DC Spotlight-on-Volunteers

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Building the community.

If there was onetheme that shonethrough the reporting,

photographing, writing and editingof “Spotlight on Volunteers: MakingCommunities Stronger,” it was thatlocal residents who give of their timedo so to build a stronger home.

Nonprofit organizations, socialservice agencies and even govern-ments could not survive, much lessthrive, without the dedicated core ofvolunteers who offer their time andtalents for the betterment of others.

The other clear theme: This spe-cial section just scratches the surfaceof the scope, depth and breadth ofvolunteering in DeKalb County. Wecouldn’t possibly cover every aspectof volunteering, every agency or or-ganization that benefits from volun-teers, and every person who gives soselflessly of himself or herself.

What we can do, however, is of-fer this to all volunteers: We knowyou make a difference through yourwork, and we thank you for investingin our community.

– Kate Schott

Kyle Bursaw – [email protected]

During an afternoon shift at the Feed My Starving Children food drive more than 250 people work together to package mixes of dehydrated goods including rice, soy and vegetablesin the gym at Cornerstone Christian Academy in Sycamore on Nov. 17, 2011.

Why volunteers matter ...................................4

Volunteer profile » Keith Foster .................................7

Social services ..............................................................8

Volunteer profile » Paul Johnson ............................10

Food services .............................................................13

Volunteer profile » Dee and Don Anderson ...15

Youth services ..........................................................16

Volunteer profile » RobinWaffle ............................17

Athletic organizations ....................................18

Volunteer profile » Brad Roberts ...........................19

By the numbers ......................................................20

« editor’s welcome » « table of contents »

what’s inside

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Pat Bute chats with patient Burly Billips while pushing him to his destination in Kishwaukee Community Hospital on May 9. Bute hasbeen volunteering at the hospital for about a year-and-a-half.

Volunteers described as lifeblood of the community« why volunteers matter »

By KATE [email protected]

Linda Groat has fond memo-ries of the Egyptian Theatre,and she enjoys helping othersform the same attachment.

“I grew up in DeKalb and I likedgoing to the (Egyptian) theater formovies,” Groat said. “I hope to see thetheater grow and be great.”

Groat is one of the 250 volunteerswho assist in the 125 shows thetheater presents annually. She’salso vice president of the Preserva-tion of the Egyptian Theatre Board.Alex Nerad, the theater’s execu-tive director, said volunteers are acritical part of the organization’soperations.

That’s a sentiment echoed bydozens of other organizations andbusinesses in DeKalb County thatsay volunteers are the lifeblood of thecommunity.

“The health of a community isdefined by the volunteers in the com-munity,” said David Miller, executivedirector of Family Service Agency,which has hundreds of volunteers as-sisting its four departments.

“When people are willing to reachout and help each other, it meansthere is a healthy community,” hesaid. “When everyone is just worriedabout themselves, you don’t reallyhave a community that is at it’s fullpotential.”

Paula von End, director of volun-teer services at Kishwaukee Com-munity Hospital, said the nearly 300people who annually give their timeto the hospital are the heart of theorganization.

The desk team attracts the mostvolunteers: These 70 volunteers arethe people who welcome those cominginto the hospital’s front doors. Theyescort guests, von End said, whetherif that’s to visit a patient or take themto an appointment for tests or tocheck in for a procedure.

Von End had one volunteer trackthe number of contacts he had withdifferent people within a two-hourshift; he had 80. Volunteers are sobusy, she said, they sometimes barelyget a chance to sit down. Some walk 2to 3 miles per three-hour shift.

“Along with the receptionist, theyare the meeters and greeters of everyperson who comes in,” she said. “Thetone is set when people come in, tohave that friendly, smiling, helpfulperson assist them when they comeinto the building.”

Opportunities aboundVolunteer opportunities are avail-

able for people of all ages and with dif-ferent abilities, said Dawn Littlefield,executive director of the KishwaukeeUnited Way. That organization servesas a conduit for people looking forvolunteer opportunities and the agen-cies that need them; Littlefield saidcalls come in usually every other dayfor people looking for ways to giveback. The DeKalb County CommunityFoundation also has a nonprofit guideon its website to assist people in find-ing organizations.

Local volunteer opportunities rangefrom serving on a board of directors fora local nonprofit or on a city commis-sion to delivering Meals on Wheels orserving food at a soup kitchen to stuff-ing envelopes or setting up computersfor a social service agency.

And then there are one-dayevents, like the annual Day of Caringby the United Way, NIU Cares Dayand Feed My Starving Children,where local residents pack thou-sands of meals for starving children

throughout the world.Some require hours of training,

such as those serving as advocates forabused and neglected children in theCASA program, while others can beas simple baking cookies for the Pay-It-Forward House in Sycamore.

Still others take part in serviceclubs, and serve as ambassadors fortheir clubs, organizations or events.As vice president of the DeKalb Ki-wanis, Tarryn Thaden greeted visitorsto her club’s booth at the 2012 Com-munity Expo at DeKalb High Schoolin April.

“We also do a lot of fundraising,”

he said. “It’s all about service. Onceyou join the Kiwanis, it becomes yourlife. I think it’s the best thing I’ve everdone.”

It’s hard to put a value on a vol-unteer and the time he or she gives.But the Independent Sector does justthat. The organization – a leadershipnetwork for nonprofits, foundationsand corporate-giving programs –estimated that the national average in2011 for an hour of a volunteer’s timewas $21.79.

Dan Templin, executive directorof the DCCF, said volunteers essen-tially become part of the workforcefor many nonprofit organizations, butallow them to remain fiscally respon-sible. Between volunteers and thenecessary hired staff, they keep the“boat rowing in the same direction”and get tasks accomplished.

“If you were to quantify that, itwould mean this mean thousands ofdollars,” Templin said. “If we had topay somebody to do that, we couldn’tdo it. It couldn’t be done.”

