The early bird catches the worm…and also saves money

        Those of us at HSP would like to remind you that this is the last day to sign up for the early bird rates in the 3^rd annual DuPage Human Race, a 5k run/fitness walk supporting over 50 non-profit organizations in DuPage county. Link here.

Tomorrow, the cost of registration will go up five dollars for both walking ($25 to $30) and running ($30 to $35). The early bird rates are a great deal, and you don’t want to wait until April when the prices will be $40 and $45!

        If you are interested walking or running for HSP, select “Humanitarian Service Project” in the drop down menu during registration when asked “What nonprofit organization do you wish to support?” Please let us know if you do so we can cheer you on!

       5ks aren’t your thing? No problem! You can still help out by sponsoring our runners in the race by clicking here.

        The race will be held at 9 a.m. on April 26th at The Esplanade at Locust Point in Downers Grove. HSP has had a lot of fun participating in the event the past two years, and we are eagerly looking forward to this year’s race. Every supporter for the HSP team gives us an opportunity to fund impoverished children and senior citizens in our programs. We hope to see you there!

Thanks, Naperville Exchange Club!

Floyd, Dot from the Exchange Club, and Kristin  

Yesterday, Dot Maginot of the Naperville Exchange Club made a special visit to the HSP office. In addition to receiving a tour of our facility, she dropped off an extremely generous donation on behalf of the club which will go towards our Feed the Kids program which helps local children and families. Through Feed the Kids HSP supplies 100 families (approximately 400 children) with 175 lbs of nutritious groceries during the summer months of June, July, and August. The Exchange Club has been a huge supporter of Feed the Kids since 2006.

HSP Staff and Friends at Ribfest 2013

Naperville Exchange Club runs Ribfest, which occurs annually in Naperville on the Fourth of July weekend. Although Ribfest hosts an excellent music lineup, fun family activities, and of course, lots of delicious food, its ultimate goal is to raise money for local charities who work towards improving child welfare. HSP is fortunate to be one of the charities whom the Exchange Club chose to benefit. This year, Ribfest raised over a half million dollars in total to distribute among the charities they support.  HSP staff and friends participate in this exciting event by volunteering each year. Thank you so much, Naperville Exchange Club, for your generous gift! We look forward to another fun time at Ribfest this summer. 

St. Joan of Arc School Gets the Party Started!

Today, HSP received a very welcome visit from our friends at St. Joan of Arc School in Lisle. The students at St. Joan of Arc, and their parents, ran a donation drive to provide birthday party supplies to the needy children served by our Children’s Birthday Project. Each family was asked to provide one item for a needy boy or girl, but as the size of the donation attests, everyone at St. Joan of Arc generously gave much more. The donation filled two SUVs to the brim with party supplies (like cake mix, frosting, balloons, streamers, party favors, and more,) toys, and school supplies for needy kids!

Deana Arndt, member of the St. Joan of Arc PSO, who organized the drive told us that everyone at the school really took to the idea and ran with it, totally exceeding her expectations. This outpouring of support from the school will go along way in HSP’s goal to provide a special and memorable birthday to 925 impoverished children every year. We wish to thank everyone at St. Joan of Arc for this amazing donation!

If you too are interested in helping HSP reach out to needy children throughout DuPage, and parts of, Kane Counties, you can learn how to get involved from HSP’s website at: humanitarianservice.org

HSP Welcomes Two New Interns

This week, we at HSP have had the pleasure of welcoming two new members of our intern team. These two interns, Bridget and Chase, will be spending time over the next few months learning new skills as they work with us to serve the needy seniors, children, and families in our programs.

Our “new” General Intern is Bridget Everson. We say “new” because Bridget has been regularly volunteering at HSP for the past couple months, and is now officially joining us as an intern. Bridget will be heading off to college this fall at the University of Missouri where she intends to double major in International Business and Political Science. She says that in the future she is interested in working for a non-profit, and is excited to learn more about the non-profit world through her internship at HSP. Bridget started volunteering with us to earn community service hours for National Honors Society, and says her volunteering inspired her to become an intern here. During her time here Bridget will be assisting HSP staff members on several projects, including communicating with the families enrolled in our Children’s Birthday Project. In addition to her work in service, Bridget is a member of Model UN and is an avid golfer.

