Thank You to the Unitarian Church of Hinsdale

Today HSP received a wonderful donation from our friends at the Unitarian Church of Hinsdale. The church collected party supplies and made 40 “Party in a Bag kits” for the children served by HSP’s Children’s Birthday Project. These kits are full of all the necessary items to throw a memorable birthday party including; cake mix, frosting, streamers, balloons, plates, napkins, and party favors. We wish to thank the Unitarian Church of Hinsdale for helping us to make birthdays special for these 40 children.

HSP provides a “party in a bag” in the 20-25 lb. birthday box full of toys, books, and other gifts to each of the 900+ local children in need served by our Children’s Birthday Project. If you, or a group you are involved with, would be interested in providing these kits for low income children, you can learn more at HSP’s website: http://humanitarianservice.org/getinvolved/donations.html. 

DuPage Human Race: 3 Days Left For Early Bird Pricing

HSP will be participating in the DuPage Human Race on Saturday, April 30^th, for the fifth year.  This 5k / 2 mile race is run by Giving DuPage, and gives people the opportunity to raise funds and awareness for the charities they would like to support.  Runners and walkers can raise funds on behalf of their favorite DuPage causes, including HSP.  All funds raised by HSP through the event will go to support the low-income seniors, children, and families we serve.

If you wish to register to run or walk on HSP’s behalf, please visit the registration page and select “Humanitarian Service Project” under the “Agency” tab.  Early bird pricing ends on Sunday, January 31^st – hurry and race to https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/DownersGrove/DuPageHumanRace to sign up.  If you have any questions about the event, contact HSP.  We’d love to see you there!

If you will not be able to attend the event on April 30^th, but still wish to support our runners and walkers, click here to donate to our race team.

Birthday Gifts to Children at Local “Head Start” Centers

This week, HSP had the pleasure of distributing gifts to the low-income children enrolled in our Children’s Birthday Project at local Head Start locations with February birthdays. HSP has a relationship with three local Head Start locations in Aurora, St. Charles, and Carol Stream. Through this partnership, we have been able to provide the deserving children at these centers gifts or toys and books to help them celebrate their special days. We at HSP are very happy to be partnered with these Head Start locations in order to spread birthday cheer to these children. We wish to thank all of our supporters for enabling us to provide this service.

There are a number of low-income children throughout DuPage and Kane, served by our Children’s Birthday Project who lack sponsors to support their place in the program. If you would like to help HSP spread joy to local children in need, please consider sponsoring a child in this program for $54.

Become a Senior's Secret Pal, Today!

Currently, HSP has 23 low-income seniors in our program who are in need of “Secret Pal” donors.  Secret Pal volunteers sign up to provide monthly gifts valued between $5 and $25 to low-income seniors in our Senior Citizen Project.  These gifts can include:  

• Items the seniors need but cannot afford, such as laundry detergent and stamps 
• Fun gifts to brighten their day, like books and puzzles

Seniors in our program are incredibly grateful for their secret pals, as they are blessed with the reminder that they are loved and cared for.  Your gift can make a difference in their lives!  Contact HSP at 630-221-8340, or email us at hsp@humanitarianservice.org to become a Secret Pal volunteer today and bring joy to a deserving senior!

Most Requested Items: Laundry Detergent, Dish Soap and Conditioner Needed

HSP often receives requests from the seniors enrolled in our Senior Citizen Project for items that they need around the house. Currently, the most requested items from our seniors are laundry detergent, dish soap, and conditioner. These items are very necessary to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but purchasing these items is beyond the reach of the low-income seniors we serve. At HSP, we fulfill these requests as much as possible, but we rely on the generosity of our supporters in order to meet the needs of our seniors. If you are interested in helping to make life easier for a senior in need, please consider donating one or more these items. Contact HSP for more details: 630-221-8340. 

HSP Welcomes a Trio of New Interns

It was an exciting week at HSP as we welcomed three new members to our wonderful internship team.

First up we have Robert Struggles who is joining us from Elmhurst College. Robert has joined HSP as an intern to complete his degree from Elmhurst’s Spanish department. In his time at HSP he will be helping HSP with community outreach, contributing to our newsletter and social media, as well as working with our clients in the Children’s Birthday Project ensuring they receive the services we offer. Robert says he’s also excited to utilize his language skills to help us better serve our clients who speak Spanish.

This week we also welcomed Stefani Krautstrunk who is studying English at Northern Illinois University. Stefani will be helping HSP identify potential new sources of funding for our programs and apply for them as a Grant Writing intern. Stefani is involved with a co-ed service fraternity at school, and says she is very excited to be interning at HSP combining her interest in writing with her love of service.

Last but not least, we also welcomed Alex Kuo to the intern team this week. Alex attends Wheaton College where she is studying Political Science and Journalism. In her time at HSP, Alex will be helping HSP reach out to the community about our programs, helping to spread the word about ways people can get involved in making a difference in our community.

We are excited that these bright interns will be joining the HSP team for the next few months. Please join us in welcoming Robert, Stefani, and Alex!

Gift Wrapping: Thank You Again, St. Petronille!

