Thanksgiving day dinner recipient Martin Schur chats with NHN volunteer Candee Cole.
Cole and Marcus McLeese delivered dinner and dessert for the Schur family.
The Des Plaines Community Foundation, T-Bob’s Smoked Bar-BQ, 1165 S. Elmhurst Road, Sysco Foods Chicago and Panera Bread in Metropolitan Square worked together in November of 2012 to provide and deliver Thanksgiving Day dinners. As a result, more than 80 families, seniors and people with disabilities had a very happy Thanksgiving.
According to Argus, the list of people served at Thanksgiving consisted of Des Plaines residents who request assistance by calling the Neighbors Helping Neighbors hotline at 888-646-8898. Pastor Chuck Reid, of Bethesda Worship Center, contacted Des Plaines Ministries, asking for the names of elderly and/or local
people with disabilities who were going to be alone on Thanksgiving.
Everyone on both the Neighbors Helping Neighbors list and the church lists were called to confirm they would be home on Thanksgiving Day and enjoyed having a cooked meal delivered. Sysco provided 80 pounds of turkey breasts, vegetables and potatoes. T-Bob’s roasted the turkey. Volunteers packaged the salad, main entrée, bread and dessert.
Sadie Argus picked up Panera Bread’s contributions of bagels, other bread and pastries and delivered them to T-Bob’s. Other volunteers delivered meals between 11 a.m. and noon on Thanksgiving Day.
“This really was a touching Neighbors Helping Neighbors program to provide dinners for these needy families,” said Argus. “We appreciated all the volunteers’ hard work on Thanksgiving
Day. This was one of the most satisfying things that we’ve done.”
Neighbors Helping Neighbors also delivered on about 400 requests for help from Des Plaines residents in need this year. The NHN Program links community volunteers with residents in need of transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, yard and home care, installation of emergency response boxes, wheelchair ramps and decks.
Chris Peterson, owner of Corporate Coach leads volunteers who provide transportation to Des Plaines residents. All residents have to do is call the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Hot Line (1-888-646-8898) and request help.