See VOLUNTEERS, page 6

Know more

Looking for a way to volunteer?• The Kishwaukee United Way serves as a

conduit to connect volunteers to opportuni-ties. Visit www.kishwaukeeunitedway.org/or call 815-756-7522 for information.• The DeKalb County Community Founda-

tion has a nonprofit directory on its website.Visit www.dekalbcountyfoundation.org/ formore information



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Office of Admissions��

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Benefits aboundJea Nae Romela, execu-

tive director of the Pay-It-Forward House in Sycamore,said the hospitality houseis “virtually entirely staffedby volunteers.” She and onepart-time employee are theonly paid staff at the house,which provides accommoda-tions for out-of-town guestsvisiting someone receivingmedical treatment in DeKalbCounty.

The house’s 175 regularvolunteers do everythingfrom clean the house, arrangefor food, do lawn care andraise funds. Having a mul-titude of volunteer optionshelps, Romela said, noting noteveryone can write a check,but everybody had a passionand talent they can share.

There is an artist, for in-stance, who paints watercol-ors and allows her work to beused in the house for decora-tion, which are also for sale.

“I think they enjoy beingable to help other people. A lotof our volunteers have had a

situation in their lives whereother folks have given oftheir time and energy to helpothers out, and they are trulypaying it forward,” Romelasaid. “They see the guestsstaying there, and see howmuch of a benefit it providesto those there.”

Littlefield said people feelgood about themselves whenthey volunteer, and usually

chose an organization theyare connected to personally.Others may start volunteer-ing as a résumé booster, orfor a job.

Volunteering provides so-cial opportunities for people,Templin said, and gives asense of being connectedto something greater whiletime, energy and talents aregiven to something “that

really matters and makes adifference.”

Sycamore Mayor KenMundy said his city has beenenriched for generations bythe support of volunteerswho rise to the occasion tomeet requests for assistance.He said he is encouraged tosee volunteering embracedby people of all ages: Forexample, by the high school’sKey Club, which puts on amultitude of events, includ-ing the senior prom at OakCrest DeKalb Area Retire-ment Center.

Or take annual festivalssuch as Pumpkin Fest, whichwould never be put on wereit not for a small army ofvolunteers.

“That doesn’t happenby accident. These eventsare strongly supported byvolunteers,” Mundy said.“The volunteers are what getthe jobs done here. ... We arevery proud of our volunteersand very thankful that peoplepick up on the spirit of givingand generosity.”

Even governments havevolunteers: Mundy andDeKalb Mayor Kris Povlsennoted their cities have com-missions filled with volun-

teers who provide input andinsight.

“We are so blessed in thiswhole area here, with howwe live and the standard ofliving,” Mundy said. “Peoplelook outside themselves. It’sa natural thing people do, toask how can I help. They seeothers who could use a littlehelp, and they try to makeour community better.”

Povlsen said he seesvolunteerism throughoutthe city: From those whovolunteer at social serviceagencies to those who holdfundraisers to help those whoare ill to those who welcomeback veterans, volunteers areeverywhere, contributing tothe betterment of the com-munity.

“If folks just consider for aminute, if all the volunteerswent away, what impactthat would have ... it’s reallypowerful,” Littlefield said.“Sometimes it’s easy to say,go out and volunteer. I thinkit makes such a bigger differ-ence than most people thinkit does.”

• Shaw Media reporterDoug Oleson contributed tothis report.

• VOUNTEERSFrom page 4

Rob Winner – [email protected]

Volunteer Jeff Hauman of the DeKalb Kiwanis Club helps out during anelectronics recycling collection April 14 at the DeKalb County HealthDepartment’s parking lot. The event was sponsored by the DeKalbCounty Solid Waste Management Program and the DeKalb CountyFarm Bureau.

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By DEBBIE [email protected]

Some people volunteerjust because they can.

Now that hischildren are grown

and he has more time, KeithFoster is one of those people.

“I was not as involvedwhen the kids were at home,”said the DeKalb County at-torney and father of three.“After we got our kidsthrough school, I had the timeand decided it was time to getinvolved.”

And he jumped in withboth feet.

Foster is a member of theShabbona Lions Club and heserves as the treasurer of theKishwaukee Family YMCAboard, vice president of theOpportunity House board,a member of the DeKalbChamber of Commerce board,and president of the TAILSHumane Society board.

In his free time, Fosteralso does woodworking. Someof his work gets donated forvarious fundraisers whileother pieces – such as the lec-tern or conference table thatseats 20 – enhance his firm’soffices.

With a love for animals,Foster said he asked to sit onthe TAILS board five yearsago. He has been presidentfor half that time. Foster saidthe organization couldn’t sur-vive without its army of vol-unteers walking dogs, feedingthe animals and cleaning thefacility.

“They have hundreds onthe volunteer list. There are alot of students, of course, butthe organization could notfunction without them, andmost are as reliable as anyemployee,” he said.

Foster shows the samecare and concern for thepeople his volunteer orga-nizations serve. ServingOpportunity House – whichprovides services to localresidents with developmentaldisabilities – for a secondtime, he said he wasn’t ableto devote a lot of time the firsttime around to the organiza-tion “serving a segment of thepopulation that needs all thehelp we can give them.”

And at the YMCA, he saidhe appreciates that entire

families benefit.“Families are struggling

economically, but nobodygets turned away from the Y,”he said. “I think that’s a goodphilosophy. All you have todo is hang around there for awhile to see how many peoplebenefit from having a Y in thecommunity.”

Foster said his connectionwith the YMCA was inherited,in a way. His father was thechairman of the board whenthe building that houses theYMCA today was built. Fostersaid as a younger man he wasmore interested in sports andplaying in a rock band, but helearned from his father, andhas tried to instill the samevalues in his own children.

He and his wife, Jan,a second-grade teacher atWaterman Elementary, havetwo daughters and one son.

Foster said one daughterworks for the Muscular Dys-trophy Association in Seattleand the other works for anonprofit agency in Boulder,Colo.

Their son lives in Chicagoand “works too much,” Fostersaid, although he believeshe’ll eventually find a volun-teer niche, too.

He said he believes DeKalbCounty is full of well-runorganizations. He points tothe expansion of Hope Havenhomeless shelter as just oneexample.

“Hope Haven had a needfor more space. (ExecutiveDirector) Lesley Wicks wentout, on her own, and raisedthe money for the expansion.

She just did it,” he said.“And look at the hospital,”

he continued. “It’s gorgeous,and the list of donors is phe-nomenal.”

