CHAD clients receive New Start kitchens

                                                                             

CHAD (Community Housing Advocacy and Development) has partnered with Assistance League to provide kitchen equipment for clients who are moving into independent housing. Gail and Kimberly picked up brand new boxes of pots and pans, utensils, dishes, glasses, silverware and much more on October 29 at the CHAD office in Wheaton. ALCW president Heather Laughman, VP Philanthropy Fernanda Valentino and New Start Co-chair Mary Kay Shukis greeted Gail and Kimberly on delivery day.

Fernanda, Kimberly, Heather and Mary Kay

Heather, Gail, Fernanda and Mary Kay

Gail with CHAD Leasing/Compliance Manager Rosemarie Montanez

Six year old Isaiah came along with Kimberly to the pick-up.
When asked what his favorite meals are, Isaiah said,
"fried chicken and collard greens, mac and cheese
and cornbread."
"I'm Southern," said his smiling mother.

Make A Difference Day 2014

Assistance League of Chicagoland West donated children's books to Family Shelter Service on October 28 as part of our Make A Difference Day commitment.

This is the third year that National Assistance League chapters around the country have participated in Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of service sponsored by USA WEEKEND magazine and Points of Light. We were recognized as a 2012 Honoree and 2013 All-Star Award winner for our collective efforts. This year, a record 110 chapters provided children's books to schools, agencies and shelters.

President Heather Laughman, VP Philanthropy Fernanda Valentino and Operation New Start co-chair Sandra Ver Beek helped stock the shelves with Assistant Shelter Director Lisa Horne.

Lisa Horne, Sandra Ver Beek, Fernanda Valentino and Heather Laughman

Project Stepping Stone kicks off at October meeting with Guest Speaker Bob Adams, Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans

Cathy Fisher, Bob Adams, Chris Hotchkin and Phyllis Young

Every member who attended the regular meeting in October 2015 was touched by Bob Adams, our speaker from Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Wheaton.

Mr. Adams, a Vietnam War veteran, and Gulf War veteran Dirk Enger, founded Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans in 2007 to provide transitional and affordable housing programs and supportive services to U.S. veterans of any era, as well as to their families throughout DuPage, Kendall, Kane, Will, Grundy, LaSalle and DeKalb Counties.

Operation Project Stepping Stone (OPSS) co-chairs Cathy Fisher, Sue Farrell and Phyllis Young recommended that Assistance League furnish one of four bedrooms in the new women’s housing program, Tammy's Trace, located in Wheaton Illinois.

Assistance League is dedicating our efforts to honor Gunnar Hotchkin, the son of member, Chris Hotchkin and grandson of member, Ly Hotchkin. PFC Gunnar Hotchkin was an army combat engineer and paratrooper, killed at 31 by an IED during a battle with insurgents in Afghanistan, June 16, 2010.  He was awarded the Bronze Star among other citations, and was considered a model soldier by his officers. His wife three children currently live in Montgomery, IL.

Greeting Bergio at Neiman Marcus Oak Brook

Our Mo - a willing Bergio model

For the third year in a row, Neiman Marcus Oak Brook hosted members of Assistance League for a morning with Berge Abajian, internationally acclaimed jewelry designer and President/CEO of Bergio.

After enjoying a light breakfast on October 15,  Berge presented some of his new jewelry creations, worn by a model who also showed off some of the new trends in purses and shoes.  It was fascinating to learn how complex and tedious it is to handcraft his jewelry designs. 

 

At the end of the event, Berge presented Maureen Hegarty with a beautiful 18KT Wine Glass Pendant with 25 Pink Sapphires for Books & Brunch on November 11th at The Abbington in Lisle.  

Berge with VP Event Fundraisng Maureen Hegarty and Books & Brunch chairs Laurie Cleary and Becky Moats

Madelon Pearlman with Berge

Operation School Bell at Anne M. Jeans Elementary School

Member Volunteers were out in force in early October to outfit students at Anne M. Jeans School in Willowbrook with warm winter wear. If this winter is like last, the kids will need their Operation School Bell coats, hats and gloves.

Judy Iantosca, Nancy Newell, Pat Allen, non-member volunteer, Inga Haveric, Ricki Lessig and Heather Laughman

Operation School Bell at Burr Ridge Middle School

These two young ladies happily modeled their new coats at Burr Ridge Middle School.

Operation School Bell® goes shopping

The first Kohl's shopping days for Burr Ridge Middle School, held Sunday and Monday, September 28 & 29, were a huge success on many levels. The kids loved picking out their own clothing and shoes, their moms were thankful for the assistance and ALCW members were amazed at how well the in-store process worked.
A big thank you to BRMS social worker Beth Reynolds who made our job so much easier. She greeted and checked in students two days in a row, missing her own daughter's soccer championship game on Sunday and coming over after a long school day on Monday.


Beth relayed the excitement we could only imagine.

 "Kids came into my office on Monday morning to show off their new clothes," Beth said. "Some girls even twirled around my office."




We also thank the Kohl's employees who came in our their day off to assist the students as part of the Kohl's Cares for Kids program.

"Payton lit up like a Christmas tree when I suggested he get a Blackhawks shirt," said volunteer Ron.

Special kudos to the wonderful cashier who worked two days in a row, making sure the kids received their money's worth. If they were under, she suggested what else they could purchase from the low-priced items set out near the register and if they were over, she helped them make the difficult decision of what to keep and how to make their money come out even.