Saving Pretty Pennies!

One of our sponsors recommends buying an Entertainment 2011 Coupon book. She writes, “today I saved $95.42!” while shopping in Menard’s. Her Entertainment 2010 Coupon book contained a 15% off any Menard’s purchase.

One of our staffers was watching the TV Show the Office last night, and the Office was talking about a way to save $15,000, mentioning the Entertainment Coupon book.

Episode 7.06

You see, The Office staff were told that if they won the costume contest they would receive a coupon book worth…$15,000! Being completely blinded by the $15k, no one realized that they would have to spend at least that much.

Another one of our staffers mentioned that she bought the book, and soon after she realized that she saved on the movie ticket for her friend since the second ticket was free.

These books are amazing and would make a great addition to any smart saver. These books will be available for $25 until December 3^rd. For more information, contact us by email at hsp@humanitarianservice.org.

Oh What A Morning!

This morning, we had 13 Montini High School students volunteer with us! Two faculty members, Elise B. and Becky M., also came with the students to help! They came in and helped us sort and organize items from recent food drives. They even took inventory of items we purchased from the The Northern Illinois Food Bank! The food items that they helped prepare will be donated to needy seniors and families at Christmas in DuPage and Kane counties. We want to thank them for all their hard work!

We also want to thank our volunteer facilitator, Larry! Larry has been a volunteer for over 3 years and today, he graciously helped to instruct the students and led them on a tour of our facility!! Not only did he show the students what to do, but at times, he also worked right along side them to help sort!! Thank you so much to all of our volunteers. You did a wonderful job!

Larry talking with the students AND Our student volunteers!!!

Elise and Becky!

Make donations online through Network for Good!

It has recently been brought to our attention here at HSP that not all of our supporters are aware that they may make contributions to us online through Network for Good.

You may or may not be aware the mission of Network for Good is to make it as simple to donate online, as it is to shop online. With just a few simple clicks of a mouse you may make a donation to Humanitarian Service Project.

Network for Good has proven itself to be an organization that can be trusted to correctly process and handle donors charitable dollars. Not only have they received accreditation from the Better Business Bureau but they have an impressive track record that speaks for itself through raising $300 million in online donations working with more than 50,000 non profits.

If you wish to contribute through network follow the link below to go directly to the Humanitarian Service Project’s page! 

https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2=363187979&vlrStratCode=gWW0uWWtG4vZYaMB%2f0MXcIaQZMr8e86ZhpDKnbDNb9u9qFWD5fRFPlSBmmCQcoN%2b

Rotary Club of Carol Stream Donates 2 Cargo Vans Full of Non-Perishable Food

HSP's Monday Morning Food Sorters Unload & begin sorting the donation.


Saturday morning teams of volunteers pulled together, going door to door to collect non-perishable food from residents of Carol Streams' homes for the Rotary Club of Carol Stream's annual "Make a Difference Day". The results were amazing as HSP received 2 cargo vans full of non-perishable food with an approximate weight of 6,750 lbs and this was only a third of what the Rotarians collected. They also served other Carol Stream agencies including the Interfaith Food Pantry at the Outreach Community Center and Feeding Northwest DuPage at Lutheran Church of the Master.



Though it was only the 2nd year the club hosted this event, Food Drive Chairman Luanne Triolo-Newman is no stranger to organizing food drives. "I've been coordinating a food drive in my neighborhood for 12 years. For this event, we attached brightly colored flyers to grocery bags and tied them to neighbor's doors the Sunday before (the Saturday pick up). It takes more time to distribute the bags than you might think!"



This year, the organization also used soical media as a form of marketing and volunteer recruitment. "I posted on Facebook that we were looking for help and I would receive responses back. It really helped me coordinate the routes and volunteers." Local schools also got involved, motivated their students, and had great success. Benjamin Middle School's volunteer and mother Angela awarded a pizza party to the classroom that brought in the most canned goods and Glenbard North offered an i-pod to the student who collected the most food.

Rotarians are no stangers to service and this international organizatoin with 1.5 million members has been reaching out to better their communities since 1905, making them the oldest service organization in the world. Not only are they taking on projects at the local level, but the organization also provides aid and assistance on the national and international level as well.