            The other new intern we have welcomed this week is Chase Miller, our Accounting Intern. Chase will be working alongside HSP’s co-founder and CFO Floyd Kettering, who will be showing Chase the ropes of non-profit accounting. Chase currently attends College of DuPage from which he will move on to get his Accounting degree at Northwestern. Chase said he is also interested in working for a non-profit once he finishes school, and is looking forward to the experiences that he will have here at HSP. Chase says his interest for serving others was instilled in him as young man through Boy Scouts. Outside of his service and academic interests, Chase enjoys reading and fitness.

            HSP is very happy to have both Bridget and Chase join the other bright members of our intern team. Please join us in welcoming them to HSP.

Special Labels for Education Event Happening Right Now!

To all our friends who enjoy shopping, HSP would like to take time to let you know about an opportunity that would allow you to help us serve needy children while getting your grocery shopping done. Now through this Wednesday, January 29^th, Meijer is offering 100 bonus point “Labels for Education” vouchers. Here is how it works:

-          At Meijer, purchase 5 items from participating brands (Campbell’s, Prego, Post, Pepperidge Farm, Swanson, Glad, Emerald, Pace, and more.)

-          You will be given a certificate with 100 point bonus for Labels for Education.

-          Just mail or drop off the certificate at HSP.

The Labels for Education program allows HSP to acquire much needed items for the sake of the needy children in our Children’s Birthday Project, particularly sports equipment. It costs just 550 Labels for Education points for a football, so the more people who participate, the more items we can receive for needy kids.

Of course, even when this promotion is over, HSP collects Labels for Education all year round. So please keep us, and the needy children we serve, in mind when you purchase products that participate in Labels for Education.

Thank you, Prairie Elementary Girl Scouts

HSP gave a warm welcome yesterday to the Girl Scouts of Prairie Elementary in Naperville. A very enthusiastic bunch, the troop paid a visit to learn about all the programs at HSP, while further serving our community. Our Senior Citizen Coordinator Michelle gave them a tour of the building, and they asked many great questions as they saw how our operation reaches out to seniors and children in need.

            After the tour, the Girl Scouts took home gifts to wrap for five of the many needy children served by the Children’s Birthday Project. Additionally, the troop brought in party supplies for our “Party-in-a-Bag” kits, full of items like cake mix, decorations, party favors, and candles. The kits go into our “Birthday Boxes” which provide low-income children the supplies they deserve for a fun-filled and memorable birthday. We genuinely want all of the children in our community to feel special and cared for, and we could not achieve this without help from our gracious volunteers and donors.

            From everyone at HSP, we send the Girl Scouts of Prairie Elementary a very big thank you for coming in yesterday and helping out!

Clarke Volunteers Have Things all Wrapped Up

This week, HSP has been blessed to have two volunteer groups from Clarke Environmental come in to wrap gifts for the needy children we serve. Two Clarke employees joined us on Tuesday, and three spent their time today wrapping toys that will be a part of the 20-25 lb. “Birthday Boxes” for the 925 impoverished children in our Children’s Birthday Project. These groups brought their own wrapping supplies, and diligently spent several hours each carefully wrapping gifts for the kids. Clarke’s employees have previously lent their support by volunteering for our Christmas Offering program in December. Most recently, many volunteers from Clarke generously gave their time distributing gifts and groceries to needy families on one of our Christmas Offering distribution days last month. We are thankful for the heartfelt assistance our friends at Clarke have given for the sake of the impoverished children and families we serve, and we were very happy to host them this week.

