Naperville Business Owner Gives Back In Coronavirus Shutdown

NAPERVILLE, IL — Dennise Vaughn has lived in Naperville for over three decades and she knows a lot of people from her work at Edward Hospital and as the owner of Homewatch CareGivers, a senior care service in Naperville. In the midst of the new coronavirus crisis, Vaughn started brainstorming ways to give back to the community and told Patch once she started helping, it became "contagious."

“You start helping people and it takes on a mind of its own, Vaughn said, adding that “helping is kind of contagious.”

Dennise tapped into the network of people she knows in and around Naperville to develop the Healthy Partners Program, an evolving team of helpers who provide different items and services for people in need during this time.

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They started by providing N95 masks to nurses at Edward Hospital and other front line workers in need of masks. She also helped find connections people who wanted to sew masks, but didn't have a sewing machine. Vaughn also helped drop off masks that were already sewn to people throughout the community.

Next, she teamed up with Two Brothers to get 100 bottles of hand sanitizer for people in need, including the Rush Copley Cancer Center, Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare and residents at Martin Avenue Apartments.

Vaughn didn't stop there. She told Patch one of her biggest concerns throughout the coronavirus crisis —as in her life's work— has been for the well-being of senior citizens. Vaughn helped the senior citizens she worked with get in contact with their family members via Zoom, Facebook and other services.

Vaughn told Patch, "This crisis almost created an opportunity to make seniors lives more fulfilled with the technology," which she added will help enrich their lives even after the crisis is over.

To lift the spirits of senior citizens living in the community, Vaughn connected with a local show choir to get cards and notes of inspiration made for and sent to seniors.

Meanwhile, Vaughn was dealing with her own son's disappointment that the Naperville North Volleyball team's season had ground to a halt. Instead of the team's usual pasta dinner celebration, Vaughn and the team donated food to front line workers at Edward Hospital.

In addition to these meals, Vaughn teamed up with Eby-Brown to provide lunches to Tabor Hills Healthcare, St. Patrick’s Residence Nursing and Rehabilitation, Arista HealthCare and Rehabilitation, Edward Cancer Center and individuals who are unable to leave their homes.

“Our goal is to be a resource," Vaughn told Patch of Homewatch CareGivers and the Healthy Partners program. She added, "We’re still working on what’s next."

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