Cupid's Adventures!

It’s true that our focus on Monday was Jan’s birthday, but some of us celebrated Valentine’s Day as well. I thought I’d ask around and find out what the staff and interns did to celebrate. See what they had to say…

I’ll start with myself. This is Tracy, and I volunteer in the office on Mondays and Wednesdays. I celebrated by going on a double date with my boyfriend and his parents to White Castle, where they decorate their dining area for Valentine’s Day with tablecloths, candles, and flowers. They turn White Castle into “Love Castle” for the day, and it was a lot of fun!

Sharon, our Administrative Assistant, celebrated her love for her dog, Beeju, by giving him a heart-shaped dog cookie and getting kisses in return!

Alex, our Database Administrator, went the romantic route by taking his girlfriend to a nice restaurant in Roselle, followed by a walk around town. He also gave her a dozen roses and ended the evening with a movie and cuddling! Alex also showed his sweet side at work by giving each of the women on staff a single rose!

Megan, our Children’s Birthday Project Coordinator, and her boyfriend celebrated Valentine’s Day by delivering a holiday meal to one of our seniors for the Holiday Meals Program. They thought it would be nice to give someone else a special Valentine gift! They then ate their own dinner – a heart-shaped pizza!

Sarah, our Senior Citizen Project Coordinator, said that she and her boyfriend stayed low-key and just made salads together.

Paul, our Marketing Coordinator, decided to postpone Valentine’s Day until Friday, so that he and his wife can go out to dinner and a movie.

Jan, the Toy Room Manager and birthday girl, had a joint celebration for Valentine’s Day and her birthday at her neighbor’s house. They had a nice dinner with brownies for dessert!

Monique and Aliza, two of our interns, didn’t really celebrate the holiday. Monique played her weekly volleyball game with a group of people who she really enjoys, and Aliza went from being at HSP all day to her job at Elmhurst College from 6:00 until midnight!

Lastly, Floyd and Karole, HSP founders, preferred an evening at home. Floyd worked on their taxes while Karole watched some television. They did do a little celebrating, though, with Floyd bringing a beautiful bouquet of flowers to work for Karole!

We hope that all of you had a very happy Valentine’s Day and that your support means the world to us!

Welcome, Cheri!

HSP has a new spring intern!

Cheri Buban is a Communication Studies major at Elmhurst College, and a Senior this year. Cheri came to HSP because she wanted to work for a non-profit, serving others. "I've always been interested in helping those in need," she said. While she's here, she'll be working on a little bit of everything. Right now, she's helping us write our Senior Updates for the Senior Citizen Project.

When Cheri's not here or in class, she participates in Dance on campus. A passion of hers, dancing is also her minor. She also works part time as a nanny. Her career goal is to become an event planner.

Cheri will be with us on Tuesdays and Thursdays until May. We're excited to have her join our team!

Happy Birthday, Jan!

Today we’re celebrating a very special day. Not just Valentine’s Day, but the birthday of our wonderful Toy Room Manager, Jan Thompson. Jan has been working for HSP since Christmas of 2006, and is a treasured and exemplary employee.

Jan’s commitment to the Children’s Birthday Project has raised the standard of excellence within the program. Jan puts a personal touch into each birthday box she creates, and treats each box as though she is personally giving it to a loved one. She often creates themes for the boxes, and really tries to imagine the kinds of gifts each child would like to receive. Jan really takes ownership of each box she puts together.

Jan has been a friend of HSP since the 1980’s, and has been a friend to Karole and Floyd Kettering, HSP founders, for 36 years! Jan’s daughter, Genel, was even on staff at one time. Jan is a generous and caring woman with a big heart and contagious laugh. While celebrating Jan’s birthday over lunch and cake, the staff, interns, and some volunteers all took turns telling Jan how much she’s appreciated, and no one was at a loss for words. Thank you for your hard work and commitment, Jan, and happy birthday to you!

Openings for Volunteer Positions!

HSP has some volunteer openings, and we are looking for a few responsible and dedicated individuals to fill them. Please read the position descriptions below and let us know if you’re interested!

Children’s Project Administrative Volunteer:
HSP is looking for someone to assist our Children’s Project Coordinator with various administrative tasks.

Responsibilities would include:
• Correspondence with Caseworkers and Clients
• Help stock supplies
• Completing Mail Merges
• Assist with mailings
• Other tasks as needed
The perfect volunteer for this position would have some office experience, and professional demeanor, ability to commit to at least 4 hours a week and a willingness to help serve needy area children!
If this sounds like a position you may be interested in contact us at 630-221-8340 or cbp@humanitarianservice.org.

Delivery Day Operations Assistant Volunteer:
We have a new volunteer opportunity for someone who wants to make a huge difference in the lives of our seniors and for the project. We are looking for a dedicated volunteer to help provide administrative support and organizational skills to help make our delivery day a success.

