Susan Kraus of Streamwood retired a week ago after working for an international computer software company and came to the Volunteer Fair in Batavia Thursday afternoon looking for something to do.
“I want to use my time to help others as well as relax and travel,” Krause said while visiting the fair sponsored by the Batavia Chamber of Commerce at the Batavia Public Library. “There is a group here that helps veterans with psychological issues and supporting them that I’m interested in. I think everybody has the responsibility to give back. If everybody did that, the world would be a better place.”
The need for volunteers continues to exist in every community and officials at the Batavia Chamber of Commerce took steps to address those needs with its first-ever Volunteer Fair.
For five hours, those attending the event could engage with more than 30 organizations which were offering information and volunteer opportunities for adults and children alike.
Margaret Perreault, president and CEO of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce, said that after discussions with area business leaders she became convinced that the need for more local volunteers was real and that the Chamber of Commerce should do something about it.
The event’s time slot from 2 to 7 p.m. was deliberately arranged, Perreault said, “because we wanted to have visibility from throughout the whole Tri-City area.”
“We have about 35 organizations and there is so much need,” she said. “We have parents who have kids in elementary school who might want to stop by before they pick up their kids. They can come by and see what opportunities are available or come by after school with their kids – even middle school or high school kids can stop by. But we wanted to go until 7 p.m. because we know there are people that work and we still have time after regular working hours.”
Perreault said “there are some organizations that just might need people for a certain day or event” while others require more long-term commitments.
“With something like people who drive seniors to their doctor appointments they need ongoing volunteers,” she said. “Perhaps others will sign up for when they are needed during the year, so there are lots of different opportunities for people to schedule however involved they want to be.”
Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke joined Perreault in welcoming people to the Volunteer Fair and noted that, with the increasing population in Batavia, “there will be more residents looking for something to do.”
“I’m pleased and honored that the Chamber is doing this, and we just figured out … that with the houses that were built in Batavia in the last four years and the coming year we will have over 860 new residents in the last five years,” he said. “You’ve got that many new people living here and they want to get involved in something and want to know about a club or a project or whatever. I think there’s a ready audience just waiting outside the room.”
Patti Lackman was representing the League of Women Voters at the event, one of the many organizations on hand at the Volunteer Fair.
“We want people to become members” in order to help with a number of the group’s efforts including voter registration, she said.
Kraus’ friend, Eileen Gutierrez of Geneva, who also retired recently, said she used to volunteer at an animal shelter “and ended up with too many dogs.”
“I’m considering working at a pet farm and also at Fabyan Gardens. I found about this from a local newsletter. I think about 10 hours of volunteering a week would be good,” she said. “The timing of this fair seems to be good as I’ve always had volunteering on my mind and when I saw this it worked out.”
Jeslyn White of Streamwood said she has volunteered before and “wanted to give back to the community and serve the needs of everyone else.”
“I like this fair,” she said. “The parking lot is packed and it’s very welcoming. I’ve done volunteer work with cancer patients and churches and packing food and it’s so rewarding.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
