Being Grateful and Volunteering

This year the economic hardships have continued for lots of people. Some have been laid off for a year or more. Some have just been laid off. Some worry they will be next.

The latest statistics show you are likely to know someone or have someone close to you who's lost their job or can't find a job.

A familiar refrain from social service agencies is the need is up while contributions and funding, particularly state funding, is down.

People who get help are grateful. Gratitude, though, should be a motivating factor to help others.

Huntley residents have a chance to show their gratitude by volunteering with the Salvation Army's annual Red Kettle campaign. The Salvation Army is based in Crystal Lake and serves McHenry County. The Grafton Township offices, in Huntley, serve as a satellite office.

Pam Fender, who is active in numerous organizations and serves as a Huntley trustee, is coordinating the effort in Huntley and she's looking for volunteers to ring bells at locations within the village.

"I'm mostly looking for group leaders, whether it be Boy Scout (or Girl Scout) troops, churches, civic organizations or subdivisions," Fender said. "We are looking for the groups to schedule people for a day. If it's a larger group, they can schedule for more than a day."

 Each year, the Red Kettle campaign is the biggest fundraiser for the Salvation Army's events and programs at Christmas and throughout the year, she said.

Fender rang bells a couple of years ago, but this is the first time she is coordinating volunteers. Since she knows a lot of groups in town, she offered to serve as a coordinator. Fender, though, needs to reach out to a broad range of volunteers, from high school groups to seniors to young families, she said.

Parents can bring their children with to volunteer for two or four hour shifts, she said, adding, "it's a good teaching experience to show children you can give back to a community."

The locations will be Walmart at 12300 Route 47 and Huntley's two Walgreens, at 12000 Princeton Drive and 9704 N. Route 47. Fender would like to add more locations depending on how many volunteers she can enlist.

Fender had a good experience when she rang the bells.

"You are cold standing there, but you do get a warm, fuzzy feeling being there," she said.

To volunteer, contact Fender at 847-302-6772.