No matter what one’s in-terests or place in life, Fostercontends that it’s easy to be avolunteer in DeKalb County.

“There’s no lack of op-portunity for those who are

Debbie Behrends - [email protected]

Along with work and the time he spends on volunteer projects, attorney Keith Foster does woodworking. He’s pictured in his office with a lec-tern he built. Many of his projects end up being donated for various fundraisers.

« volunteer profile » Keith Foster

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By CAITLIN [email protected]

Having been a volunteerfor 17 years, Chris Peddlesaid she appreciates thenumber of different orga-

nizations that help people in DeKalbCounty and how many work togetherto serve people.

Social service agencies like Habi-tat for Humanity of DeKalb County– where Peddle is volunteer coordina-tor – and others offer assistance to lo-cal residents and animals in need, andenlist volunteers to help get necessarytasks completed or interact with thoseserved.

For Habitat for Humanity, every-one is a volunteer, from those on theboard of directors to people who helpbuild homes, Peddle said.

“We are a solely volunteer-runorganization,” she said.

It’s a sentiment shared by numer-ous other social service agencies inDeKalb County.

Homeless shelter Hope Havenhas always been blessed with a largepopulation of volunteers, said Execu-tive Director Lesly Wicks.

At Hope Haven, which servesabout 75 people per night, volunteershandle tasks like tutoring childrenand cooking meals. Some teach resi-dents to crochet or money manage-ment, Wicks said.

“We probably have more volun-teers than we can keep busy,” sheadded.

That’s not the case at TAILS Hu-mane Society, which cares for 200 to300 animals at the shelter and another60 within foster homes. The sheltergains 30 to 40 new volunteers permonth and also has attrition of volun-teers, according to Executive DirectorBeth Drake.

“We just almost can’t have enoughvolunteers at any given time,” shesaid.

And what those volunteers do fororganizations varies.

Wicks said Hope Haven encour-ages those with particular skills, likecomputer or secretarial, to maketheir talent known when interestedin volunteering at the shelter. Peopledon’t always recognize the skills theymay have and how they can help anorganization, she said.

Helping residents learn new thingsfurthers their education and buildslife skills, she said, in addition toenhancing their lives.

More than ever, Wicks said she

believes there’s a greater awarenesswithin the community of what HopeHaven does.

“It’s definitely triggered the callsfor people who volunteer,” Wickssaid.

Some volunteers come to TAILSevery week to help clean cages orwalk animals; others stop by theshelter a couple of times per month,Drake said. Even those who are aller-gic to animals help by making catnipmice or sewing beds for the animals,she said.

Without volunteers, work wouldget done, but staff wouldn’t havetime to give animals extra love,Drake said. Volunteers take animalson long walks and provide animalswith the attention and care theycrave, which is important to theirwell-being.

“That’s the stuff that would not getdone,” she said, adding that volun-teers mean “the difference betweengood and great.”

Amanda Schrems, sexual assault

legal/medical advocate and volun-teer coordinator for Safe Passage,said volunteers handle everythingfrom answering the crisis hot line tomeeting with a victim at the hospi-tal and providing information onservices.

“Without community support andvolunteers, Safe Passage just wouldn’tbe able to do or provide all the ser-vices that it does,” said ExecutiveDirector Linda Moser.

Volunteers help staff cover all ofthe bases. Often, if a staff member ismeeting with a victim at the hospital,a volunteer will man the hot line, orvice versa, Schrems said.

Schrems, who started as an internand a volunteer herself, said she feelsvolunteers and the agency have agood partnership.

“They’re truly valued. I appreciateevery single one of them,” she said.

Peddle said Habitat gets a lot ofrequests from individuals as well aschurch groups and Northern Illi-nois University students looking to

volunteer.It’s hard to gauge the number of

volunteers, Peddle said, but thereare up to 15 members on the boardof directors and a database of about2,000 volunteers for home buildingprojects.

She said it’s rewarding to helpsomeone who’s trying to secure theAmerican dream of owning a home,and that’s why so many enjoy beinginvolved with Habitat for Humanity.

“We just cannot say enough aboutour volunteers,” Peddle said.

Other social services said theydon’t have as large of a base of volun-teers, but stressed the ones who giveof their time are an important part oftheir organizations.

Carol Parsons said OpportunityHouse, which provides services tolocal residents who have a develop-mental disability, is getting morecalls than ever from those interestedin volunteering.


Deanne Winterton, 18, prepares to clean up after a dog while she and classmate Megan Drendel (foreground) walk dogs while volun-teering at TAILS Humane Society on April 18.

Volunteers necessary to serve community’s neediest

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See SOCIAL SERVICES, page 9



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The organization usesvolunteers on a limited basissince there are licensing andtraining requirements volun-teers must complete. Volun-teers are used for recreationprograms and Special Olym-pics, Parsons added.

Heather Foulker, DeKalbCounty manager for RAMP,said that because RAMPkeeps clients’ informationconfidential, volunteersare only used for its annualWheel-A-Thon.

Jon Bockman, director ofoperations for Oaken AcresWildlife, said the wildliferescue and rehabilitationorganization doesn’t usevolunteers much, but appreci-ates when those with specificskills help the organizationby building squirrel houses orfixing cages.

That’s probably the mostvaluable way volunteers helpOaken Acres, he said, sinceit provides something at areduced cost or for free.

“We would not be able to dowhat we do without them forsure,” Bockman said.

• SOCIAL SERVICESFrom page 8


Chuck Janssen of Genoa helps to rehab a home at 615 Roosevelt Court in Sycamore for Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County.

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Paul Johnson, pictured here in his Sycamore home, is a longtime board member and volunteer with Hope Haven and will be leaving theboard at the end of June. See JOHNSON, page 12

By CAITLIN [email protected]

When Paul Johnson re-tired almost 30 yearsago, he didn’t reallystop working.

Instead, the Sycamore residentended up spending decades volun-teering to help the homeless andcontinuing to do the type of work heleft behind at his former job.

“As I look back on it,” he saidwith a laugh, “I’m happier when I’mbusy doing something.”

Johnson has been on HopeHaven’s board since the shelterwas established in 1990 and servedas its treasurer for 17 years. Now88, he’ll leave the board at the endof June.