Providing gifts to 925 needy children each year means there sure are A LOT of gifts to wrap. Usually, most of the wrapping for our Children’s Birthday Project happens outside of the HSP Center as volunteers pick up gifts for needy children, wrap, and then return them to be distributed. It is only one of the many opportunities we at HSP have to get engaged in helping needy kids. If you, like these wonderful groups from Clarke, are interested in reaching out to children living in poverty, you can learn more at our website: http://humanitarianservice.org/whatwedo/bdayproject.html

An Outpouring of Support from a Great Article

Recently, Humanitarian Service Project was featured in the January issue of Woman’s World magazine. The article was all about ways left over holiday supplies can be used to help needy children. Since the article was published, we've received responses from many new friends, both near and far, looking to help reach out to needy children. It has been so wonderful to connect with people interested in serving impoverished children throughout the country.

Despite the distance, we've received a lot of supplies as a result of this article from those outside of communities we serve. We've received Christmas wrapping paper, bags, and more from as far away as Texas and Colorado. These wrapping supplies will be used to spread holiday cheer to children of needy families served by our next Christmas Offering. We've received some other great gifts for children as a result of the article as well including clothes, toys, and books. One example of these donations came in yesterday from children’s author Dr. Richard Joelson, who donated eight books and 28 audio recordings of his books Oliver McCoy: The Boy Who Loved Onions and Oliver McCoy: The Vegetable Boy. Dr. Joelson was made aware of us from his publisher, who personally sent a box of her own wrapping supplies and thought it would be great to send the needy kids we serve these books about healthy eating.

The article has connected HSP to a number of new friends who have been very generous in helping reach out to impoverished children in DuPage and Kane Counties. We wish to thank everyone who responded to the article.

Thanks, Birthday Cakes 4 Free and FVAWL!

Many senior citizens experience the pain of loneliness and isolation every day. Without friends and family nearby and often with limited mobility, seniors served by HSP’s Senior Citizen Project can go days without seeing another person. We believe that a senior’s emotional well-being is just as important as his or her physical well-being, which is why we partner with two local charities to provide more than just a monthly grocery delivery. The DuPage and Kane chapter of Birthday Cakes 4 Free and the Fox Valley Animal Welfare League help to alleviate the pain of loneliness felt by our senior citizens.

The Birthday Cakes 4 Free Dupage and Kane chapter is run by Rose Garcia. They receive donations of money, supplies, and store-bought cakes, which in turn provides a cake for underprivileged and needy children and senior citizens. Each of HSP’s 123 seniors served by the Senior Citizen Project receives a yummy treat during their birthday month. This year, Birthday Cakes 4 Free will be providing scrumptious and generously sized cupcakes from Whole Foods for the seniors. Without Birthday Cakes 4 Free, many seniors could see their birthday pass by without any celebration or acknowledgement. Thanks to Birthday Cakes 4 Free, our senior citizens will, at the very least, receive a delicious cupcake and a friendly visit from their driver to help celebrate their special day. If you are interested in helping Birthday Cakes 4 Free ensure that no one has an unacknowledged birthday, please visit the Dupage and Kane Chapter Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Birthdaycakes4freeforDupageandKanecounties.

Bob of FVAWL delivering pet food for
our needy seniors' pets. 

While a special birthday delivery ensures that none of our seniors have a lonely birthday, some seniors seek more regular companionship in a furrier form. Pets offer love and devotion that the seniors lack, but on a limited income pet care can be expensive. For our senior citizens with pets, the Fox Valley Animal Welfare League keeps both the seniors and their furry or feathered friends happy by providing pet food in the monthly grocery delivery. Pet ownership can be very beneficial for lonely seniors, and when the only obstacle to owning a pet is the cost of its care, the FVAWL and HSP want to do everything we can to ensure that seniors can have the companionship that pets can provide. We are very grateful to the FVAWL for their help to our seniors. To learn more about the FVAWL, please visit their website: www.fvawl.org.

