Divine Savior Parish

Yesterday HSP received a very generous donation from the members of Divine Savior Parish, who collected hundreds of pounds of non-perishable food for the seniors we serve. Divine Savior member and one of our volunteers, Rich Patera, picked up and dropped off the donation. Divine Savior has been a great presence for HSP and they have been partnering with us for over two decades!  They provide us with food every other month for our seniors that are enrolled in our program. This donation came in at a great time. With more than six tons of groceries being sent to the seniors we serve each month HSP is always in great need of non-perishables. We are grateful for Divine Savior’s continued support in helping to better the lives of the seniors we serve. 

The Human Race

With the weather getting better each week, everyone has spring on their mind. One of the exciting events we have lined up for spring is The DuPage Human Race. The DuPage Human Race is a 5k run / walk charity event sponsored by Giving DuPage to raise funds for non-profits/charities who serve DuPage County. The race is on April 25^th, which is less than a month away! We need your support to help the needy seniors, children, and families that we serve. There are a couple ways that you can support HSP:

• You can sponsor HSP by going to this link: https://secure.qgiv.com/hobnob/team/414484. Then, hit the donate button and fill out the remaining information.
• You can also register to run / walk and represent HSP by going to this link: https://www.athletepath.com/dupage-human-race/2015-04-25. Hit register and fill out the necessary information. Please list “Humanitarian Service Project” as the agency you wish to represent.

All of the money raised by HSP through the race goes to support the many seniors, children and families that are enrolled on our programs. We hope to see you out there and we thank you for your support!

DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church Provides Double Donations

Some of the "Party in a Bag kits" assemble by the Junior High
youth of the DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church

HSP would like to recognize the DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church in Naperville for holding not one but two service projects this week for the seniors, children, and families enrolled in our programs.

The first service project was spearheaded by the Junior High youth at the church who collected supplies for and assembled fifty “Party in a Bag” kits for the children served by our Children’s Birthday Project. These kits contain all the necessary items to throw a memorable birthday party including; cake mix, frosting, plates, streamers, cups, and more. The Junior High youth even made sure to give many of the bags fun themes like Spider-man, or Frozen. HSP includes a “party in a bag” kit in every Birthday Box for the 925 children served by our Children’s Birthday Project. We wish to thank the Junior High at DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church for helping us make birthdays exciting for 50 of the underprivileged children we serve.

The DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church also ran a church-wide food drive, led by their “Do-Gooders” club. The church collected almost 20 bags of groceries for the needy seniors and families in our programs. The church has been a regular supporter of HSP for more than 10 years, and wish to thank them for all the kindness and generosity they have shown to the seniors, children, and families whose lives are touched by our programs!

Non-perishable food sorted by our volunteers from the Ray Graham Association

Non-perishable food sorted by our volunteers
from the Ray Graham Association

Yesterday HSP was delighted to host a group of 10 volunteers from the Ray Graham Association. The group spent an hour and a half in our warehouse sorting non-perishable food for the low-income senior citizens enrolled in our Senior Citizen Project. The mission of the Ray Graham Association is “to empower people with disabilities to reach, grow, and achieve.” Yesterday was the first time this group from the Ray Graham Association volunteered with us, but they have already set up a return visit. We at HSP are very glad that these helpers from the Ray Graham Association have chosen to help us make a difference in the lives of the needy seniors, children, and families in our programs, and we look forward to seeing them again soon!

Thanks to the Rotary Club of Villa Park

Yesterday, Kristin Maxwell, our Executive Director here at HSP, was honored to be a guest at a meeting of the Rotary Club of Villa Park. She gave a presentation about the needs of the seniors and children that we serve that are enrolled in our programs. The club generously gave $800 to sponsor a needy senior living in Villa Park. There were also a number of members that decided to sponsor children that lived in Villa Park that are a part of our Children’s Birthday Project. HSP was very excited to be invited to attend this meeting and to spread the word about the needs of children and seniors suffering under poverty in the community. We are grateful that the Rotary Club of Villa Park is partnering with us to better the lives of seniors and children in their own community. We greatly appreciate their service and we hope to continue this friendship on future projects. 