“Father Time is telling me thatthis is a good time to do it,” he said.

Hope Haven Executive DirectorLesly Wicks expects she’ll continueto consult Johnson, whom she calls“Mr. Hope Haven” and considersher mentor.

“I think he really is the keyperson that has helped Hope Havenbe so successful over the years,”Wicks said. “Nobody in the commu-nity has put in more hours for HopeHaven than Paul.”

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Lehan Family,proud to be

serving you for

Over 65 Yearsw w w . l e h a n d r u g s . c o m

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Johnson got started withPADS – Public Action to De-liver Shelter – after he retiredfrom Northern Illinois Univer-sity in 1986 as an assistant con-troller doing accounting work.He started volunteering forthe overnight shift with PADS,which was held through localchurches, including SycamoreUnited Methodist, whereJohnson is a member.

Within a year or two,Johnson was asked to coor-dinate PADS volunteers. In1989, he became treasurer forthe organization.

“I got the idea that I mightbe in it for the long haul,”Johnson said.

A task force was formed in1990 to look for a permanentsite and board of directorsfor the organization, he said.A former laundromat at 316N. Sixth St. was remodeledand became the shelter for 10years. The search for a perma-nent director began in August1990 and in 1991, the name waschanged to Hope Haven.

Johnson recalls theshelter’s milestones clearly.The lot on Rushmoore Drivewhere it sits today waspurchased in 1998, and thebuilding completed by Janu-ary 2000.

Johnson continued toserve as treasurer, and con-verted manual accountingrecords to the Quickbooksprogram. He paid the bills,managed operating budgetsand handled grant reports.

By 2006, Johnson wasready to give up the position“for a younger man to do,”he joked. But he remainedon the board and helped withaccounting operations.

Johnson said he’s enjoyedthe work all these years andthat he gave his time for agood cause.

“Hope Haven was and isthe place where I felt I couldhelp to make a difference,”Johnson said.

Johnson’s accountingknowledge and fiscal con-servatism kept Hope Havenin the black all these years,

Wicks said. And he’s helpedher run the agency in ethi-cally and financially respon-sible ways.

“Hope Haven would havebeen a very small programprobably without his stabilityand guidance over the years,”she said. “This is a situationwhere one person really madea difference.”

To Johnson, it’s beenrewarding to see and hearsuccess stories from formerHope Haven clients. Over theyears, Johnson’s felt like he’sbecome friends with clients,who appreciate what volun-teers do.

He credited Wicks andboard members for buildingthe shelter’s solid reputationand not shying away fromlarge tasks.

“They keep movingforward and they’re will-ing to accept the challenge,”Johnson said. “All the while,support from the communityhas been tremendous.”

Volunteers at Hope Havenhave made an immeasurabledifference, he said.

“I don’t like to think aboutwhat kind of world this wouldbe without volunteers,” John-son said. “Life would be a lotdifferent for a lot of people. ...Hope Haven would never havehappened without volunteers.”

He acknowledged thatleaving the board will takesome getting used to. But hedoesn’t expect to be a strangerat the shelter.

“I expect I’ll still be goingin there and making mis-chief,” he said, grinning.

• JOHNSONFrom page 10

“Hope Haven wouldhave been a very smallprogram probably with-out his stability and

guidance over the years.This is a situation whereone person really made

a difference.”

Lesly WicksHope Haven executive director

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Volunteers support meal programs in tough economy« food services »

By NICOLE [email protected]

Volunteers in DeKalb Countyfeed thousands of peoplea month, whether it’s at asoup kitchen, a food pantry

or through a Meals on Wheels pro-gram.

With the economy still sluggishneeds continue to grow, but foodprograms like those provided bythe Voluntary Action Center, TheSalvation Army and Feed’em Soupare one constant that DeKalb Countyresidents can rely on, thanks to thethousands of volunteers who supportthem.

The Voluntary Action Center pro-vides its Meals on Wheels program,which delivers hot and cold meals tohome-bound seniors and people withdisabilities. Ellen Rogers, assistantdirector for VAC, said between 400and 450 meals are provided each daythrough the program.

On top of Meals on Wheels, VAChosts senior luncheon programs inDeKalb, Genoa, Sandwich and Syca-more. The organization serves an ad-ditional 600 meals a day through adultday care programs. Food services alsoextend to child care centers, hospice,the Family Service Agency and thecounty jail.

More than 1,500 volunteers lend ahand each year to operate these foodprograms, Rogers said.

“The Meals on Wheels program ...we have 15 or 16 routes,” she said. “Ifwe had to hire folks to deliver thosemeals, I’m sure those numbers wouldbe cut in half. We simply don’t havethe resources.”

Feed’em Soup is a soup kitchenorganization that serves meals twice,sometimes three times, a month toanyone in need.

Derek Gibbs, marketing andbrand director for the organization,said the soup kitchen served itsfirst meal in September 2010, serv-ing about 50 people. The organiza-tion now feeds an average of 200 to220 people with the help of 30 to 35volunteers. Feed’em Soup has about400 registered volunteers who helpoff and on.

Volunteers tend to be younger, andtheir enthusiasm for the organiza-tion tends to spread to their parents,friends and neighbors, Gibbs said.

“It’s not one person giving a lot,it’s a lot of people giving a little,” hesaid.

The Salvation Army Food Pantry

serves all of DeKalb County with thehelp of various community organi-zations, and a core group of 20 to 30regular volunteers. Gary Billings,food pantry coordinator, said TheSalvation Army took over the area’sfood pantry services in 1992, start-ing out in a small 12-foot by 12-footroom.

The pantry has since expanded,filling a 20-foot by 30-foot room withenough food to feed as many as 700families a month. Billings said thepantry feeds approximately 2,400people each month. The pantry sawrecord numbers of families – as highas 765 – last March and February. Andnew faces continue to show up.

The food pantry depends on volun-teers to do everything from assist-ing clients with choosing items andstocking shelves to cleaning eggs andmopping the floor.

“That’s what makes this workis the volunteers,” Billings said.“Without the volunteers, it wouldn’t

happen. Their support is what makesthis work.”

