by Rebecca Helberg
Editor’s Note: If you’d like to join us in celebrating these Volunteers of the Year at our 9th Annual Awards Banquet & Benefit, visit our home page for more information.
Winnetka Covenant Church
Norm Johnson, a retired Battalion Chief with the Glenview Fire Department, has been volunteering at A Just Harvest since 2006 shortly after joining Winnetka Covenant Church. Norm strongly believes in giving back and also volunteers at the Greater Chicago Food Pantry. He has been volunteering since he was a Boy Scout and has also done some youth hockey coaching.
Norm does his part for AJH by helping prepare the food that the Winnetka Covenant Church graciously provides. By preparing the turkey sausage, roasted potatoes, vegetables and a fresh fruit salad, Norm sees the food before it goes off to the kitchen. Once in a while Norm also delivers and plans on serving in the kitchen one day with his wife, Sharon. Norm was born and raised in Evanston then moved to Glenview with his family. Norm enjoys volunteering and believes it to be a way to do extra work with the church.
Hunger is an important issue to Norm because he views as being able to eat as a human right. In his free time Norm reads and plays golf. Norm was on the fire department for 30 years and today sells fire trucks. Norm finds A Just Harvest to be a unique organization that is phenomenal in filling the hunger need. He absolutely loves when he is able to fill the food truck twice a month to send it off to feed the patrons on A Just Harvest.
Congregation Hakafa
A significant part of being a bar or bat mitzvah, the Jewish ritual of becoming an adult at age 12 or 13, is committing various mitzvot or good deeds. Emily Charen, a member of Congregation Hakafa, chose to donate her time and effort to A Just Harvest as part of her mitzvah project. In preparation for her bat mitzvah on November 17th, Emily bakes 6 dozen brownies with her mother Debbie to deliver to AJH on a regular basis. Emily and her mother have been baking since January, but she’s also come with her class to help serve meals.
Serving food to those that are hungry is important to Emily because she finds it upsetting to see such a stark contrast between those who are hungry and those who aren’t. Emily believes it’s extremely important to give to others and not be wasteful of food. Her favorite part of volunteering at AJH is serving and interacting with patrons. She enjoys working face to face with people and finds everyone to be nice and patient in the kitchen.
In her free time Emily loves to play basketball and soccer. She plays travel soccer throughout the year and thoroughly enjoys spending time with her teammates. Emily also likes to play volleyball, hang out with her friends, and jump on her trampoline in her backyard. Emily has a younger sister and older brother.
Every Hanukkah her immediate family and aunts, uncles, and cousins shop together to donate food to the Northfield Food Pantry. Instead of the adults giving each other presents, the whole group goes to Jewel and shops for the best buy to give as much as they can to the pantry. It is clear that Emily loves to volunteer and help others, and she definitely plans on continuing giving her time to AJH.
Lutheran Church of the Ascension
Jeanne Peterson, of Lutheran Church of the Ascension, has been volunteering with A Just Harvest since we opened our doors in 1983! Jeanne remembers when she first starting serving a congregation didn’t commit to a set menu ahead of time, but often brought something different each month as long as it was a balanced meal. She would typically bring ham, vegetables and fruit. She also received donations roast beef from Treasure Island and served a simple prepared meal. In the years since A Just Harvest expanded its dinner service to every night of the year, Jeanne has brought Sloppy Joes, fruit, dessert, and milk.
Jeanne helped plate and serve the food to the patrons for many years, but due to a knee surgery she is no longer able to come with her congregation on the third Tuesday of every month. Despite her knee problems, Jeanne still delivers the food on behalf of her congregation. She appreciates that AJH serves a well-balanced meal that is hot and healthy. Jeanne appreciates working with the staff of AJH, especially Community Kitchen chef, Rosario.
Jeanne is active at her church and participates in the Alter Guild and a women’s group named Ruth’s circle. Jeanne used to love to play golf and also volunteers at the Union League club.
Northfield Community Church
Dan Thuente has been an active member at Northfield Community Church for 10 years and has volunteered at A Just Harvest for the last three years. Dan’s favorite part of the Community Kitchen experience is the opportunity to meet and interact with new people. He describes it as an upbeat and positive atmosphere.
Dan grew up with 6 brothers and sisters and values family immensely. Dan learned to give back at a young age and divides his time between A Just Harvest, the Northfield Senior Center, and his church. At Northfield Community Church Dan serves as a deacon and is involved with the Salvation Army and Family Promise. Dan and his wife have three children and a newborn grandson. He works as a cashier at Trader Joes.
Dan has a great respect for AJH and the commitment to end hunger. He finds it admirable that A Just Harvest feeds the community 365 days a year. He loves seeing patrons volunteer at the kitchen and the caliber of people that come in.
In Dan’s free time he enjoys golfing and spending time with his family. Dan also loves doing work both around the house and in the yard.