PROJECTS: MAY 2018 – MAY 2019

ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY AND ADOPT-A-TRAIL 

MCJC is a participant in the McHenry County Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway Program and the McHenry County Conservation District Adopt-A-Trail Program.

As a participant in these two important community service environmental programs, MCJC is responsible for picking up litter on Ridgefield Road between Country Club Road and U.S. Route 14, and the Bike Trail along U.S Route 14 between Ridgefield Road and Lucas Road (McHenry County Community College) from April 1 until the first snowfall. Usually two to four five gallon cans of litter are picked up along Ridgefield Road, and a bit less than one five-gallon can is picked up along the bike trail.

Bruce Weiss is looking for volunteers to help him twice a month with this community service project.  The amount of work time involved is approximately one hour. The day and time the work would be done is completely flexible. If you are able to help, please contact Bruce at 815-338-2721 or socialaction@mcjconline.org.

MCHENRY COUNTY CROP HUNGER WALK

MCJC joined 12 local churches and participated in the 2018 McHenry County Crop Hunger Walk on Sunday, September 30, 2018.  A total of $24,159.28 was raised by this year’s WALK participants. Twenty-five percent of the money raised from the WALK benefited local food pantries, and seventy-five percent of the proceeds raised from the WALK  benefit hunger relief programs world wide.

MCJC participants raised a total of $686!  MCJC participants in the 2018 McHenry County Crop Hunger Walk included:  Davina/Jim/Sienna/Andrew Kelly, Dara & Seth Turnball, Brandon & Eli Pacyna, Jonah/London/Asher Markowitz, Carrie/Jason/Briella Bernstein, Kelly/Robb/Ryleigh/Brooklyn Tadelman, Paula Eskoz, and Bruce Weiss.

WOODSTOCK AREA COMMUNITY MINISTRIES “SHARE THE WARMTH” WINTER CLOTHING COLLECTION DRIVE

MCJC was a participating congregation in the Woodstock Area Community Ministries “Share The Warmth” winter clothing collection drive.  Coats, jackets, boots, mittens, and blankets were collected by local religious congregations and distributed to more than 100 people in need at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Woodstock between November 8 and November 10, 2018. MCJC contributed  winter coats and gloves that completely filled two 32-gallon cans!

MCJC-SPONSORED PADS DINNERS

MCJC members prepared and served a dinner for the homeless the last Wednesday of each month between October 2018 and April 2019 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Woodstock. Between 20 and 33 (average 25) homeless PADS guests and 5 to 8 (average 6) PADS overnight volunteers were fed each month.

The MCJC-sponsored PADS dinners were a big success. The food items that MCJC members prepared were always delicious, and the MCJC serving team members always had a good time working together.  The homeless PADS guests and the PADS overnight volunteers “loved” the MCJC sponsored PADS dinners, often coming back for seconds and even thirds! Jackie Kroeger, the McHenry County PADS Dinner Coordinator,  greatly appreciated MCJC’s participation in this very worthwhile community service project.

MCJC members that provided food items for this past year’s PADS dinners included: Gene Lindow, Leslie Cook, Ellen Morton, Iza Celewicz, Kim Solomon Dooley, Briana & Elsie Salgado, Esther & Bob Kaplan, Amy Yoslov-Llaneta, Dara Turnball, Andy & Jill Purvin, and Marian & Bruce Weiss. Special thanks goes to Gene Lindow and Chef Adam at the Trio Grille Restaurant for their willingness to prepare the entrees for every MCJC-sponsored PADS dinner this past year.

MCJC members that helped serve the past year’s PADS dinners included: Linda & Jerry Trachsler, Amy Yoslov-Llaneta, Brian Silver, Iza Celewicz, Kim & Logan Solomon Dooley, Briana/Elsie/Jessie Salgado, Dara & Seth Turnball, Brandon & Eli Pacyna, Andy/Miles/Hunter Purvin, and Bruce Weiss.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
BUILDING PROJECTS

MCJC member Howard Frank has done a spectacular job representing MCJC and working as a volunteer for McHenry County Habitat For Humanity. Howard wrote the following report:

“I have been volunteering for Habitat For Humanity for just over 2 years and have really enjoyed the activity and the friendships that I have made. Just a summary of what has happened over the past 12 months is impressive: 9 families are in (or will be soon) rehabbed homes or condos, 6 families are in (or will be soon) brand new construction.   

“To me, this is amazing!!  This group of volunteers (led by Habitat employees) has been able to enrich the lives of 15 families with affordable homes of their own. 

“Looking forward, I have been told that there are nearly 20 jobs (both new construction and rehab) to be undertaken over the next year. We are always looking for people with a desire to help in these activities. The Habitat employees and the senior volunteers (not me) are there to train anyone willing to learn. You will get dirty, but it is a wonderful feeling going to the dedication ceremonies where the keys are turned over to the new families.   

“Please join me on Wednesdays (other days are also available) to help this worthwhile activity.”  ~ Howard Frank  (847)-764-9143 (cell phone).

CORNERS OF OUR FIELDS PROJECT

The Corners of Our Fields Project is not, strictly speaking, an MCJC social action committee undertaking. It has evolved into the “baby” of Ellen and Joel Levy.  The Corners of Our Fields Project is undertaken each High Holy Day season when we collect food and personal care items for people in need.

This year’s recipient of the food collected from the Corners of Our Fields Project was the McHenry West High School Food For Thought Program that provides food for McHenry West High School students from low income families. The personal care items collected by the Corners of Our Fields Project was donated to the Old Fire House Assistance Center in Woodstock which provides multiple services to the the homeless community of McHenry County.