Like most nonprofit organizations,Rogers said VAC’s food programshave felt the pinch of the sluggisheconomy in the past few years. Mealson Wheels volunteers have taken ahit with high gas prices, as they usetheir own vehicles. And meeting thegrowing need for food services issomething VAC takes “day by day,”she said, but fortunately, the Mealson Wheels name recognition makes iteasier to recruit new volunteers.

And the rewards of volunteeringfor the program keep volunteers com-ing back, Rogers said.

“It’s an easy, easy way of giving. Itusually takes less than an hour,” shesaid. “You see how grateful this per-son is. ... In five or 10 minutes, you’vebrightened someone’s day in a shortperiod of time.”

Gibbs said Feed’em Soup startedin the middle of the recession andmanaged to grow its services – even

moving into a new space about fourtimes the size of their old space. Hesaid while there’s a great need for asoup kitchen, there’s also a great needin the community to give back, sorecruiting volunteers hasn’t been anissue.

“I think the key is that we let themtake part ownership of this project,”Gibbs said. “It’s feel-good. They meetthe people they’re helping and that’svaluable all the way around.”

Community support from outsideorganizations has become moreimportant for The Salvation ArmyFood Pantry through the recession,Billings said. The pantry depends ondonations and food drives from localchurches, Boy Scout and Girl Scouttroops, and other organizations to getthe pantry during its slowest months,particularly in the summer.

“It’s not just the volunteers, butthe community organizations thathave the heart to help people in needand support us,” he said.


Angie Boesche, 20, places a turkey into a shopping cart as she and other volunteers at the Salvation Army in DeKalb assemble mealpackages to be distributed to local families for Thanksgiving in 2011.

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15« volunteer profile » The AndersonsBy NICOLE [email protected]

BBetween the two ofthem, Dee and DonAnderson of Syca-more have logged

35 years of service with theVoluntary Action Center’sMeals on Wheels program.

Add in the volunteerhours of family membersand the Andersons estimatethey’ve accumulated at least160 years of service. That’sbecause Dee’s family wasinstrumental in gettingDeKalb County’s first Mealson Wheels program off theground.

The long-standing familytradition extends all the wayback to the program’s rootsin the late 1970s, when it wasknown then as the FeedingOur Older DeKalb program.The family was also involvedin the Senior LuncheonProgram.

It started with threesiblings and a spouse. Dee’sdad, Sheldon Marsh, volun-teered along with his sister,Doris Smith; his brother,Ken Marsh; and his brother’swife, Marion Marsh.

“The three siblings hadsuch a tremendous impact.They were really drivingforces,” said Ellen Rogers, as-sistant director for VAC.

They’ve all since passedaway, but the spirit of vol-unteerism continues in thefamily with the Andersons,as well as Doris’s grand-daughter, Deb Hartman, whoalso volunteers with the localMeals on Wheels program.

“They’ve been volunteer-ing for a long time,” Rogerssaid of the family. “We’revery lucky because we’ve gotso much stability.”

Rogers said the VoluntaryAction Center created anannual award to honor theMarsh family for their role inhelping launch the Meals onWheels and Senior Luncheonprograms. The award wasfirst presented several yearsago when the family had putin nearly 143 cumulativeyears of service.

It wasn’t until then thatthe Andersons realized justhow far back their family’sinvolvement went.

“I was flabbergasted at the

number of years they put in,”Don Anderson said.

“I think it’s really nice thatit’s continued on like it has,”Dee Anderson said.

Dee said she had no ideahow many years her familymembers – including her dad– had been involved until shelearned about the award.

But the long family historyisn’t what inspired the An-dersons to get involved. DeeAnderson, 73, began volun-teering regularly in 1994 afterparticipating with membersof her church congregation.She enjoyed it so much, shestuck with it. A year later,Don Anderson, 75, startedjoining her regularly.

The couple spends aboutan hour delivering mealsonce a week along theirSouthmoor Estates route inDeKalb. They try to help outwhenever they can, some-times volunteering as muchas four times a week, whichthey said is rare.

“We’ve got the time, so wefigure ‘why not?’” Dee Ander-son said. “Someday we mightneed that service.”

Their route includes 10stops, and the Andersonsusually stop in and talk tothe people they deliver mealsto. By now, they know therecipients’ favorite foods andany diet restrictions theymay have. They also work onweekends and holidays whenneeded, and have deliveredas many as 30 meals on aholiday.

They’ve gotten to knowmany of the people on variousroutes throughout the years,and Don Anderson saidthey’ve delivered along justabout every Meals on Wheelsroute in DeKalb.

“You might be the onlyperson they see all day,” hesaid.

The family tradition ofparticipating in Meals onWheels may continue on, asthe Andersons’ grandchildrenhave tagged along with themon their routes a few times.

The Andersons said theycontinue to volunteer becauseit’s a fun and enjoyable wayto give back.

“We really do enjoy it,”Dee said. “We probably enjoyit as much as the people [wedeliver to] do.”


Don (left) and Dee Anderson, seen in their Sycamore driveway, deliver for Meals on Wheels every Tuesdayand sometimes fill in other days as substitute drivers.

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Children are well supported in DeKalb County« youth services »

By JEFF [email protected]

Micki Chulickwas in scramblemode.

The directorof Community CoordinatedChild Care, known as 4-C, justreceived news that there wasno funding for April, Mayor June for the Child CareAssistance Program, whichprovides funding for childcare for low-income parentseither attending school orworking.

Chulick received that callMay 2, but in many ways itwas just another Wednesdayfor a social service agencythat has become accustomedto state funding issues. Thatis why Chulick said she isthankful to be in DeKalb.

“It’s been extremely dif-ficult,” Chulick said of thefinancial struggles. “Butthe city has stood by us andhelped us a great deal. Thesupport is much more thanfinancial. Our communitycares and they are invested inour mission.”

If it takes a village to raisea child, local youth serviceproviders say DeKalb isthe “village” to be in. Someagencies help the neediestof children, others provide afriend and mentor, and somesupplement the work of localschool districts to providemore educational opportuni-ties.

“This is an amazingcommunity to live in,” saidCourtney Denison, direc-tor for the Big Brothers BigSisters program. “And all ofthe agencies provide suchdifferent services that we canwork together.”