Spring Hills Elementary School

Yesterday we had a wonderful visit from Spring Hills Elementary School in Roselle, which included four students and two teachers. They are part of the Student Ambassadors club that graciously ran a food drive for the needy seniors we serve. They collected an amazing seventeen boxes full of non-perishables! When they arrived, they stuck around and sorted the food and got to learn a little more about what we do here at HSP. The Student Ambassadors, a group of dedicated 5^th graders, also spear headed a toy drive for needy children in December as part of our Christmas Offering. This was a wonderful donation that was greatly needed for our seniors and we appreciate the donations that Spring Hills has done for us. We are excited to keep working with this very generous group and thank them for their continued service at HSP. 

Fed Ex- Random Acts of Kindness

Last Saturday, FedEx from the Chicago Heights distribution center dropped off a very generous donation after they conducted their “Random Acts of Kindness” food drive. FedEx employee Vinnie Nedrow dropped off the donation. They managed to collect over 300 lbs. This was in addition to the six boxes of food from the Des Plaines center that dropped off a week prior. FedEx has been very kind to HSP over the last year. They supported our Christmas Offering by donating toys and helped our seniors that are enrolled in our Senior Citizen Project by conducting a paper drive. HSP would like to thank FedEx for their continued service and we are excited to keep working with them on future projects. 

March Delivery Day is Right around the Corner!

Tomorrow is our March delivery day for the 125 seniors enrolled in our Senior Citizen Project.  It’s a busy day at HSP today, as we prep over 6 tons of groceries for delivery day. Our friends from UPS Supply Chain Solutions in Carol Stream visited and helped us sort fresh produce and bread for delivery. They spent 2 hours helping us ensure that all 125 seniors receive nutritious groceries. UPS volunteers regularly help us prepare for our delivery days. We wish to thank them for once again being able to take time out of their schedule to help organize groceries for our seniors! 

Thank you, Giant Steps

Food sorted for the seniors in our Senior Citizen Project

HSP welcomed back a group from Giant Steps located in Lisle. Giant Steps volunteers at HSP on a monthly basis and we are delighted every time they come.

Today Giant Steps sorted food for our needy seniors. We are very grateful for their assistance, since we will be delivering over 6 tons of groceries to the seniors enrolled in our Seniors Citizen Project on Saturday.

We will also like to thank Giant Steps for the food they graciously donated last week at HSP. HSP is thankful for volunteers like Giant Steps who enable us to serve those in need in the community. We wouldn’t be able to do it without them and we look forward to seeing them next month!

Goodbye Stephanie!

This week, HSP is saying goodbye to Stephanie Harding one of the superstar members of our intern team. She has been part of our HSP team since mid-November and in her time here she has assisted with many things around the office. Stephanie helped us serve hundreds of needy families by assisting with our busy Christmas offering in December, she made flyers advertising different projects and service opportunities, created and set up displays at local libraries, wrote newsletters, and assisted with finding new funding sources for programs. This is just some of the many ways she left her mark here. Steph brought many laughs and a positive attitude to HSP and we all know she has great things in store for her as she moves on to her next adventure. She will be greatly missed here at HSP and we wish her the best of luck for whatever the future has in store for her.

A New Intern Joins HSP!

            HSP welcomed a brand new face to the team this week. Meet Melody Jensen, a student at Benedictine and our new accounting intern. Melody took a great interest in joining HSP and getting a chance to help out in the community, a task to which she is no stranger. Over the years, Melody has been very involved in her church, helping out in any way that she can—whether it’s teaching Religious Ed classes, working at a local homeless shelter, or volunteering at her children’s school. Here at HSP, she will be assisting our CFO Floyd Kettering with HSP’s accounting needs.

            When she isn’t helping out with her church, Melody enjoys relaxing tasks such as crocheting and gardening. Additionally, as her name might suggest, she is a big lover of music. She enjoys singing and has been teaching piano for 18 years! Melody also loves to travel and would love to go back and visit Europe again someday. Please help all of us here in welcoming Melody to HSP.

Girls Scout Troop 1947 Donation

Last week, HSP received a generous donation from Girl Scout Troop 1947 who put together 120 Easter themed goodie bags for the seniors that are enrolled in our program. Each of these bags contained health care items, which included toothpastes, brushes, floss and soap; the girls also included a fun candy treat.  The troop decorated the bags with a spring theme to represent the wonderful weather we have been having and the upcoming holiday. The bags will be delivered to the seniors as part of their monthly grocery delivery this Saturday, in which every senior receives 100 lbs. of nutritious groceries. This amazing donation will greatly help our seniors and HSP wishes to thank Girl Scout Troop 1947 for making the bags fun and cheery to put a smile on the senior’s faces. 

