by Kristi Sanford
Editors Note: As we publish these volunteer profiles, it is amazing to reflect upon how many of our volunteers have been with us for more than a decade. Monica and Julia have been working with us for 15 years! Our staff and patrons are truly blessed to have such long-standing relationships with so many of our volunteers! If you’d like to join with us to celebrate their gifts and help raise much needed funds for A Just Harvest, please purchase a ticket or make a donation to our 9th Annual Awards Banquet & Benefit on Sunday, October 14.
Monica Geocaris, Community Church of Wilmettte
Monica Geocaris was born and raised in northwest Kansas. After she left home, Monica lived in Denver where she met John, her future husband. Although Colorado was near and dear to her heart, they relocated to Wilmette so John could enter the family business his father was anxious to retire from. John’s dad founded Barnaby’s Pizza, and although the family sold the restaurant chain years ago, the company, Little Lady Foods, Inc., now contract manufactures fine food products for other companies under the direction of John and his brother.
Volunteering for A Just Harvest has been a part of Monica’s life for the past 15 years. It’s ironic that she took over when another congregation member moved to Colorado. Although she’s made a great life for herself in our fine Midwestern state, she still misses the West. Knowing her neighbors are hungry makes her uncomfortable and that is what has driven her to help those in need. That, and the example her parents set. She likes Pastor Marilyn’s vision of being so successful at fixing the root causes of hunger and poverty that we can put ourselves out of business as a Community Kitchen. But in the meantime, she plans to keep feeding the hungry.
Monica’s work at A Just Harvest includes organizing volunteers and delivering and serving a lasagna meal with other members and friends of Community Church of Wilmette on the second Wednesday of every month. At this point, with the help of her other volunteers, it’s a well-oiled machine, and they enjoy dinner together at a nearby restaurant following their meal service. Monica, along with Judy Smith, Debbie Sayles and Jeanne Winter, also organized “Bella Notte” an Italian-themed fundraising dinner in her congregation’s hall. The event raised $8,000 for a Just Harvest from a combination of ticket sales, a silent auction and a live auction.
Monica has a Master Gardener Degree and an Ornamental Plants Certificate from the Chicago Botanic Garden. She volunteers there in Plant Information and works part-time in garden design. In the future, she would like offer her assistance in creating community gardens so that those who don’t usually have access to fresh produce can, at least seasonally.
Julia Joehl, St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church
Julia Joehl is the face of A Just Harvest at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church of Wilmette. She has been coordinating our partnership for more than 15 years, and every time she stands to make an announcement, congregation members know that she’ll be asking for additional volunteers.
Julia has been a special education teacher for pre-kindergarten students at a Chicago Public School in the Edison Park neighborhood for the last 21 years. Julia loves her work, saying “I work with children who have severe multiple disabilities and with their parents. My job is challenging and very rewarding. It’s the best job in the city.”
Julia and her husband Raymond, who is a general surgeon with the Veterans Administration, have six children and two grandchildren. Three of their six children are blind and have benefitted tremendously from amazing teachers and the commitment of the North Shore public school districts to meet the needs of children with disabilities.
At the end of this year, Julia will be turning over her responsibility for coordinating St. Augustine’s service at A Just Harvest to Mary Whitely. We are so grateful to Julia for all her years of service!