The heart of a good youthservice agency lies in the

volunteers, Denison said,and her organization hasplenty of them. While the BigBrothers Big Sisters has someafter-school programs wherepeople can volunteer, manyare matched with a “little”who they spend time withonce a week for a year.

Denison said in order toget high-quality volunteersthere is an extensive back-ground check that includesan inspection of the potentialvolunteer’s home, finger-printing, a criminal historycheck and a list of referencesto vouch for the person.

But once the volunteer isaccepted, Denison said it isa rewarding experience. Shesaid the stigma the programis only for troubled childrenis not true and Big Broth-ers Big Sisters instead aimsto provide a mentor for anychild who wants one.

There are approximately50 matches and Denison saidthe organization is lookingfor more “bigs,” especiallymale volunteers.

Some agencies such as theYouth Service Bureau aredesigned to help children whohave troubles and that makesthe reliance on other agencieseven more important, saidJason Nicol, executive direc-

tor of the agency.Unlike Big Brothers Big

Sisters, the Youth ServiceBureau offers counselingto troubled children andtherefore cannot rely oncitizen volunteers. Instead,Nicol said the agency usesNorthern Illinois Universitystudents in health and humanservice programs and otheragencies to help support thegrowing number of childrenand families in need.

From 2008 to 2012, thenumber of clients served hasgrown from 800 to 1,350 whilestate funding was slashed by25 percent in 2009. To meet thegrowing needs, Nicol said theagency is looking to work withschool districts to provide ser-vices during the day and withother agencies to help buildstrong family support.

“We can’t shoulder theburden ourselves,” Nicolsaid. “But there has beensomething brewing in thecommunity now where socialservice agencies are reallypartnering together ... thepipeline is there.”

For children in the worstenvironmental situations,the DeKalb County CourtAppointed Special Advocateprogram has helped pick upthe pieces since 1993.

The volunteer-drivenprogram known as CASA pro-vides assistance to childrenwho have been abused orneglected and are in the courtsystem. Jill Olson, executivedirector for the program, saidthere are 67 volunteers, in-cluding 27 attorneys offeringpro bono legal services, andstaff members that handle 214cases each year.

While the demand forservices has increased, thebudget has remained lean at$134,000 per year, but Olsonsaid she is still grateful for thesupport she receives. She saidthe county board and privatebusinesses are generous intheir funding of the programand volunteers are dedicated.

Olson said five people aregoing through the extensivetraining that includes back-ground checks, classroompreparation and a two-year

commitment to become vol-unteers.

“We would be the envyof a lot of counties here inIllinois,” she said. “We have alot of very well run agencieshere.”

The best resource a com-munity can give children is agood education, said BridgetCarlson, which is why shetakes her role as board presi-dent of the DeKalb EducationFoundation seriously.

The foundation gives outabout $50,000 annually ingrants to DeKalb School Dis-trict 428 schools to supportservices in a variety of ways,including textbook pur-chases, field trip funding andtechnological upgrades.

Carlson said the founda-tion is a perfect example ofthe giving nature of the com-munity because all funding isdonated by residents willingto support the children.

“That’s one of the mainreasons I love living here somuch,” she said. “I’m blownaway year after year from thesupport we get.”

“This is an amazingcommunity to live in.And all of the agenciesprovide such differentservices that we canwork together.”

Courtney DenisonBig Brothers Big Sisters director

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17

By JEFF [email protected]

Robin Waffle hasalways been inter-ested in helpingyouth.

She planned on enteringthe education field to focuson students with disabilities,but a community counselingcourse at Northern IllinoisUniversity changed thoseplans.

Waffle was introduced tothe DeKalb County YouthService Bureau through thatcourse and never looked back.She started as a volunteerthere before being hired on.

For the past 21 years, Waf-fle has served as the alcoholand drug early interventioncoordinator at YSB, whereshe has helped hundreds offamilies and children in amuch different way than sheever thought she would.

Jason Nicol, executivedirector for the Youth ServiceBureau, said it is impossibleto measure the positive af-fects Waffle’s work has hadon the whole community ashelping even one child avoiddrug and alcohol abuse canhave a wide ripple effect.

“Every generation makespoor decisions when it comesto drugs and alcohol,” Nicolsaid. “But Robin has been acornerstone of this agencyfor so long that I would havea hard time counting all thelives she has touched.”

As the alcohol and drugcoordinator, Waffle has dealtwith some of the toughestsituations a counselor can en-counter with cases of abuse,broken families and othertribulations amplified by theslippery slope of drug andalcohol use.

It can be a difficult atmo-

sphere to be in for a shortperiod of time – let alone 21years – but Waffle said one ofthe great joys of continuingher work is seeing the suc-cess stories years later.

“I’ve been doing this longenough that there are people Ihelped as teenagers that nowbring their children in to meetme,” Waffle said. “Those aresome of the families that standout to me. It’s great to see.”

Another obstacle Wafflehas overcome on a daily basisis her extremely limited vi-sion.

In the paperwork inten-

sive world of social services,Waffle does not have theluxury of quickly locating orfiling documents, but withthe help of coworkers andassistive software, she saidshe is able to get through thepiles of paper.

And Waffle has foundways to use her limitedvision as a helpful tool indealing with the families andchildren she interacts with.Waffle’s guide dog, Emily, hasbeen a staple at YSB and is acalming influence on stressedcolleagues – and more im-portantly, the teenagers who

need help.Waffle’s work with youth

does not stop when she leavesYSB, she has also fosteredmore than a dozen teenageboys in the last eight years.

Her interactions with herfoster children at home hasmade her even more effectivein her work at YSB.

“They’re tough,” Wafflesaid of the teen foster boys.“It’s helped me to connectbetter with the people I workwith ... and you learn the cur-rent lingo and slang they use.”

Nicol said imagining YSBwithout Waffle is difficult,

as she served the agency formore than half of its exis-tence. The agency celebratedits 40th anniversary at theend of 2011.

Waffle said she has noplans of slowing down orstopping, but when she does,Nicol is happy she will havepassed on the skills, compas-sion and tough love approachit takes to work with youth.

“We’ve relied on herknowledge of the communityfor a long time,” Nicol said.“Having Robin here for theseyounger therapists has been atremendous service.”


