Argus.
The Des Plaines Community Foundation recently donated $15,000 to area food pantries.
"Our foundation donates to all the local pantries, as well as many of the religious organizations that provide meals during the week for the needy of Des Plaines," said Argus.
The foundation has no paid employees and is 100 percent volunteer. The foundation is a 501(c) 3 organization and funds are obtained from individuals, businesses and corporate tax-deductible contributions, as well as from other foundations.
For information on becoming a volunteer, visit www.desplainescommunityfoundation.org. Future volunteers can call Rosemary Argus at (847) 297-4932 or (847) 525-5566.