President John F. Kennedy said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
At this time of Thanksgiving, we want to express our thanks to all of Grundy County, especially our donors, partners, and volunteers. Your continued support and partnership are testament to the fact that we have so many in Grundy County who live by their word, take action, and make our community a great place to live, work, recreate, worship, and raise our families.
We are thankful for our donors as they provide the financial base for our work. We are also thankful for our volunteer board members who set the vision for our organization and assure that we have the governance and accountability in place to keep the vision in motion.
We are also incredibly thankful for our partners around the region who come to the table on many issues so that we can collectively develop solutions to maintain and improve our quality of life in Grundy County. We are thankful that there is a great spirit of cooperation in our county – it’s a wonderful feeling to know that we are not alone in our efforts!
In addition to being thankful for those who help us in our work, we hope you will join us in being thankful for the work of others in our non-profit community. Most of us rely on the generosity of volunteers and all of us rely on the financial support of donors.
I especially want to thank those who live by their word by leaving the warmth and comfort of their homes in this cold season to serve their fellow citizens in need:
Thank you to PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter), which operates mid-October through mid-April to provide overnight shelter and meals to those in need. The number of volunteers committed to this mission is both staggering and humbling. And thank you to the seven churches who open their doors and make this program possible.
Thank you to the groups who cook and serve St. Vincent’s Table meals on Mondays in Coal City and Thursdays in Morris. The number of dinner guests in increasing and they continue to graciously meet the need.
Thank you to the volunteer fire departments around Grundy County who respond to all sorts of calls in all sorts of weather. Also, thank you to the volunteers of the American Red Cross who also respond to calls in all sorts of weather. Tragedy never sleeps and it’s comforting to know these organizations are always prepared to respond.
Thank you to the pastors of our county’s churches who leave home and family to respond to urgent needs at the hospital and elsewhere.
Thank you to the volunteer drivers at Morris Hospital. Again, people who voluntarily endure winter weather to serve others in need.
For fun, let’s also thank the volunteers who ring the bell for We Care’s Salvation Army red kettle season. The monies raised through the red kettle program allow We Care to provide a variety of food and other services to our county’s residents in need. Ringing the bell is a fun activity – but it can be really cold!
I’m sure I’ve left someone out – my apologies. If so, please take it upon yourself to thank those who voluntarily serve others, especially during the holiday season and throughout the winter. It’s amazing how much they’ll appreciate your thanks!
Lastly, we hope you will start or continue to support the not-for-profit organizations who serve Grundy County around the causes that you care about, whether though monetary donations or your volunteer time and talents.
If you need help finding a non-profit that meets your passions, please call us at 941-0852 for assistance. We love to talk about the non-profit community of Grundy County!
Again, thank you Grundy County – you’re full of people who express their gratitude through actions!