Tinley Woman Goes Above and Beyond for 'Together We Cope'

—Submitted by Together We Cope

Volunteers bring a range of talents and interests when they walk in the door at Together We Cope, and the agency is glad to help them find their niche. For Jan Schweig, there have been lots of different niches, and she’s been happy with each one.

A Tinley Park resident, she said the Nu2u resale store initially got her attention. When she learned TWC also had a food pantry, she struck a deal with a local grocery store and began donating meat. In 2012, she began volunteering. When the food pantry received a huge donation of seed packets, Schweig put her creativity to work, making paper flower pots the agency used to distribute as a thank you to donors who dropped off food, clothing or household items. “My sisters helped, too,” she said.

Schweig is now a familiar face in the food pantry, where she sorts donated produce three days each week to make sure clients get fresh food week. She also is on hand at every special event to make sure it runs smoothly, from thevolunteer picnic each summer, where she serves food, to the 2014 Pasta Extravaganza, where she headed up the kitchen staff to coordinate donations from 35 restaurants to feed more than 300 guests at Orland Chateau.

At the agency’s Red Carpet dinner dance on March 6, she will be awarded the winner of the 2015 Theodore H. Reimer Award, which goes to the volunteer who demonstrates the care and compassion that are the spirit of Together We Cope.

“No matter what we need, Jan is always one of the first to offer her help,” said Kathryn Straniero, executive director. “She has such a big heart, and she puts in an amazing number of hours. And she always has a smile on her face. She is really a lovely person, and Together We Cope is lucky to have her.”

Schweig’s professional career spans a range, from bank employee to job coach to employee at Walmart, where she created promotional displays for crafts and fabric that customers asked to purchase. She also has a strong urge to give back. Schweig was among those who helped launch West Suburban PADS. “Volunteering is a very fulfilling part of my life,” she said. “And it’s also my upbringing. My mom used to say, ‘Always give money to people who ask for it because you never know who really needs it.’”

What keeps her volunteering at TWC? “It’s the people I work with,” she said. “It’s teamwork. You can do anything if you have help.” Among those who pitch in regularly are her sisters, Tina Pavlock of Tinley Park and Janet Salcik of Chicago, both of whom joined her for kitchen duty at the pasta dinner in October, among many other projects. “I’m really proud of my sisters,” she said.

Together We Cope is a nonprofit prevention agency based in Tinley Park that provides resources to families in temporary crisis in 27 south suburban communities, enabling them to stay in their homes. In 2014, TWC received its fourth four-star rating from Charity Navigator for sound fiscal management.

Caption:

There were never such devoted sisters: Together We Cope 2015 volunteer of the year Jan Schweig (right) works in the kitchen at a fundraiser with her sisters, Janet Salcik (center) of Chicago and Tina Pavlock of Tinley Park.