'She Goes Extra Mile For Local Seniors': Northbrook Hero

NORTHBROOK, IL — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented times. Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these everyday heroes.

This submission comes from the Northbrook Park District, who nominated Laura Wassinger, of Bensenville, who works for Northbrook Park District:

Is the nominee considered an “essential worker”?:

Yes

What does the nominee do for work?:
Laura is a Recreation Supervisor who heads the Northbrook Park District Senior Center

Why do you believe the nominee should be recognized or honored?
For Recreation Supervisor Laura Wassinger, the temporary closure of Northbrook Park District's facilities following the COVID-19 outbreak hasn't meant closing off communication and connections to Northbrook's senior community.

The Northbrook Park District Senior Center is a hub of activity where local seniors participate in daily drop-in activities, pursue hobbies, play games, attend fitness classes, enjoy day trips and luncheons and make new friends. With this facility where so many seniors are able to connect and stay engaged closed, Laura has kept in touch with members, remembering birthdays, sending personalized cards and calling regularly to check in with them to see if there's anything they need. She calls around 10 seniors a day.

"We laugh a little and they me little quips about what they're doing during the day and how bored they are, and how they can't wait to get back to the Senior Center," Laura said. "For the most part, they're doing OK, but they're so happy when I call."

Laura's most recent efforts have involved starting a drive to collect cloth face coverings for Senior Center members. A drop-box is available for cloth face covering donations at the Leisure Center, 3323 Walters Avenue. Laura is asking for donations to be placed in a Ziplock-type bag and include the donor’s name and contact information. Donations are retrieved daily.

“We’re doing this for those Senior Center members who are most at risk and unable to get face coverings for themselves,” she said. “They know the rule in Illinois is you need to wear a face covering, but some of them don’t know how to sew or no longer have the manual dexterity to make one for themselves.”

Laura is personally delivering the coverings to Senior Center members. She also has been delivering fabric and thread to members of the Crafty Ladies, the Senior Center’s popular sewing and crafting group, who have volunteered to assist with the drive. So far she has distributed nearly 400 face coverings.

“This helps seniors who are unable to leave their homes, or might be unable because of COVID-19 concerns,” She said. “We want to offer our most fragile seniors a little peace of mind.”

What’s one thing you want everyone to know about your hero?:

Laura is one of the kindest, most compassionate people I know and she will go the extra mile for Northbrook seniors. Laura is the type of coworker you want to emulate, because she embodies a commitment to serving the community, helping others and improving the lives of residents —something Northbrook Park District staff strive for in their work — during this crisis and always.

Do YOU have a local hero you would like us to know about? Share their story here.

All photos included in this post are owned by identified third parties who have given Patch the right to use explicitly for the Patch Local Heroes series.