The Volunteer Center is Thankful For Its Volunteer Heroes

This year’s Thanksgiving for many will be very difficult as they mourn tragic losses of loved ones or face financial strife. The Volunteer Center of N.E. Metro Chicago empathizes with all of those who have suffered, yet we take comfort in the many remarkable volunteers who have stepped up to help people in need since the pandemic hit last Spring.

THE VC MASKS AND CAPS URGENT NEED PROGRAM HEROES

Soon after the lock down this Spring, local front-line hospital workers found themselves facing shortages in PPE equipment. Enter Mary Robinson of Northbrook, who put out an urgent request from several family members who worked in ERs and on the front lines in various local medical facilities that they needed masks and surgical caps. Her request was for 300 masks and 125 caps. VC board member and local realtor Julie Hartvigsen, a colleague of Mary’s, learned of her request and suggested the VC put out an APB. We did and the community responded immediately with bins full of generous donations of PPE.

People of all ages and backgrounds, service and facebook groups came through with beautiful homemade masks and caps. Still others made significant purchases and donated those as well. Mary Robinson has now been able to deliver nearly 3,000 supplies to over 15 different hospitals, homeless shelters, senior residential and rehabilitation centers throughout the North Shore and Lake and McHenry County.

The VC is grateful to all those who took the time to sew or make financial contributions to donate, regardless of quantity. It all has made a difference and continues to do so as the needs persist, particularly as the recent surge in cases is raging again. There are a few contributors we feel necessary to highlight who came through like mini factories and have delivered thousands of caps and masks.

We were introduced to Tom Nguyen in Chicago by his friend and local volunteer Judy Meikle, who has also helped find resources for Tom’s mask, cap and face shield creations. Initially Tom and about 8 of his friends from his Quan Am Tu Temple worked hard to bring in over 1,000 masks and caps for us and thousands more for other facilities. Once his friends were able to return to work after the lockdown, Tom created the PPE on his own until recently when he was able to enlist a few more to help him with large requests. He is extremely grateful to Leslie Travis, a retired teacher in Hyde Park who was of huge help by connecting him with most of the materials they needed for the masks and caps and also distributed out all the products they made. They have not only created the thousand plus PPE for this project but also for other doctors and nurses from other states and local churches and nonprofits. Tom has created a total so far of over 7,000 masks and some 2,000 surgical caps. He has a foundation called RightStart4Kids, and at the moment is focusing philanthropic efforts on cancer treatment, cataract and heart surgeries for people in need in Vietnam. Just as with all our volunteers, Tom does not seek credit or attention and is simply intent upon making this lifesaving difference for as many people as need them.

Husband and wife team Pam and Rob Tichy are a dynamic duo who have created over 1,300+ beautiful masks for this program and over 4,100 for other projects as well, like Masks Now IL, which has made tens of thousands of masks for Illinois service agencies. They’ve also donated to Glenbrook North HS staff, delivery drivers, nursing homes and the Colorado State University mask testing lab for them to test various materials and filters. Their masks also went to other hospitals outside of Illinois that were on the national clearinghouse lists, like “Get Us PPE”. Pam sews while Rob helps with the fabric and filter-cutting and finishing touches. They try to sew colorful or humorous masks so someone may get a smile out of them. The Tichys also enlisted their 17 and 20 year old sons over the summer months to help. They are additionally grateful for a few people who have paid it forward and donated back to them to purchase more supplies, which has been very helpful. Pam says as long as there’s a need, they will keep sewing them.

The Winnetka Northfield Rotary members generously purchased over 300 masks from a fellow Rotarian and Past District Governor Rick Rivkin at a discount from his business Saf-T-Guard, a local safety products company. Another program that should be recognized for its work in the community, has provided over 8,500 PPE to a large list of medical facilities was a special Facebook Group PPE & Mask Hunt founded by Lilia Kogan. Some of our project contributors such as a former VC board member Leslie Farmer was able to secure masks from this very prolific group.

This Urgent PPE program is still operating, so any volunteers may drop off donations of masks and caps, either hand-made or purchased, in the bins in the vestibules of the local New Trier Township Police Stations in Glencoe, Kenilworth, Wilmette and Winnetka, and the local Fire Station in Northfield.

The Volunteer Center is deeply indebted to ALL the volunteers and this generous community for its passion for helping people. Since 1960, the VC has worked hard to remain relevant as it directs people to meaningful service. For additional opportunities to help over 165 nonprofits, visit the VC’s website, https://www.VolunteerCenterHelps.org