None of what we do could happen without the generous and sacrificial help of our volunteers. If you would like more information on how you can get involved with the Senior Citizen Project at HSP, please visit our website, www.humanitarianservice.org, or call us at 630-221-8340. 

Thanks to South Outreach

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’” On this MLK Day, ten young, volunteers from Wheaton Warrenville South High School, are honoring these wise words by spending their day helping others. These ten students belong to the school’s South Outreach Club, a club devoted to raising awareness and making a difference in the lives of those affected by poverty or violence. These South Outreach volunteers spent two hours during their day off, sorting food that will be distributed to the 123 local, impoverished seniors enrolled in our Senior Citizen Project. We wish to these volunteers for helping us reach out to these seniors in need.

Every month, HSP delivers more than six tons of groceries to the needy seniors in our program. This past Saturday just happened to be the first monthly delivery of the year, and, thanks to these volunteers from South Outreach, we already have a leg up on preparing for next month. It takes the generous support of many volunteers, like this great group from Wheaton Warrenville South, to make these deliveries happen. If you are interesting in helping HSP serve the needs of impoverished seniors, you can learn more at our website: http://humanitarianservice.org/whatwedo/seniorproject.html

Preparing for the first Delivery Day of the New Year!

Tomorrow is the first delivery day of the New Year. After the busy month of December, we were grateful to have help kicking off 2014 with our Senior Citizen Project. Every month, Humanitarian Service Project delivers 100 lbs of fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, non-perishables, frozen meats and personal care items to low income seniors in Dupage County.

            We would especially like to thank the eight volunteers that lent their support by sorting produce for Saturday’s delivery. Tomorrow, our wonderful drivers will distribute each senior’s box to their homes, along with a secret pal gift. Without your help, we couldn’t give our amazing seniors the support they deserve!

If you are interested in getting involved here at HSP, please visit http://humanitarianservice.org/getinvolved/index.html We appreciate the kindness and concern displayed for the needy in our community, whether it be through donations or spending a few hours out of their busy schedules to come volunteer. 

Three New, Bright Stars Join HSP’s Intern Team

This week at HSP we’ve been lucky enough to welcome, not one, but three new interns to our intern team. These interns will be utilizing the skills they are currently studying in school to help serve the needy seniors and families in HSP’s programs, while also gaining valuable experience about working in the non-profit world. We are very excited to be hosting these students for their internships, and would like to introduce you to them.

Melinda

            First up we have Melinda Hernandez who joins us from Elmhurst College. At Elmhurst, Melinda is studying English with a minor in Intercultural Studies. Melinda says she is looking forward to applying her writing skills in a professional setting, and is looking forward to her experience at HSP a great deal. Melinda will be contributing to HSP by writing HSP’s publications as well as interviewing and writing “updates” about the impoverished seniors in our Senior Citizen Project. Once she graduates, Melinda hopes to work in Public Relations, and is also an aspiring author. Outside of work and school, she says she enjoys cooking, sketching, and is quite an avid reader.

Lydia G.

            Secondly, we would like to introduce Lydia Gantz a student from Wheaton College. Lydia is an English major and is also pursuing a minor in Sociology. Lydia plans on working in the non-profit industry after graduating, which she says is what motivated her to apply for the internship at HSP. She says she is looking forward to getting the “in the trenches” experience of how a non-profit operates. Lydia will also be working on “senior updates” and contributing in other ways to meeting the needs of the impoverished seniors and children in our programs. Outside of school, Lydia volunteers with refugee children in Wheaton, and is an amateur percussionist.

Lydia M.

            Believe it or not, we welcomed a second Lydia to HSP this week as well, Lydia Medina, a student of the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Lydia is training to become an Art Therapist at Adler, and comes to HSP to complete her “Practicum” for her degree. Lydia will be spending her time on the senior update project, interviewing the needy seniors in our project. These updates will better HSP’s knowledge on the seniors’ needs and current situation. Lydia says she hopes to work with children and seniors in her future career as an art therapist, and is looking forward to working directly with our clients. As one would expect from her career choice, Lydia is very interested in art, but she’s also very interested in cooking, fitness, and yoga.