Yesterday, volunteers from St. Petronille Parish dropped off wrapped gifts for 25 of the 900+ low income children we serve in our Children’s Birthday Project.  The parish wrapped the gifts as a service project following their services on Sunday. Dedicated readers may have read about their previous visit to sort food on Monday.  It was a busy week for St. Petronille – thank you for choosing to help HSP!  Your generosity is valuable to us.

If you or an organization you are involved with are interested in providing the heartfelt service of wrapping gifts for children, contact us at (630) 221 – 8340 or hsp@humanitarianservice.org.  It is thanks to our volunteers that we are able to bless these children with beautifully wrapped gifts that bring smiles to their faces!

Food Drives Needed

HSP is seeking food drives to help feed the low income seniors and families we serve. After distributing over 27 tons of groceries in the month of December, this time of year is an important time to restock our pantry. As we prepare for another year of distributing food to those in our communities who need it most, there are a few items that are heavily needed. These items are:
-Rice & Pasta Meals -Pasta & Pasta Sauce
-Cereal & Oatmeal -Hearty Soups, Chili, and Stew
-Canned Fruits & Veggies -Canned tuna & other canned meat
-Peanut butter & jelly -Pancake mix

Running a food drive for items such as these is a great way to get your family, group, or club involved in making a difference in our communities. For more info, please contact HSP: 630-221-8340.

Thank you to St. Petronille!

Yesterday HSP was fortunate enough to host a large group of volunteers from St. Petronille parish. The 21 helpers ranged in age from middle school students to adults, all coming together as a part of their church’s day of service. They worked hard at crafting grocery bags full of non-perishables that will be delivered to the 133 needy seniors enrolled in our Senior Citizen Project. We here at HSP are so glad that these valiant volunteers chose to help us for their service day. Thank you, St. Petronille!  

HSP’s First Delivery Day of 2016

This past Saturday HSP had its first monthly Delivery Day of 2016 for its Senior Citizen Project. On this day HSP’s volunteers delivered over 6 and a half tons of groceries to the 133 low-income seniors served by our program. There were dozens of volunteers who helped HSP successfully reach these deserving seniors. The day before the delivery, 7 volunteers from UPS Supply Chain Solutions, in Carol Stream, sorted fresh produce and bread for the seniors. On the day of the event dozens of volunteer drivers delivered the grocery packages to the homes of each senior, and an additional dozen volunteers spent the morning at HSP’s Center loading up the drivers’ cars with all of the groceries.

It is thanks to these volunteers that HSP’s monthly Delivery Days are both successful and fun. We wish to thank all of the volunteers who contribute to our Senior Citizen Project for enabling us to make life better for the deserving seniors we serve!

Happy Birthday, Floyd

Today, HSP had the joy of celebrating a very special day, the birthday of our co-founder and CFO, Floyd Kettering. Floyd devotes so much time and energy to ensure that HSP is able to serve those in our community who need us most. Not only does he manage HSP’s finances, he helps oversee HSP’s programs, and is HSP’s resident “go-to guy” for solutions. HSP simply wouldn’t be HSP were it not for Floyd, so we were happy to take the time to recognize him today. Please join us in wishing Floyd a happy birthday!

Thank You to the Fox Valley Animal Welfare League

Today, HSP received a welcome visit from our friends at the Fox Valley Animal Welfare League. Every month, the group donates food for the furry and feathered friends of the seniors enrolled in our Senior Citizen Project. With the challenges that the seniors served by our program face, the companionship of a pet can bring much needed love and support.  However, the financial burden of pet ownership would be too much for the seniors we serve, if it weren’t for the Fox Valley Animal Welfare League. We wish to thank them for their continued generosity, by providing food for the beloved pets of the deserving seniors we serve!

Thank You to our Food Sorting Volunteers

This Saturday will be HSP’s first monthly “Delivery Day” of 2016 for our Senior Citizen Project. On every Delivery Day, HSP distributes a 100 lb. package of nutritious groceries to each of the 133 senior citizens enrolled in the program. In order to make this a reality each month, HSP relies on the support of a number of volunteers. One group of volunteers we wish to recognize for their help are our food sorting volunteers. These volunteers come in once a week to sort the non-perishable food and frozen meat that are distributed to the seniors on our delivery days. A majority of the volunteers come in on Monday mornings, though a few dedicated volunteers come in on Wednesdays instead. With over six and a half tons of groceries being distributed to seniors every month, our regular food sorting volunteers are instrumental in making this happen. We wish to thank all of these volunteers for helping us make a difference in the lives of deserving seniors!

Secret Pals Needed for Senior Citizens

HSP currently has 28 low-income seniors in our program who are without “Secret Pal” donors. Secret pals are volunteers who provide a gift, valued between $5 and $25 to their senior every month. These gifts range from items the seniors need but can’t afford, to items that bring joy to the seniors.

The seniors in our program are so grateful for the gifts provided by their secret pals. One senior told HSP, “I have been so grateful for all that [my secret pal] has done for me. Her generosity has been a blessing and her thoughtfulness has brought me to tears. She is such a special person.” HSP receives word from many of our seniors every month echoing this sentiment and expressing heartfelt gratitude for their secret pals. The Secret Pal program has not only provided our seniors with items to make their lives easier, but the knowledge that they are loved and cared for. If you are interested in making this difference in the life of a deserving senior, please consider joining our Secret Pal program. To do so, contact HSP at 630-221-8340, or via email hsp@humanitarianservice.org.

