The Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce gave thanks this week for 18 volunteers they honored as the community’s “unsung heroes.”
“These special volunteers are the very fabric of our community, providing guidance and leadership to our nonprofit organizations,” chamber President/CEO Carol Gieske said at the organization’s 43rd Annual “Thanks and Giving” Community Thanksgiving Luncheon Tuesday at Elgin Community College.
Those recognized were:
- Sue Campbell, PTO president at St. Thomas More Catholic School in Elgin;
- Jen Pierce, board member, marketer and photographer for the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra;
- Linda Rock, who serves many roles with the Elgin History Museum, including public speaker;
- Ken Swanson, known as the “Mayor of Cat Town” at Anderson Humane animal shelter in South Elgin;
- Alison Smith, who brings her certified therapy dog, Dolan, for visits at Marklund Wasmond Center & Day School in Elgin;
- Bob Malm, chair of the Educational Pathways A-Team for the Alignment Collaborative for Education, a consortium of business people who work with School District U-46;
- Ruthanne and Andy Bagwell, who donate meals, hold cookouts and oversee fundraisers for PADS of Elgin;
- Sheila and Lynda Mukite, who have been involved in a garden project and in getting winter clothing for clients at the Community Crisis Center in Elgin
- Melissa Dotson, who produces an annual office chair version of beach volleyball fundraiser for Easterseals DuPage and Fox Valley;
- Janet McCarthy, who helps stock shelves and run distribution at Food for Greater Elgin;
- Jon Kramp, treasurer and volunteer for the Elgin Theatre Company;
- Vicki Kellenberger, guardian ad litem for CASA Kane County;
- Jennifer Rome, who assists Fellowship Housing, a Hoffman Estates-based nonprofit that helps single mothers with housing matters, and who oversees women’s ministry activities at West Ridge Community Church in Elgin;
- Jim McDermott and Bob Pautsch, longtime friends who have been helping Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley and other Habitat affiliates for about 20 years;
- Cheryl Alopogianis, fundraising coordinator for Hoof, Woof & Meow Animal Rescue in Elgin.
Honorees McDermott and Pautsch said they’ve been friends for more than 50 years ago after meeting as engineers at Motorola in Schaumburg. They used to help build homes for Habitat, and now do maintenance and repair projects through the organization’s downtown Elgin office, they said.
The social aspects of being involved with the nonprofit are part of what keeps them volunteering, including getting to know the families they help get into new homes, both men said.
“It’s almost emotional just thinking about that,” Pautsch said.
As part of the chamber Thanksgiving event, Gieske reminded everyone that Tuesday, Dec. 3, is Giving Tuesday, the day on which people are asked to commit money, items or services to nonprofit organizations in the community.
“Give goods. Give kindness. Give talent. Give together. Connect your giving with our nonprofit friends who tackle our communities’ most critical issues,” Gieske said.
”Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor out, showing up for an issue or people we care about or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give.”
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