Robin Waffle plays a counseling board game called “The Talking, Feeling, Doing Game” in a session with Dakota Klotz, 11, and his mother HeatherKlotz (not pictured) at the DeKalb Youth Services Bureau on May 10.

« volunteer profile » Robin Waffle

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YMCA and local teams meet needs with volunteers« athletic organizations »

By JAMES [email protected]

Melissa Gallagherstarts her dayshrouded in late-night darkness.

The Kishwaukee FamilyYMCA Director of HumanResources is rattled awakeby a 3:30 a.m. alarm. Aspart of her job, Gallagheris responsible for findingvolunteers for large events atthe YMCA.

But prior to walking intothe office for her full-timejob, Gallagher joins theranks of a deep volunteercore. She teaches a 5 a.m.spin and Pilates classes fourtimes per week, one of the1,142 YMCA volunteers whodedicated 21,170 hours in2011.

“You don’t have to start arevolution as a volunteer,”Gallagher said. “Even if youjust change the day for oneperson in a positive fashion,that makes a difference.”

When organizations wentinto survival mode duringthe economic downturn,volunteers allowed for keyprograms to be salvaged notonly at the YMCA, but for theDeKalb County Liners base-ball team and other DeKalbCounty programs forcedto operate under tightenedbudgets.

“Without volunteers wewouldn’t have the resourcesto do what we do,” YMCAAssociate Executive Direc-tor Katrina Luetkebuengersaid. “Volunteers serve onour board, host fundraisers,secure scholarships, run bigevents, serve as coaches andteach classes. They advocatefor us and tell our story.”

The YMCA has allowedBill Mitchell of Sycamoreto continue to carry out hismission to expose students to

the arts and nature, one hehoned during the 26 years hespent teaching art and hor-ticulture at Clinton RosetteMiddle School.

“It’s sad that in publicschools shop and home eco-nomic programs are beingcut,” said Mitchell, 70, whohas been retired 16 years.“Nutrition, wood workingand cooking are all thingsthat need to be introducedoutside of school these days.”

Five years ago, Mitchellfound that volunteering wasa new way to ensure youngpeople continue to discoverwood working, gardeningand fine arts. He’s shownkids how to use a potterywheel, has students buildbirdhouses and bird feed-ers out of the wood palletsFarm and Fleet disposes of,and shows them how to growplants in the YMCA garden.

“In schools, there’s apressure toward academics,”Mitchell said. “They want tomake sure we compete withother country’s test scores.There’s teaching to the test.Thankfully, art has hung onin schools. But, the YMCA’smission puts me in a posi-tion to continue to work withkids and I love to be aroundthem. The sense of excite-ment they get to work withnature or learn how to makethings is great.”

At DeKalb High School,Athletic Director Dan Joneshas turned to volunteer re-sources to meet the needs ofathletic teams. The school’sBooster Club, volunteerswho raise funds and coordi-nate special events for Barbs’athletics, has normallyhelped meet equipmentneeds not included in thebudget.

“The booster club is vitalto the athletics program,”Jones said. “Uniforms, war-mups and special equipmentlike a shooting machine inbasketball or pitching ma-chine for baseball or softballmight not be included in thebudget. As student popula-tion grows they ensure thereare funds to still develop theprogram.”

But this year, the boosterclub aided a budget shortfallto ensure the medical needsof DeKalb student athletesare met when it provided thefunding for an additionalathletic trainer.

“Providing assistance tostudent athletes in the form

of another trainer is one thethings we are proudest of,”said booster club presidentTara Berg-Gould. “We’reproud to watch teams wearthe uniforms and use theequipment we help provide,but to know that we had ahand in keeping them safeand healthy is a big bonus.”

Sometimes all it takes fora program to continue itsdevelopment is an extra setof hands.

As the dean of DeKalbCounty baseball coaches,Jason Cavanaugh has grownthe Sycamore program intoperennial contenders. Overan 18-year period – 15 of themas the Spartans’ head coach– Cavanaugh has alwayswelcomed the presence ofvolunteers.

This year the Spartanshave an eight-man coachingstaff – and only four of thecoaches are paid.

“It’s always importantto have an extra set of eyesto work with players,”Cavanaugh said. “Their pres-ence means a ton. Sometimes

they are just an ear for acoach to talk to and bouncean idea off. Other times it’sjust a person that can hit flyballs so a player doesn’t haveto.”

Even the DeKalb CountyLiners of the Midwest Col-legiate League functionbecause of volunteers, asseveral players live withadopted families for the sum-mer. Families aren’t reim-bursed for providing roomand board to players.

“Host families volunteertheir time and really make ithappen,” said DeKalb base-ball coach Jake Howells, whohas been a Liners’ assistantthe past two seasons. “Forplayers to want to come here,they’ve got to feel like theyhave a home.

“The volunteer familieshave provided that. Theyhelp with laundry, let play-ers in if they return homeat 1 a.m. or later from aroad trip and even packlunches for road trips,” hesaid. “Players really feel likethey’ve got a home.”

“You don’t have to start arevolution as a volunteer.Even if you just changethe day for one person ina positive fashion, thatmakes a difference.”

Melissa GallagherYMCA volunteer

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« volunteer profile » Brad RobertsBy ANTHONY ZILIS

[email protected]

People assume BradRoberts doesn’t en-joy watching Syca-more sprinter Lake

Kwaza break his daughter’srecords.

Jennifer Roberts was afour-time state medalist asa sprinter for the Spartansfrom 1998-2001, when Brad be-gan working as track team’scourse clerk, and she rewrotethe record book.

Now, Kwaza is making aname for herself by breakingseveral of Jennifer’s records.

Brad Roberts doesn’t mind.“Lake Kwaza has been just

incredible to watch,” he said.“She’s broken several of Jen-nifer’s records, and peoplesay, ‘Geez, you must not likethat.’ But that’s why [therecords] are there.”

Watching athletes likeKwaza and his nephew,distance runner Mark Stice,is just one of the reasonsspectators will see Roberts atevery Sycamore track meet,directing athletes into theirlanes and preparing races forthe starter. He also helpedwith meets at Central Michi-gan when Jennifer ran for theChippewas.

