In Giving We Receive

Part of her responsibility in her volunteer position is to recruit cooks to prepare a healthy casserole.  She coordinates, picks up, and delivers the casseroles, produce, and baked goods donations.  Terry also arranges for additional volunteers to serve the meal.

Terry has continued to volunteer over the years because A Just Harvest is such a vital ministry with committed, hardworking employees. Terry is amazed that what seems to be such a small contribution on her part can actually make a difference in the functioning of the kitchen and in the lives of the patrons.  Conversing with the patrons and greeting them with a smile is the most cherished part of her evening.

Terry is originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin but has lived in four other major cities with her husband, Bruce, and their three daughters.  None of these places was without the need for caring individuals and focused organizations that help feed the hungry.  Terry is thankful that A Just Harvest is here to serve our area.

At Sacred Heart Church, Terry had been a Religious Education Catechist for many years and is also involved in the Haiti Ministry.  She is a Special Education teaching associate at Hubbard Woods School and has a soft spot in her heart for children.

Helayne Levin, an active member at Temple Judea Mizpah (TJM), helps coordinates the 4^th Wednesday every month at AJH.  Helayne has been coordinating for 5 years and has been doing so because she enjoys helping others. Helayne, affected by the media, was inspired to work in the realm of anti-hunger.

Helayne thinks AJH is special because it is a space that patrons can depend on. She knows that it is a safe atmosphere and loves to experience the camaraderie in the Community Kitchen.

Helayne is very involved at her synagogue and has held many positions including temple president and chairperson of religious and social action. Helayne is happy to say that TJM has been a long time partner of AJH and that she finds it easy to get the synagogue involved. Helayne has seen many of her fellow TJM members give and is pleased to be a part of such a charitable organization. In her free time Helayne likes to read, walk, and craft gifts for her close friends.

TJM volunteers come in at 3 p.m. cook the food in the Community Kitchen alongside our staff. TJM is one of the few congregations to prepare the food in house. (Others deliver meal components, and our chefs do all the cooking. Still others prepare the meal in their congregation’s professional kitchen.) Helayne recalls a time when the group truly had to think on their feet after the power for the ovens went out. They had to change the entire menu to cold food but still served to those that came to the Community Kitchen’s door.

Another unique aspect of TJM is that they change their menu frequently for their monthly meal. Helayne helps cook and serve a spaghetti recipe that contains tomato soup, cheese, and sour cream. Helayne felt honored that patrons asked for her special recipe. TJM also often cooks chicken which patrons also really like. A proud moment for Helayne was serving one of the largest meals ever served at AJH: 220 patrons in one hour!

Helayne also helped organize the Mitzvah Day project between TJM and AJH. Mitzvah is the Hebrew word for good deed. The project involved children from both organizations working with adults to plant gardens, do deep cleaning and share a meal at both the synagogue and A Just Harvest. Kids from TJM also commonly help collect food and serve at the Community Kitchen as one of their many mizvot (the plural of mitzvah) to accomplish before their path to adulthood or bar mitzvah.

Sue Bailey, St. Peter’s UCC, Skokie

Sue Bailey has been involved with A Just Harvest through St. Peter’s Church by helping cook the sloppy joes that the church brings the fifth Saturday of the month.  Sue, along with her 93 year old mother, help prepare the meal then Sue brings the food to AJH. In addition, Sue helps coordinate volunteers to cook and serve the patrons at the Community Kitchen.

St. Peter’s brings sloppy joes, buns, mashed potatoes, vegetables, lettuce, milk, dressing, orange pop, cookies, bananas, and oranges as the meal. Many of the members donate money to help buy the food from Sam’s Club. St. Peter’s also contributes food to the Niles Food Pantry.

Sue loves to contribute her time to AJH because she knows that it helps provide a basic necessity that so many people are in need of. Sue sees so many families with their children that donate their time to AJH that come from St. Peter’s. She likes that AJH is so connected to their community work.

Sue additionally volunteers in her local American Legion Auxiliary chapter as president. She is also active in St. Peter’s women’s guild group where they do mission work. Sue is a receptionist at a doctor’s office and likes to knit, sew, and crochet in her free time. Family is extremely important to Sue and she loves to spend time with her parents and sister.