"It just amazes me! If you and I tried to feed hungry people, how far would we get? But look at what happens when the community pulls together, what a great success," Luanne says and we couldn't agree more!

Help A Needy Senior With A Home Delivered Meal!!

Happy Monday!!

Halloween is a week away and the Senior Citizen Project is in need of volunteers to bring a spook-tackler meal to seniors in our program. The interested volunteers will be sent a senior’s name, address, & phone number. The volunteer would then call the senior to set up a date and time to deliver the meal. Volunteers would also give the senior’s meal options to chose from, provide the meal on that day, and visit if the senior is willing and time allows. Some seniors are extraverted and would welcome a visit with the meal, while others are shy and would graciously accept just the meal.

These are towns of the seniors that are looking to receive these holiday meals.

Aurora: for Lucille

Bensenville: for Eleanor

Carol Stream: for Ruth

Downers Grove: for Marie, Mary Ellen, Antoinette, Nellie

Glen Ellyn: for Essie, Francilla

Lombard: for Georgia

Westmont: for Muhammad

Wheaton: for Icorene, Sava, Regina

Willowbrook: for Barbara

Woodridge: for Stella

If we have never worked with you before, we will need names and phone number of 2 professional references.

If you are interested in volunteering for a holiday meal, you can contact Sarah Grindstaff, Senior Citizen Project Coordinator at

630-221-8340. We look forward to hearing from you!!

 

Generous at every age!

Wow, we have been receiving so many wonderful donations these past few weeks from many great people and organizations. This donation is especially exciting as it came from a second grade class at DuJardin Elementary School! These 7 and 8 year olds ran a food drive collecting food from the entire k-5 school. In all, they were able to raise 12 full boxes!!!

DuJardin and its students are amazing. We want to thank them all, especially Julie Frerichs' and her 2nd grade class!


Pictured above: 2nd grade teacher Julie Frerichs and HSP Staff Alex unloading the food donation!

A Senior Shows Her Gratitude

HSP received another heartwarming thank you from one of the seniors in our program.

HSP Receives Thank You from a grateful senior who is enrolled in our Senior Citizen Project!

These two fury friends love to help too! Their owner, Cindy Adams, kindly delivers food each month to three of our seniors. During our October 16th Delivery Day, these cute pups accompanied Cindy to make our seniors' day a little brighter.

More Cuddly Friends :)

Tuesday we welcomed many new faces to the HSP office. We received a generous donation of super cute teddy bears by Carol Sopek. These cuddly friends will put smiles on the faces of the many children in our program :) The stuffed animals will help to serve our 700 children through the Children's Birthday Project. Each child receives a stuffed animal in their birthday box. These bears will make their way to very deserving kids. They can't wait to be held by loving arms.

Thank you Carol for such a loving gift!!!

Help needed for Christmas!

Dear Friends,

As we gear up for our 2010 Christmas Offering we ask for your assistance in helping us serve needy area children through conducting Giving Trees!

We have committed to providing Christmas gifts for 854 underprivileged children this holiday season and cannot do it without the help of generous people like you!

One way you can help is by providing gifts through giving trees. If you wish to assist us in this way, simply let us know the number of children you would like, and the date in which you need the wish list by. We will then email you the number of wish lists that you requested. Each wish list contains suggested items for each child. You may choose to purchase the entire list, or just one item. Once you have purchased the gifts you will be asked to return them wrapped to our center located at 465 Randy Rd. Carol Stream, IL by December 10^th. Thank you in advance for your consideration in assisting us this holiday season!

Sorting with UPS

 

                         

Today we had four volunteers from UPS came in and sorted non perishable food in preparation for the holiday season that is fast approaching. The volunteer’s did not arrive empty handed. They arrived with boxes of goods that were collected from a food drive that they conducted. Working hard from 10am-12pm, they did a fantastic job starting such a huge task. We see many volunteer’s from UPS, throughout the year.

Thank you UPS for not only volunteering your time, but for having such as successful food drive. We really appreciate it!!!!