Roberts also helpsSycamore athletic directorChauncey Carrick run wres-tling meets, and he refereeshigh school football games inthe fall.

Since Jennifer graduated11 years ago, Roberts neededsomething to fill the timewhen he previously wouldhave been watching or coach-ing his daughters in track orsoftball or basketball.

“When you get into stuffand your kids are out of highschool and college and stufflike that, especially whenthey were year-round athletes… you have to fill the gaps,”Roberts said.

While he has a definedjob at track meets, where heprepares every race and laneassignment for the starterand gives athletes instruc-tions, Roberts is a jack of alltrades at wrestling meets.

Carrick isn’t sure what hewould do without him.

“Wherever we have anissue, he solves the problemand gets everything smoothed

out,” Carrick said.“It’s really neat to have a

guy that hasn’t had a daugh-ter in the program for at least10 years come back and help.”

Sycamore girls trackcoach Joe McCormick isthankful to have Robertsthere. He knows he wouldn’tbe able to get much coachingdone during a home meet ifhe wasn’t.

“I’d hate to think whatwe’d do if he wasn’t there. I’dprobably have to run it, andthat wouldn’t be good,” Mc-Cormick said.

“We pride ourselves onhosting our meets. We don’thave to have any visitingcoaches work any events, andBrad Roberts is sure to run asmooth, uptempo meet. Thereis very little downtime inbetween events.”

The 60-year-old knowshis days are numbered as afootball referee. He joked thatsome coaches already thinkhe’s too old.

“When it becomes one oftwo things – either I get tooold … or more importantlywhen it’s not fun anymore,is when I’ll be done with it,”Roberts said.

But he can’t envision a

time when he would elect notto work at track and wres-tling meets.

“As long as they ask me I’ll

probably do it,” Roberts said.“The wrestling staff at

Sycamore is just a goodbunch of guys to be around,

and it’s fun to be around thetrack program. It’s just kindof staying in it because Ienjoy the sports.”


Brad Roberts helps check in runners during the Gib Seegers Track and Field Classic on April 27 in Sycamore. Roberts volunteers at numeroustrack and wrestling events at Sycamore High School.

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the United States. All information is from the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• About 64.3 million people volunteered through or for anorganization at least once from September 2010 and September2011.• The volunteer rate of women increased from 29.3 percent

to 29.9 percent in the year ending in September 2011, while thevolunteer rate for men, at 23.5 percent, changed little.• By age, 35- to 44-year-olds and 45- to 54-year-olds were the

most likely to volunteer, 31.8 percent and 30.6 percent, respec-tively. Those in their early 20s were the least likely to volunteer,19.4 percent.• Married people volunteered at a higher rate, 32.3 percent,

in 2011 than did those who had never married, 20.9 percent,and those with other marital statuses, 21.5 percent. The volun-teer rate of parents with children under age 18, 33.7 percent,remained higher than the rate for those without children, 24.1percent.


Bonnie Anderson removes weeds and dead pieces of plants in the backof Heritage Woods in DeKalb on Sept. 8, 2011, while volunteering dur-ing the Day of Caring sponsored by the Kishwaukee United Way.

« by thenumbers »

See BY THE NUMBERS, page 22



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We salute the dedicated men, women, teens and kids who enrich theircommunities and the world through service.

Thanks, volunteers, for making a difference!

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Sunday Worship

9:00 am Traditional

9:15 am Sunday School

11:00 am SHINE Contemporary

First United Methodist Church321 Oak Street, DeKalb • 815-756-6301

www.firstumc.net

Childcare AvailableHandicapped Accessible

Pastors: Rev. Jon Hutchison • Rev. Brian Gilbert

Find us on

Your community Your Newspaper.From sports stats to business news, we keep youin the local loop. Subscribe today! 800-589-9363

you

Advertorial

Make your FIRST CALL for Help

the RIGHT CALL for Help

www.bengordoncenter.org

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The Ben Gordon Center has been providing quality mental health and substance abuse services

to our community for over 40 years. As the only outpatient behavioral healthcare practice fully

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Quality for healthcare professionals, it is also the only provider in DeKalb County licensed by the

Illinois Division of Mental Health and the Illinois Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.

The expert staff of caring professionals is trained in various modes of therapy and is prepared to

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The staff at the Ben Gordon Center specializes in the treatment of mental health and

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Cost is not a barrier to services. A sliding fee is available for those who qualify. Ben Gordon Center

Inc. also accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and all Insurance Plans.

• Among those 25 and older, 42.4 percent of college gradu-ates volunteered, compared with 18.2 percent of high schoolgraduates and 9.8 percent of those with less than a high schooldiploma.• Among employed people, 29.6 percent volunteered during the

year ending in September 2011. By comparison, 23.8 percent ofunemployed persons and 22.5 percent of those not in the laborforce volunteered. Among the employed, part-time workerswere more likely than full-time workers to have participatedin volunteer activities, with 33.3 percent compared with 28.7percent.• Volunteers of both sexes spent a median of 51 hours on vol-

unteer activities from September 2010 to September 2011.• Most volunteers were involved with either one or two organi-

zations, 69.6 percent and 19.4 percent, respectively.• In 2011, the organization for which a volunteer worked the

most hours during the year was most frequently religious, 33.2percent of all volunteers, followed by educational or youthservice related, 25.7 percent. Another 14.3 percent of volunteersperformed activities mainly for social or community serviceorganizations.• At 11 percent, fundraising, and at 10.6 percent, collecting,

preparing, distributing or serving food, were the activitiesvolunteers performed most frequently for the main organiza-tion they volunteered at. Men and women tended to engagein different main activities. Men who volunteered were mostlikely to engage in general labor, 13.3 percent; coach, referee, orsupervise sports teams, 10.1 percent; or fundraise, 8.9 percent.Female volunteers were most likely to fundraise, 12.6 percent;collect, prepare, distribute or serve food, 12.5 percent; or tutoror teach, 0.7 percent.• Among volunteers, 41.9 percent became involved with their

main organization after being asked to volunteer, most often bysomeone in the organization. About the same proportion, 41.6percent, became involved on their own initiative.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

• BY THE NUMBERSFrom page 20

Advertorial

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Documents

DC Spotlight-on-Volunteers