Welcome Back, Ms. Heggen's Class!

            HSP welcomed back some familiar faces today as the students from Ms. Heggen’s class at Glenbard South High School came by once again to help us out. We enjoy having them come by every month to lend us a helping hand. Today, the students assisted us by sorting bread that will go out to our seniors in their monthly grocery delivery next week. This makes it easier for us to put the delivery packages together as most of the seniors request specific types of bread with their groceries.

               Part of the curriculum of Ms. Heggen's class is helping students gain real world vocational skills by means of community service. As always, we are so happy that we get to see them every month, and we are so grateful for all the good work they to help us out. We look forward to seeing them again soon!

Ribfest’s Volunteering is Now Open!

The Exchange Club of Naperville’s Ribfest is now accepting volunteers for the July 2 – 5^th event. The Exchange Club of Naperville raises money for many organizations throughout DuPage Country that impacts the needs of children including HSP. We at HSP have a blast volunteering year after year at Ribfest and encourage you to join us this year in the fun.

Although July is months away, today is the perfect time for you to sign up to represent HSP at the event before slots fill up. You can work at the admission gates, child identification, clean up, or work as a general “as needed” volunteer. Also, volunteers who are 21 and older can work at the beverage tent.  An added bonus for volunteers is free admission to the event on the day they volunteer. Available shifts are 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. or 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. on July 2^nd-5^th. The more volunteers we have representing us at the event, the more money we receive for the sake of the children we serve.

If you or a friend is interested in volunteering on behalf of HSP, you can contact us at 630-221-8340 or email us at hsp@humanitarianservice.org. You can also sign up on the Ribfest’s website and choose HSP as your charity to support. We hope to see you there!

SEAL Volunteers

Yesterday, we hosted a volunteer group from the School of Expressive Arts and Learning (or SEAL). 9 volunteers spent their time in our warehouse sorting frozen meat and other food items for the seniors we serve. The meat is part of the 100 lb. grocery package we deliver to the 125 seniors enrolled in our Senior Citizen Project. Volunteers from SEAL come by to lend their support to HSP once a month and always do such great work. HSP is so grateful for all the help the SEAL volunteers have given for the sake of the seniors we serve. Awesome job, everyone!

The Human Race Puts a Spring in our Step

The HSP team at last year's DuPage Human Race

The warmer weather this week has everyone at HSP thinking about spring. One of spring events we are all anxiously anticipating is the DuPage Human Race, an annual charity 5k that HSP participates in. The DuPage Human Race is organized by Giving DuPage in order to “[bring] people together in support of over 50 charity organizations serving DuPage County” including HSP. Over the past three years, HSP has had a blast at this event as well as raised support for the needy and deserving seniors, children, and families we serve. The race will be at 10 a.m. on April 25^th at the Espalande at Locust Pointe in Downers Grove, and HSP would like to invite you to participate. There are two ways you can do so:

-          Sign up to represent HSP in either the 5k run or 2 mi fitness walk at this link: https://www.athletepath.com/dupage-human-race/2015-04-25. Please list “Humanitarian Service Project” as the agency you wish to represent.

-          Support our runners and walkers by donating to the team’s fundraising page: https://secure.qgiv.com/hobnob/team/414484

Both our runners/walkers and those who sponsor them play a huge role in helping us reach the people in need in our communities. All of the money raised by HSP through the race goes to support the many seniors, children, and families enrolled in our programs. We hope to see many of you there. 

Thank you Norton Creek Elementary

We would like to thank Norton Creek Elementary in West Chicago for running a school-wide service project creating “Party in a Bag” kits for needy children. This project was sponsored by the PTO and spearheaded by Lisa Weier in which the whole school collected items and created these incredible kits. This was the first annual community service project and they did such an amazing job. Parents whose children attend Norton Creek along with the principle assembled these wonderful kits during an event on Saturday morning.

These Party Bags were picked up by Kristin, our Executive Director, and our volunteer Dean Senne today. The school created birthdays bags for 81 of the children enrolled in our Children’s Birthday Project making other kids birthdays special and putting a smile on their faces. Lisa talked about how it was explained to the kids that birthday parties are an “extra” activity that many families cannot afford. She told Kristin, “The children really connected to the project because they love having a birthday party so they want to make sure other kids can do the same.” Thanks to the generosity of the families and children at Norton Creek. 