Prepping For Delivery Day

The Happy Volunteers & The Overflowing Boxes

 

 

 

 

Friday was a busy day here at HSP. With Delivery Day happening the next morning, many volunteers pitched in to help with tasks that still needed to be completed. Glenbard South’s National Honor Society & Wheaton North’s Key Club was among the volunteers that helped out. They took on the big task of filling the produce boxes that all the seniors would be receiving. The box was filled with 9 varieties of fresh fruits, 11 varieties of fresh vegetables and two or more fresh breads totaling around 90 pounds. These fantastic volunteers stayed late to make sure that all the boxes were completed before they left.

In addition, we also had fantastic volunteers sorting and labeling all the senior secret pal gifts and getting them ready to go out to all the excited seniors.

Thank You volunteers for going above and beyond to help out with Delivery Day preparations!! We can’t thank you enough!!

The Secret Pal Gifts

A Happy Birthday Means the World to a Child

HSP is so thankful to Gregory Middle School. Our smiles and hearts go out to the Student Council who organized an amazing toy drive. Gregory Middle School has donated fun toys, learning games, puzzles, and even cameras to help children born into poverty. These gifts will go directly to the Children’s Birthday Project to ensure that each child in this program receives a birthday box full of fun toys and happy memories.

Thank you!

Help A Child In Poverty Have A Real Party At Home

Help give a child an opportunity to have a birthday party and create memories that will last a lifetime by donating Party-In-A-Box-Kits. These kits will help the 700 children who range in age from 3-12 years old in our Children Birthday Project. Each kit contains all the necessary items for the child to have a party and to invite up 6-8 other children to join in the celebration. The items inside the box include: cake mix, frosting, candles, balloons, streamers, cups, napkins, plates (that match), and party favors (which may include card games, jewelry, small bouncy balls, wrapped candy). Optional items can include: Invitations, party hats, treat bags, decorations, table cloths, and forks.

Help give parents the opportunity to participate in their children’s birthday regardless of their finical situation by donating a Party-In-A-Box!!!

Substitute Drivers needed for November and December for Senior Citizen Project Delivery Days!

 

 

Looking for a way to help out? HSP is looking for substitute drivers for delivery day. Delivery Day happens each month and brings food & personal care packages to seniors in the program. If you are interested in becoming a substitute driver here is how you can become one:

· You must have a valid driver license

· Two references are need. Example references are a place of business, club/organization or churches.

· Reliable car

· Once chosen as substitute driver, an email will be sent out to you with routes that need to be filled.

· After route is set into place, a time must be picked for picking up the items. Pickup is at 8:45-11:45am here at HSP

· Show up on time and be ready to drive.

This month we were in need of more substitute drivers, thanks to many responses, we are no longer in need of drivers for delivery day this month. Thanks for all the responses from possible drivers, we appreciate it.

We are looking for substitute drivers for November 13^th and December 11^th. If you are interested in this fulfilling opportunity to help seniors in  need or if you would like to find out more information you may either email HSP at hsp@humanitarianservice.org or give us a call at 630-221-8340.

A Very Busy Tuesday!!!

We just picked up a huge donation from the Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization. In collaboration with other stakeholders, the Joint Commission looks to help improve health care for the public by evaluating health care organizations. They held a food drive in which they got 22 boxes of non-perishable food items, including once case of Mac N Cheese donated from Kraft. Not only do we use these food items for the 120 seniors we serve every month, but we are also starting to collect food drives to serve the 150 families with 3 weeks worth of food at Christmas. We are so thankful for their efforts. Their generous hearts have made a huge difference in the lives of so many needy seniors. Let us know if you are interested in hosting a food drive!

The 22 boxes!

We also want to Welcome Nicole and Lisa!!

Nicole is a new intern! Nicole graduated from DePaul University in June 2010, majoring in Physics with a minor in Math. She worked as a teacher's assistant at DePaul and ran the Society of Physics Students there as well. She even worked as a Chicago quarter mentor in which she led tours for freshmen around the city. Eventually, Nicole would like to get her MBA and work for an environmental company. Currently however, she is focused on volunteer opportunities and she is excited to help us here at HSP. We are so happy to have her!

Lisa will be working with us as a volunteer office assistant! We want to first congratulate Lisa on her retirement in May after 25 years as a Police sergeant for the Naperville Police Department! Now looking ahead to the next chapter in her life, she is fulfilling her desire to to volunteer in her spare time. After hearing about HSP from one of our fellow volunteers, Lisa decided to check us out! She is also an artist and enjoys drawing, painting, and taking art classes. We look forward to working with her!

