3 weeks.

3 weeks.

21 days.

Such a short period of time yet it seems so far in the rear view mirror.

21 days ago hundreds of you joined in the largest and most impactful act of compassion committed right here in this corner of the world on Christmas Day.

Persons, organizations, and businesses donated toward the outreach.

Some cooked, baked and offered the items that would grace a Christmas table you would not see and nourish persons you may never meet, or more incredibly, persons you know but will never be aware of how you helped them in a time of need.

People put aside their Christmas Day celebrations and recuperation time and simply showed up.

Showed up to sort the bounty of cooked food donations.

To custom, and purposefully create each and every Christmas Dinner.

To finish care bags and toy bags.

To deep fry 58 turkeys. (Once again deliciously done from what I have heard.)

To move the 156 dinners offered by Lemont & Homer Glen Jewel stores because of your donations at the register.

To load your car and go wherever you were asked to go.

To deliver 63 Jewel Dinners prior to Christmas to those who had a place to eat on Christmas Day yet gratefully accepted the much needed food to be enjoyed another day.

To arrive at 93 homes on Christmas Day and extend your arms filled with home cooked food to a set of very grateful arms extended to receive the gift of Christmas.

To offer the unconditional gift of Christmas peace, love and nourishment for body and spirit.

Thinking of it, reading over this, remembering the incredible energy that was present and flowing through all of us who worked together like we had done this every day, makes me wish I could put this image in all of your minds as well, have you hear the outpouring of thank you’s, allow your heart to feel that electric feeling of realizing you were a part of something pretty incredible. The biggest and best Hope and Friendship Christmas Day Dinner Delivery of all of the 11 years we united to offer it.

All of this happened right here in this corner of the world just 21 days ago.

3 weeks in the rear view mirror.

Let’s not forget how great it felt.

Let’s continue to create that electricity and spark allowing this corner of the world, and all of those who reside within it, to glow and cast a light into every possible life that needs to feel that warmth.

3 weeks from tomorrow we will do this act of compassion thing again and touch hearts and spirits of persons we will most likely never, ever meet.

Warm a heart, Lift a Spirit Lunch Making Event.

Saturday February 6th.

10am-12noon @ Old Quarry Middle School (in the small gym).

Mission: to create more than 600 sack lunches filled with a sandwich, a bottle of water, snacks and treats, and most importantly notes of inspiration and positivity. Lunches will be delivered to two homeless shelters in Joliet; to three senior centers here in Lemont; and to homebound seniors who need a bit of that light and love that you can offer.

Wish list:

Sandwich making items: pb&j; bread; individual bags of chips/pretzels; individual snacks (can be homemade but must be packaged in lunch bag portion size), snack bars, granola bars, candies; cases of bottled water; and most importantly hundreds and hundreds of notes with words of encouragement, positivity, and inspiration. The lunch is enjoyed immediately, the notes are enjoyed for endless days. So many have told me they still have the notes from previous years.

This year I’m shooting even higher and also hope to create additional care bags for the homeless. I would like to fill any and all draw string back packs that we can gather with individual items (hand wipes, gum, snack bars, soap, wash clothes, deodorant, toothbrushes/toothpaste, combs, and of course notes!)

All donations (with the exception of the bread and any perishable donations) can be dropped off from today through our event day, Saturday Feb 6th, to bins located in the Lemont Police Dept lobby, Starbucks, US Bank, or in the Lemont Township Office Lobby, or bring the donations with you on Feb 6th if you would like to join us in this outreach.

Let’s continue fueling the spark of energy, hope and love that we started 3 short weeks ago in 3 weeks and throughout the rest of this year.

Can you just imagine the glow this corner of the world will cast? I can, and I am so proud to call this corner home, and you who reside in it with me neighbor and friend.

Any questions? Email me terri@hopeandfriendshipfoundation.com

Visit www.hopeandfriendshipfoundation.com regularly to keep up with all Hope and Friendship outreaches.

Email- terri@hopeandfriendshipfoundation.com
Website- www.hopeandfriendshipfoundation.com
Wordpress- http://hopeandfriendshipfoundation.wordpress.com/


Hope and Friendship Foundation
721 Hickory St, Lemont, IL 60439
630-816-4972

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Proverbs 31: 8-9