            It is not often that we are able to welcome three new interns in the same week. We are very happy to have Melinda, Lydia, and Lydia working with us. Please join us in welcoming them to HSP.

Big Help from Giant Steps

On top of sorting potatoes and onions, the Giant Steps 

volunteers even laid out boxes that will be 

filled with fresh produce on Friday.

HSP was fortunate enough to have some very spirited help today from our friends at Giant Steps School in Lisle. Fifteen students and aides from the school lent their support this morning, laying out boxes and sorting potatoes and onions that will be distributed to the 123 impoverished senior citizens in our Senior Citizen Project on Saturday. With our delivery day coming up so quickly, we are very grateful to have these thoughtful Giant Steps students giving their time to help us serve these needy seniors. Another group representing Giant Step will be coming in tomorrow to lend a hand as well.

            Giant Steps is a school that aims to provide educational and therapeutic programs for individuals affected by autism. Everyone at Giant Steps have been great friends and prolific supporters of HSP and the needy seniors and children in our programs. Just last month they donated food for local seniors and families in need, and in the fall they made “party in a bag kits” full of party supplies for impoverished children. We want to thank everyone at Giant Steps for volunteering and all the other heartfelt support they’ve given for the sake of everyone served by HSP.

Happy Birthday, Floyd!

Floyd

Today at HSP we took the time to celebrate a very special occurrence, the birthday of our co-founder and CFO, Floyd Kettering. Since HSP’s inception, Floyd has been working to make a difference in the lives of the neediest seniors and children in DuPage and Kane Counties. HSP would not be able to function without Floyd’s tireless work with HSP’s finances and his careful, wise oversight of the programs. With all that Floyd has done both in the community and for everyone here at HSP, we knew we had to make his birthday a special occasion.

Bridget's newest cake masterpiece "Birthday on the Green"

            HSP’s staff and interns celebrated Floyd’s birthday by having lunch together in our café, which was decked out in decorations. We also enjoyed a delicious homemade cake made by our Administrative Assistant, Bridget Dooley, whose “golf course” themed cake exceeded even the high standard she has set with her previous cakes. We were delighted to take the time to recognize Floyd on his special day, so please join us in wishing him a happy birthday!

Care Kits from Some Caring Kids

Last week HSP received a wonderful donation for needy seniors from some thoughtful, young philanthropists. The 5^th grade “Ambassadors” from Forest Glen Elementary School in Glen Ellyn collected, sorted, and donated “personal care kits” for impoverished seniors in our Senior Citizen Project. These caring young students collected the supplies and made 25 complete kits, which include all the hygiene products needed to allow these seniors to maintain healthy lifestyles (shampoo, conditioner, lip balm, toothbrushes and toothpaste, floss, lotion, soap and hand sanitizer.) They also donated seven full bags of extras of these items. This is the third consecutive year that the Forest Glen Ambassadors graciously collected and created these generous kits for our seniors. We wish to thank them for continuing this great support.

            In addition to sending them nutritious groceries every month, HSP endeavors to provide the 123 needy seniors in our program with commonly needed household items. These items allow our seniors to continue to maintain their health and independence. In order to allow us to make this difference in the lives of these very deserving seniors, the generosity of donors, like the Forest Glen Ambassadors, is instrumental. If you would like to know more about serving seniors in this way, check out our website: http://www.humanitarianservice.org/getinvolved/donations.html

Thanks Glenbard South Volunteers!

The first full week of 2014 ended on a very happy note at HSP thanks to a visit from our friends, Lori Heggen’s class from Glenbard South High School. Ms. Heggen and her class have been coming in regularly over the past several months generously volunteering their time to help us serve needy senior citizens and families. Today they spent nearly two hours in our warehouse diligently sorting paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, and facial tissue) which will be distributed to the 123 impoverished seniors enrolled in our Senior Citizen Project. The support they lent today will certainly go a long way in making an impact in the lives of these seniors!