Lisa and Nicole!!

Columbus Day Sorting

Happy Columbus Day!!

With this beautiful day in full swing, volunteers have taken time out of the sun to help in our food bank. With Delivery Day fast approaching, it is time to get all the necessary items in order for a smooth day on Saturday. The volunteers made bags filled with non perishable items for the seniors in the program. The seniors will be receiving fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen meats, breads, personal care items, paper products, non perishables items and secret pal’s gifts. In addition, 3 computers are going out this Thursday to coincide the 5 that have already been distinguished.

Thank you volunteers for your help.

We are in need of non perishable items for the holiday season. Any donations are gratefully appreciated.

What’s on a senior’s mind?

The Christmas is surely approaching, and this week HSP decided to analyze the most desired gifts for senior citizens.

Our research showed that male seniors preferred a warm sweater for the upcoming winter.

Male seniors:

Sweater

With the other popular gift being gym shoes

The female seniors showed more variety in their choices, but once again we tracked down the most desired gifts.

Female seniors:

Bed Sheet Set was leading the way

Kohl’s gift card came in as close 2^nd.

Nightgown/Pajamas made a strong finish as 3^rd.

The most preferred gift, however, regardless of gender happens to be:

Walmart Gift Card

Give a Gift, Get a Smile!

Like to Shop? Go on a shopping trip for one of our needy seniors!! We are still looking for individuals and groups to become secret pals for 14 seniors in our Senior Citizen Project (SCP). Secret Pals bring gifts every month to our center, and HSP volunteer drivers deliver these items plus 90 lbs. of groceries to 120 needy seniors. Most Secret Pals spend $5 to $25 a month on items such as DVD movies, slippers, gift cards, magazines, postage stamps, dish soap, lotion, laundry detergent, shampoo, or even Entertainment Books, which HSP is currently selling at $25.00 to raise money for senior sponsorships. Please let us know if you are interested in becoming a secret pal!! Our seniors greatly appreciate it and so do we!

Come join Ginna and Char! They are volunteers and would love to have more pals join our team!!

This Donation Just Blew In

Just in time for the cold and flu season.

Yesterday, we received a donation of 8 cases of facial tissue from G & M Die Casting Company. Each of the cases held 30 boxes of facial tissue. That is 240 boxes in total and will help seniors, who receive two boxes of tissues each month.  Thank You G & M Die Casting for your donation, so many of our participates will benefit from those tissues.                                                                        

We are still in need of toilet paper, facial tissues and paper towels. Any donation of

these products would be gratefully appreciated.

 

Quilts Made With Love

                      

                                               

       Today, we received a gracious donation of ten handmade quilts. The donation was given by Pauline Bury, of Milford, Illinois. Pauline has been donating to HSP for over 20 years, and made the quilts for seniors who take part in our Senior Citizen Project. The beautifully designed quilts will keep many of our seniors warm as the days grow colder.

                                                    

              Thank you Pauline for your continuous donations!!!

Welcome New Intern Kelly

Kelly Moody, a recent graduate of the University of Missouri, has joined HSP as our newest intern. Kelly lives nearby in Carol Stream and went to high school at Wheaton North.

In college, she was a member of Lamda Pi Eta, the communications honorary.

Kelly's hobby is reading. She says Tuesdays with Morrie is "probably" her favorite book. But she has set an ambitious goal for herself. She is planning to read all of the 100 Books to Read Before you Die. She's on number 21.

Welcome aboard, Kelly!

Benet Academy Students Donate $1,000 to HSP

The Outreach program at Benet Academy in Lisle recently donated $800 to the Senior Citizen Project and $200 to the Children's Birthday Project.

Benet's Outreach program allows students the opportunity to help improve the life quality of underprivileged people. In order to raise the money for the donation, the students held a fundraiser last spring in which students could pay $2 to dress out of uniform for a day. Nearly all of the students participated.

Director of Outreach, Elizabeth Byers, said, "We have been donating toys and other items to HSP since before I took over as director, so it is a tradition, so to speak. It is always a positive experience working with HSP and we admire all that HSP does for the residents of DuPage County!"