Tasks Include:
• Professional correspondence with Delivery Day Drivers and Substitute Drivers.
• Creating engaging emails to enroll and interest volunteers.
• Making reference calls when there is a new volunteer.
• Helping produce materials needed for the event: checklists, postcards, volunteer instruction cards, and produce box labels.
• Support with managing volunteers when necessary.
• Thanking volunteers through email.
Skills Needed:
• Ability to volunteer at our center and frequently during the 2 weeks leading up to the delivery day events.
• Detail-Oriented
• Organized
• Dependable
• Ability to see tasks through to completion
• Microsoft Word, Excel, & Publisher experience is helpful
• Service attitude & desire to make a difference
It is an excellent leadership experience and great way to help our needy seniors.
If this sounds like a position you may be interested in contact us at 630-221-8340 or scp@humanitarianservice.org.

Holiday Meals Operations Assistant Volunteer:
As our Year Round Holiday Meals program for our seniors turns 1 year old, we are looking for a dedicated volunteer to help this newer program evolve and flourish.

Tasks Include:
• Corresponding & assigning interested volunteers to seniors requesting a holiday meal. Emailing senior’s information to the volunteer.
• Creating engaging emails to enroll and interest volunteers.
• Making reference calls when there is a new volunteer.
• Calling to verify if the seniors are still interested in receiving the holiday meals.
• Keeping accurate records of volunteer & senior assignments.
• Thanking volunteers through email.
• Obtain and track feedback from volunteer participants.
Skills Needed:
• Ability to volunteer at our center, especially around the monthly holiday.
• Detail-Oriented
• Organized
• Dependable
• Microsoft Word or Excel experience is helpful
• Service attitude & desire to make a difference
It is an excellent leadership experience and great way to not only benefit our needy seniors, but also forge special new relationships between volunteers and seniors.
If this sounds like a position you may be interested in contact us at 630-221-8340 or scp@humanitarianservice.org.

Show off your love this Valentine’s.

It is truly special when we get to see one of our volunteers develop a bond with a senior enrolled in our program. Laura, one of our holiday meal event volunteers, became good friends with Maria. Maria is a senior citizen who always remains appreciative of every large and small thing that we do to help her.

Today, Laura, let us know that she is appreciative also. The chance to do a good deed, the chance to experience and see the joy in another because of something you did, is a gift of its own. Laura thanks us for the opportunity to deliver a special meal on a holiday to a senior. She lets us know “it has made such a huge difference in my life and I hope a little difference in theirs.”

We are still looking for more volunteers to provide a holiday meal and deliver it to one of the seniors living:

- 1 in Bensenville

- 1 in Carol Stream

- 2 (married couple) in Glen Ellyn

- 4 in Wheaton

If you are interested, please email us at: scp@humanitarianservice.org or call us directly at: 630-221-8340.

Gift Wrappers Needed!

Through the Children’s Birthday Project, each child enrolled receives a birthday box for his or her birthday. Earlier today we told you about the party-in-a-bag kits that were left at our door by a donor, which will be given to a child in a birthday box. Along with the party-in-a-bag, each box also contains, of course, presents!

We fill each birthday box with 6-15 new toys, a new game, 6 new books, a stuffed animal or action figure, school supplies, 3 filler gifts, and a Beanie Baby. To get all the presents wrapped for each box we have wonderful volunteer “wrappers.”

As we’re preparing gifts for children who have spring birthdays, we would love to have some help with wrapping. We ask volunteer wrappers to pick up the bags from our location and wrap each gift individually, providing their own beautiful wrapping paper and ribbons/bows. We estimate that it takes 2 adults about 1 hour to wrap 1 bag of gifts.

This is a great activity for groups or for individuals looking to spend their free time giving back to others. Since the bags are taken home, the gifts can be wrapped at a time convenient to you! We just ask that the bags of wrapped gifts be returned to us within 2 weeks.

If you’re interested in helping us wrap gifts, please give us a call at 630-221-8340 or email us at cbp@humanitarianservice.org

A Morning Surprise!

As she was walking up the front walk this morning, Megan Birkey, our Children’s Birthday Project Coordinator, found a surprise left by an anonymous donor. Sitting by the door were three party-in-a-bag kits! There was no note with the bags, but they were filled with wonderful party items for some lucky children.

Each bag had a theme and contained plates, napkins, cups, forks, tablecloths, silly straws, balloons, party hats, streamers, party favors, cake mix, frosting, and birthday candles. One bag had a Barbie theme, one had a Disney’s “Tangled” theme, and one had a movie/rock star theme!

To whoever dropped off the party-in-a-bag kits, we want to thank you for your generosity! Your kits will certainly help make some lucky children’s birthdays exciting and memorable!