The students of Ms. Heggen’s class are part of a transitional program run at Glenbard South that teaches vocational and everyday skills by engaging in community service and other activities. They have graciously signed up to volunteer at the HSP Center about once a month. We at HSP wish to thank them giving their time today, and look forward to seeing them again soon.

The paper products that Ms. Heggen’s class sorted are a very important part of the monthly grocery deliveries HSP provides to the 123 needy seniors we serve each month. Currently, HSP is running low on toilet paper for these seniors. If you, like these great volunteers from Glenbard South, are looking for a way to make a difference in the lives of needy seniors, donating toilet paper would be a great way to do it!

HSP Welcomes a New Intern

Humanitarian Service Project would like to introduce you to the first new member of our intern team in 2014, Amanda Larsen. Amanda is currently studying Couple and Family Therapy at the Adler School of Professional Psychology, and she will be completing her “community service practicum” at HSP while she works toward her degree. Amanda will be working directly with the needy seniors served by our Senior Citizen Project. She will be interviewing the seniors and writing an official “Senior Update” on them, to update HSP’s understanding of the needs of each senior, as well as to better learn how our services have impacted their lives. We look forward to having Amanda here working on this very important project. Amanda says she is very excited to get going on this project, and is happy to be getting the experience of working with senior citizens.

Prior to enrolling at Adler, Amanda received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Illinois Wesleyan University. Amanda’s eventual career goals are to work as a counselor with new parents or with military families. She has been involved in service for most of her life, so she’s sure to feel right at home at HSP. In the past, Amanda interned at an Addiction’s Treatment facility, and has previously done volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity and her church. Outside of school and service, Amanda says she loves to cook and eat (two passions she feels go hand in hand.)

We are very happy to have Amanda joining our team to help us better serve the impoverished seniors in our program. Please join us in welcoming her to HSP.

Delivery Drivers: Our Driving Force

It’s hard to believe, but we are only a week and a half away from our first Senior Delivery Day for 2014. HSP is looking for individuals interested in signing up as “substitute drivers” for our delivery days this year.  On these delivery days, we distribute 100 lbs. of nutritious groceries to each of the 123 impoverished seniors in our Senior Citizen Project. Naturally, HSP could never do it without the help of our volunteer drivers, who graciously give their time to donate to a couple of seniors each month. Of course, schedules being how they are, it would be impossible for our drivers to be able to make it every month, and this is where our substitute drivers step up to bat. When one of our regular drivers can’t make it, the call goes out to our substitute drivers to take the groceries for that driver’s seniors instead. That way, we are still able to reach these seniors, as scheduled, with the food they so desperately need.

If you are interested in helping us make an impact in the lives of local seniors in need, give us a call at 630-221-8340. Because you will be visiting the homes of the seniors, we will ask you for two references. Once you are on our sub driving list, we will send you an email when we have delivery assignments to seniors open up to fill for our delivery days (this month’s delivery happens to be next Saturday January 18^th.) Our volunteer drivers and substitute drivers play an integral role in allowing us at HSP to alleviate the burden of poverty in the lives of the 123 impoverished seniors we serve. Please let us know if you are interested in assisting needy seniors in this way.

Sign Up Now for the Human Race

Some of HSP's representatives having a ball at
last year's Human Race

Humanitarian Service Project is participating in the 3^rd annual DuPage Human Race! The Human Race is an event for non-profits throughout DuPage to raise awareness and funds for their programs that serve our communities. For the event, volunteers register for either a 5k run, or a 3 mi fitness walk on behalf of an organization (like HSP.) They can then recruit those to support them in the event to raise funds for the organization that they are representing. While the race is still a long way off (April 26^th,) we at HSP wanted to let those interested in the race know early because registration to run, or walk, is cheaper if you register by the end of this month (January 31^st.)