HSP Welcomes a New Intern

Today, HSP is excited to welcome a new member to our intern team, Stacy Van Loan. Stacy is a graduate student at Benedictine University where she is working to attain her Master’s degree in Public Health. Stacy previously earned her Bachelor’s degree, also in Public Health, from Western Illinois University. Stacy is interested in pursuing a career helping senior citizens when she graduates. In her time at HSP, Stacy will be helping HSP serve the low-income seniors enrolled in our Senior Citizen Project. Stacy will interview many of the seniors in the program, updating HSP’s knowledge on the senior’s needs, challenges, and how their life has been affected by HSP’s services. Stacy says she is very excited to work with our seniors, as well as gain experience in the non-profit field in her time at HSP. Outside of school, one of Stacy’s main interests is running. She regularly participates in half-marathons and 10 mile races, and has hopes of combining her loves of running and service in the future. Please join us in welcoming Stacy to HSP.

HSP’s Christmas Offering Official Results

The Humanitarian Service Project is proud to announce the official results of our Christmas Offering in 2015. In total, HSP provided Christmas gifts to 2,272 low-income children from 1,107 local families, and 133 senior citizens. HSP also distributed 27 tons of groceries to local families and seniors in need through the month of December. This was the largest Christmas Offering in HSP’s 37 year history, and we could not have done it without the help of all of our supporters. We wish to thank everyone who contributed to the success of this program by donating toys, food, funds, or by volunteering their time. Together we were able to bring tremendous joy and comfort to so many deserving seniors, children, and families.

Join HSP’s Team for the DuPage Human Race

HSP is proud to announce that we will, once again, be participating in the DuPage Human Race. This 5K run/ 2 mile fitness walk is an event run by Giving DuPage, and is an opportunity for people to raise funds and awareness for the DuPage charities that are near and dear to them. Runners/ walkers can sign up to run on behalf of their favorite DuPage causes to raise funds. HSP has had a blast at the race for the last four years, and we would love to see many of our supporters there.

You can sign up to run, or walk, for the event at this link: https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/DownersGrove/DuPageHumanRace Please list “Humanitarian Service Project” as the organization you are participating on behalf of. The race is not until April 30^th, but registration fees are lower if you register before Feb 1^st.  If you will not be able to attend the event, but still wish to support our runners and walkers, a donation page to support our race team will be live in the next few days. For more information on the event, please check out: https://www.dupagehumanrace.org/ or contact HSP. 

Senior Care Kits from Mill Street School

Yesterday, HSP received a wonderful donation from the students at Mill Street School in Naperville. As an activity last month, each class at the school made 4 “Personal Care kits” for the low-income seniors served by our Senior Citizen Project. In total, the school made 120 of these kits which include; shampoo, conditioner, soap, tooth paste, a toothbrush, facial tissues, hand sanitizer, and lip balm. The students even decorated the bags of the kits and created handmade cards for the seniors. These kits will ensure that the seniors enrolled in our program, will have the necessary personal care items in order to maintain their health. We wish to thank all of the students and staff at Mill Street School for this wonderful donation.

Most Needed Food Items for Seniors

With over 25 tons of groceries being distributed from HSP in the month of December, HSP in low supply of certain food items we need for the low-income seniors in our Senior Citizen Project. These much needed items are:

  -stuffing                  -soup

   -oatmeal                -pasta/rice meals

   -pancake mix                         

   -“main meals” such as chili and beef stew

   -tuna/other canned meats       

   - beverages (coffee, tea, etc.)

Every month, HSP distributes over 6 tons of groceries so that local seniors suffering under poverty have the means of maintaining a healthy diet. If you would like to help make an impact in the lives of these deserving seniors, please consider donating the above items.

Ways to Serve in 2016

After a busy and successful 2015, everyone at HSP is excited to get the ball rolling for 2016. This year, HSP’s programs will continue to make an impact in the lives of senior citizens, children, and their families who are suffering under the burden of poverty in our communities. If you are looking to get more involved in serving those in need in 2016, HSP has a number of ways to make an impact. Here are a few of these opportunities:

Sponsor a senior citizen or child: There are a number of low-income seniors and children enrolled in our programs, who don’t have any monetary sponsors.

Become a Secret Pal: As noted in our post last Monday, we have 25 low-income seniors who don’t have a “secret pal.” More info can be found here:  https://goo.gl/QLu7j0

Donate food or toys: With hundreds of tons of food and toys being distributed from HSP every year, we are in regular need of non-perishable food and new toys, especially for children between the ages of 8 and 11.

Volunteer: While the first few months of the year are the lowest in terms of volunteer need at HSP, there will be plenty of events and ways for those looking to give their time to help others throughout 2016.

For more information on all these opportunities, feel free to see our website: humanitarianservice.org, or contact HSP at 630-221-8340. We hope many of you will join HSP as we endeavor to serve those who need us most in 2016.