Say Cheese! From Etz Chaim

       HSP received a rather delicious donation this morning from Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard. They collected hundreds of boxes of mac and cheese during their annual food drive that coincided with the Holiday Purim on Wednesday night. Etz Chaim has been supporting HSP with this annual food drive for more than a decade, and we are so grateful that they always think of us. The donation was picked up this morning by our volunteer driver Tom Hogan.

These boxes will be a yummy meal for the children served by our Feed the Kids program. During the months of June, July, and August, HSP provides 100 families with 200 pounds of food each of these months. This program helps benefit families who rely on their children receiving free or subsidized meals for their children during the school year. HSP thanks Etz Chaim for their wonderful support.

If you would like more information on how you, too, can help out HSP by sponsoring your very own food drive, please give us a call at 630-221-8340 or e-mail us at hsp@humanitarianservice.org. 

HSP thanks COD’s Service Learners

For the past several weeks, HSP has had the pleasure of hosting volunteers through the College of Dupage’s Service Learning program. COD’s Service Learning program combines volunteer service with academic instruction and gives students the wonderful opportunity to gain valuable real-life experience while applying their classroom knowledge. The students in the Service Learning program volunteer 20 hours at a community organization helping serve those in need.

HSP wishes to thank COD’s Service Learners for volunteering their time to help sort food for our Senior Citizen Project and preparing birthday boxes for the children enrolled in our Children Birthday Party. HSP is thankful for being given the opportunity to host Service Learning students from the College of DuPage who regularly exemplify a sense of civic responsibility and commitment to the community.

Become Someone’s Secret Pal

HSP is looking for some generous individuals to get involved with our Secret Pal Program today. We currently have 13 seniors who are without secret pals.

Through the Secret Pal program, volunteer donors are paired up with a senior in our Senior Citizen Project, buying them a monthly gift. The gifts may be something practical the senior needs, like postage stamps, or they may just be something fun to bring a little more enjoyment into that senior’s life, such as a book. Our donors typically spend between $5 and $25 per month.

It’s a fun way to give back for people who are looking to make a personal impact in the life of a needy senior. And to show what a positive difference these small gifts can make in the lives of our seniors, just read this excerpt from one of the many thank you letters written by a grateful senior:

“I can’t thank you enough for all the nice things you send. I am very grateful for everything. Thank you.”

The gifts are dropped off or mailed in to our center in Carol Stream and are then delivered to our seniors by their delivery day drivers, along with their monthly grocery delivery.

To become a Secret Pal, please contact us at 630.221.8340 or email us at hsp@humanitarianservice.org.

Black Hawk Elementary School Food Drive

Today, HSP received a food drive collected by the wonderful students and faculty at Black Hawk Elementary School in Glendale Heights.

Black Hawk Elementary ran this food drive for one week – beginning on Monday, February 23^rd and finishing yesterday. Over that week, the students and faculty donated six boxes packed to the brim with non-perishable food for the needy seniors and families we serve.

The food drive was picked up today by our volunteer Bill Fehling.

We want to give our sincere thanks to everyone over at Black Hawk Elementary for making this happen! We truly appreciate it. HSP relies on the generosity of our supporters in order to help all of the seniors, children and families we serve. Spring is a critical time of the year for donations. We must restock our shelves following our Christmas offering, for our ongoing Senior Citizen Project and the Feed the Kids Program in summer.

If you or your school/group is interested in hosting a food drive, check out our website for more information.

Ribfest

Last week we received a visit from our friends at the Exchange Club of Naperville who graciously dropped off a monetary donation for our summertime “Feed the Kids” program. This money was raised through last year’s Ribfest that took place in July. Ribfest is hosted every year by the Exchange Club during the 4^th of July weekend where people can enjoy live concerts, eat great food, and do fun activities with family and friends. Through Ribfest, the Exchange has raised millions of dollars for needy children.

While Ribfest is still far away, registration for volunteering at Ribfest will begin soon. Every year they need thousands of volunteers to help make sure everything runs smoothly and everyone can have a great time. As a recipient organization, HSP is responsible for having volunteers represent us at the event. The more volunteers we have, the more money we receive to feed the needy families. This is a great way to give back to the community and it brings people together for a common purpose while everyone gets to have a great time!

 This year Ribfest takes place July 2^nd-5^th with the headliner being The Band Perry with more music being announced soon. If you think you or anyone you know would like to volunteer, please contact us at 630-221-8340 and help with a great cause!