If you are interested in representing HSP, you can register by following this link: http://www.dupagehumanrace.org/runners.php. When you register, you will be asked what organization you are participating on behalf, simply write “Humanitarian Service Project.” If you do register for us, please let us know so that we can cheer you on!

For those not interested in running or walking, or unable to make the event, you can still support our runners by sponsoring them in the race. Simply follow this link if you wish to make a donation supporting our runners: http://www.active.com/donate/dupagehumanrace2014/humanitarianservice

The race itself starts at 9 a.m. on April 26^th at The Esplanade at Locust Point in Downers Grove. HSP has had a lot of fun participating in the event the past two years, and we are eagerly looking forward to this year’s race. Every runner, walker, and supporter for the HSP team translates to more money for HSP to serve the very needy children and senior citizens in our programs, so we hope to see many of you at this wonderful event!

Warm a Needy Senior’s Heart this Cold Season

It’s a rather chilly day today outside of the HSP Center, the perfect day to cozy up inside and stay warm. While we appreciate some of the benefits of winter weather, such as the beautiful snowy landscape, the subzero temperatures remind us of an unfortunate fact, cold season is upon us. Winter is a time of sniffling and coughing for many, and the impoverished seniors in our Senior Citizen Project are no exception. Unfortunately, living on an average income of only $886 a month, these seniors cannot always afford the items needed to get through a cold comfortably.

 

One way you can help is by donating paper products like toilet paper, paper towels, and facial tissues (ever important this time of year.) HSP provides each of the 123 needy seniors in our program with a bag full of these paper products every month to provide them with the items they need to maintain a healthy hygienic lifestyle. This becomes even more important this time of year when bugs just seem to always be around.

Another way you can lend support to these needy seniors stay healthy this cold season is by donating personal care items. Every three months, HSP provides each senior with a personal care kit which includes; shampoo, conditioner, lip balm, a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, lotion, soap, and hand sanitizer. You can assist HSP in providing these important items to seniors by either donating a few specific items, or making one, or more, complete kit(s) yourself.

Of course, donations of typical cold comforts/ remedies are also welcome like cough drops, tea packets, or even chicken soup. Please call HSP at 630-221-8340 if you have questions about how you can help needy seniors weather the upcoming flu season comfortably.

New Year = New Opportunities for Service

All of us at HSP arrived to work today to see the HSP Center looking like a regular winter wonderland. The clean white landscape surrounding HSP feels like the perfect image for the New Year, a pure, clean slate. As we look forward to another exciting year of serving the needy in our communities, we would love share some ways that those of you who are interested in helping those in need can get involved in 2014.

HSP’s Children’s Birthday Project was recently featured in the January issue of Woman’s World magazine, who thoughtfully let their readers know that we accept donations of wrapping paper to wrap gifts for the 925 impoverished children served by the project. There are several other ways of getting involved in this program as well, including signing up to wrap gifts for the children, collecting and donating toys or books, or even making packages of party supplies called “party-in-a-bag kits” to help the kids celebrate in style. If getting involved in helping needy children is something you’d like to do in 2014, you can learn more on our website: http://humanitarianservice.org/whatwedo/bdayproject.html

Opportunities also abound for HSP’s other year-round project, the Senior Citizen Project. In addition to providing non-perishable food or monetary support to assist us in providing nutritious food and other support to 123 needy seniors, you can: sign up to be a secret pal and provide a senior a $5-$25 gift of items they need each month, or participate as a volunteer driver or loader for our monthly delivery days. For more information about how to get engaged with helping the needy seniors we serve, check here: http://humanitarianservice.org/whatwedo/seniorproject.html

There will be dozens of more ways to get involved with serving the needy at HSP this year including our Feed the Kids and School Supply Drive programs in the summer, our Christmas Offering next December, and a number of other fun annual events. As always, we wish to thank everyone who helped us make a difference in the lives of needy seniors, children, and families in 2013, and we look forward to seeing many of you in 2014!