DuPage Township Job Fair Draws More Than 700 Job Seekers

For the third consecutive year, DuPage Township held it's Job Fair at the Joseph and Sarah Levy Senior Center with the goal of bringing local businesses together with residents that need work.

"This is the third time we've done this and it's been a huge draw, we've had a steady flow of people all day," said Township Superviser William Mayer, as he greeted job seekers entering the center around 10:30 a.m.

Mayer said that in past years, numbers had been around 700, but expected to exceed that this year. He said the job fair is among the most important things the township does.

"At the township, we deal with a lot of people who are hurting, whether through our food pantry or other programs. We understand the needs of the people in this area," Mayer said. "This doesn't cost us anything—we aren't just throwing money at a problem and it's very helpful."

He also said supplying people with a chance to find work is more beneficial, in the long run, than even the food pantry.

Beverly Baynard, Bolingbrook resident, attended the fair and agreed with Mayer. She said people just want the opportunity to support themselves.

"The food pantry is great and I'm so thankful we have a place like that, but we need people to have jobs to help support places like the pantry and keep it open for those who need it during hard times," she said.

Baynard said she was happy to be at the job fair and much preferred the face-to-face contact and personal exchanges rather just sending resumes through e-mail, with no idea of who was  going to look at it, if anyone.

Baynard said she is working part-time right now, but needs more.

"I lost my full-time job," she said. "But even when I had one, I worked another part-time job."

Mayer said the township speaks with all the businesses that come to the fair before the event to make sure they are looking for people.

Some fair-goers even got hired on the spot, Mayer said.

Many applauded and cheered when Mayer announced that eight people had already been hired.

The fair is an obvious help to job seekers, but businesses enjoy the opportunity to meet potential employees as well.

Bolingbrook resident Donna Niven was there on behalf of Mary Kay Cosmetics and said she met with a lot women who were excited about the opportunities she discussed.

"(The fair) is awesome," she said. "The township does such a great job with this and they help the community in many ways."

Staff Sgt. Mike Kasper and Staff Sgt. Mike Carter discussed the possibility of a career in the Army, either in the guard or active service with guests at the fair.

"There are so many details and decisions that no one signs up right here, but it's a great way for us to meet some people and it's always good to get our name out," he said.

But the biggest draw was Costco, which is estimated to bring in more than 100 jobs when it opens next month.

"We know from the previous two fairs that this gets people jobs and we hope it does again this year," said Mayer. "We have a wide range of business here, whoever we know is hiring – we want them here."

For more information on assistance programs offered to residents, visit the general assistance portion of the township's website.