It’s so easy to help others

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By Tim Hadac

Editor

Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound

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With busloads of migrants already in the city and more on the way, thousands of Chicagoans with compassion in their hearts continue to be in “do something” mode.

But rather than clean out your closets and dump your unwanted clothes (and other items) at the Chicago Lawn (8^th) District Police Station—as many have, unintentionally creating a problem of clutter that only winds up in the back of a garbage truck—I suggest donating to established, reputable relief agencies like the St. Vincent DePaul Society.

Here’s an easy way to do it.

Bring your donations to St. Symphorosa Church, 62^nd and Austin, where parish volunteers will cheerfully accept your donations from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 and 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, Nov. 5.

It’s what’s called Bundle Weekend. So please bundle such items as coats, shoes, purses, small kitchen appliances and utensils, bed/bath/kitchen linens, home decorations, household items, books, CDs and DVDs.

Volunteers are not able to accept any computer electronics or infant car seats, strollers, swings, etc. due to recalls.

The goods you donate will wind up being sold at one of the St. Vincent De Paul Society thrift stores. The closest one is in Orland Park, near 159^th and Harlem.

Revenue from those stores helps SVdP Chicago fight poverty and hunger throughout Cook and Lake Counties, as it has for more than 170 years. SVdP volunteer-led programs annually help more than 52,000 people with utility bills, rent, food, transportation and medical expenses. SVdP helps everyone—from migrants who arrived five minutes ago to military veterans down on their luck, everyone. You name it.

My thanks to Two Holy Martyrs parishioner Donna LeCompte for sharing this information with me so I can share with you. Thanks also to Donna and the small but dedicated group of men and women at THM who year after year volunteer their time to make these “twice a year” bundle events a success. In fact, when you drop off your donation, please ask how you might join their ranks as a volunteer. Even if you join them just for a few hours a month, you could make quite a positive difference in the lives of men, women and children in need.

In other news

• If you’re looking for a night of casino-style fun, mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 21 and please to head over to Rhine VFW Post 2729, 5858 S. Archer.

Literacy Volunteers of Illinois will host a casino night from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Table play runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Enjoy poker, blackjack, craps, a roulette wheel. There will be food, as well as beer, wine and soft drinks.

Tickets are $30 at the door, $25 in advance at lvillinois.org.

Funds raised at this event will help increase literacy among adults, as well as jailed juveniles. I hope you agree with me that improved literacy is one key to breaking out of poverty and living a better and more productive life. LVI services directly benefit individuals and indirectly benefit entire communities.

My thanks to Eleanore Skopek for sharing this information.

• Congratulations to Garfield Ridge resident Kate Mangan, who has been cast as Marvalyn in Nazareth Academy’s production of Almost, Maine, billed as “a series of nine comedic vignettes about love with a touch of good-natured magic realism…witty, romantic and sentimental. A beautifully structured play, with nifty surprise endings.” A senior at Naz, Kate is a 2020 graduate of Byrne School. Performances are 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 13 and Saturday, Oct. 14 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 in the Romano Family Theatre at Naz, 1209 W. Ogden, La Grange Park. Tickets are $15 each ($10 for Naz students) and can be purchased online at nazarethacademy.com.
• Jeff Janulis tells me a street sign will be installed at the northeast corner of 63rd Place and Austin to honor his mom, the late Jeannine—the subject of a Joan Hadac column published in October 2020. (The column is posted at southwestregionalpublishing.com.) The unveiling of the new street sign is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22. All are welcome to be there and witness the unveiling.
• Two Holy Martyrs Parish will host an Oktoberfest-themed bingo event on Sunday, Oct. 22 in the I Hall on the St. Sym’s campus, 6148 S. Mason. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Games start at 1:30. Admission is $20 at the door. In addition, there will be pull-tabs sold and split-the-pot raffles. Bring your appetite because the St. Sym’s kitchen will be selling bratwurst, hot dogs, nachos, potato chips and more. For more information, call the parish office at (773) 767-1523. My thanks to Lara Hess for sharing this information with me.
• The next meeting of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17 at Ward Hall, 5157 S. McVicker. This meeting also serves as the monthly CAPS meeting for Beat 811 (all of Garfield Ridge west of Central Avenue). My thanks to CAPS Beat 811 co-facilitator Marilyn Gilroy for sharing this information, as well as her continued service as a community volunteer.
• As I write this, the Queen of Hearts jackpot is now over $800,000 at St. Faustina Kowalska Parish. Well, this week’s edition of the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound was printed before the Oct. 7 drawing. But if the queen remains elusive (just five of the 54 numbers remain uncovered), the jackpot remains big. The Queen of Hearts drawing is held every Saturday at Tom’s Tap, 6707 W. Archer. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased at the parish office or at Tom’s Tap. This is a split the pot (50/50) raffle. Proceeds benefit the parish.

That’s all for now. Always pleased to share the news of Clearing and Garfield Ridge. Just call me, and I’ll work with you.