Click here to view the embedded video.

Global Hope, together with the American Legion Riders Post 80,
are hosting a fundraiser to benefit two essential local organizations
that assist, specifically, veterans facing critical challenges.

The Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans (MSHV) in Wheaton, IL
With the mission “Serving Those Who Served the Nation”, this program helps veterans transition from homelessness to independent living within a two-year time frame (the average stay is 6 months). The program is run 24/7 by a dedicated staff of professionals who provide a wide range of intensive one-on-one support services. Most impressive is their 70% success rate (well above national averages).

The Hines Physically Challenged Sports Committee
With the goal of “motivating veterans to overcome physical challenges and boost morale”, this program recruits and trains all ages and disabilities in therapeutic recreational activities. Many go on to attend one of the Veteran’s Affairs National Competitions/Clinics.

Our goal is to raise $20,000!!

An anonymous donor has offered to MATCH

all donations dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000

Please send your donations today!  Any amount is sincerely appreciated. A list of donors will be posted at the event.

Make checks payable to: American Legion Riders Post 80, Tax ID#27-2520134

and mail to: Global Hope, PO Box 863, Downers Grove, IL 60515

Event Tickets — Please purchase in advance so that we have a headcount for the pig roast. Contact Anna, purchase at the Community Bank of Downers Grove, 1111 Warren in Downers Grove or click here

Thank you for making Holiday Wishes come true for so many…

“And filling our wish list was no easy task this year – but fill it you did… and so much more!!”

Humanitarian Service Project’s (HSP) Feed a Family Project

Prana Yoga’s Fundraiser (in Geneva, IL) collected nearly $1000 – and combined with Global Hope and Yoga Among Friends supporters’ generous donations, HSP was presented a “bountiful” check for $3,338.  Fifty-five families were each provided with 3 weeks of fresh meat, produce and groceries!

Humanitarian Service Project’s Holiday Gift Program

Our friends at Yoga Among Friends and Prana Yoga collected 4 huge boxes filled to the brim with toys and gift cards.  GH donated $1,000 toward the purchase of additional toys and gift cards.

and you didn’t stop there…

Respond Now Holiday Coat and Gift Drive

Global Hope and the employees of Perma-Seal teamed up on this one and come delivery day, a Perma-Seal box truck transported it’s enormous load of toys, coats, etc. to Respond Now in Chicago Heights.  GH topped off the delivery with $1,000 of underwear, generously discounted by the Walmart store in Darien.

and you helped us still more…

Global Hope’s Holiday Volunteer Event

Throughout 2 busy days, 31 GH volunteers worked to set-up the Respond Now Holiday Store and they helped kids and parents of families in need pick out clothing and toys.  This was an outstanding effort led by Respond Now’s Liz “Wiz”.  We joined iIndividuals, couples, and families from the surrounding area who came to help – some, in gratitude, because they wanted to give back and many, “just because they heard that the “store” needed their help”.

Love, Compassion, Gratitude and just plain Goodness filled this huge room.
Families were helped,
Children were gifted.
Hearts were alive with both giving and receiving.

From the Rooftops We Thank You!!

This holiday season was rich with the aroma of both “giving and receiving”.  The money donations, the toys, the coats, hats and scarves, etc. were piled high by the end of our collection period.  By project’s end, we put food on the table for many families.  We made gift giving possible for families – lots of families.  We made sure that children had warm coats and hats and gloves and books to read and toys to play with.  Holidays were brighter for many we think – and smiles were wider for us, we are sure.  That brings us to you, our beloved volunteers.  Without you, these wonderful accomplishments would not be a reality.

We thank these volunteers for taking time in the midst of this busy season to help with our various Holiday Projects.

Marge S./Perma-Seal organized all the donations that were dropped off.
Lori P./Perma-Seal coordinated the project from beginning to the delivery of donations to Respond Now.
Many Global Hope and Perma-Seal volunteers loaded and unloaded a Perma-Seal box truck filled with donations of toys, coats, gloves, hats, scarves and underwear.
Marjie K. shopped and shopped some more for underwear – $1,000 worth of underwear!
Ray Apton, Walmart Manager in Darien, gave GH a great deal on all of that underwear.

31 volunteers worked the Holiday Store in Chicago Heights on Dec 21 and Dec 22.
Anna A., Nancy G., Marsha G., Beth K. &  Ryan and Steve R., Mary & Kristin L., Nora & Steven M., Chuck & Carl M., Laura, Amy, Luke & Patrick M., Gayle M., Dickie & Teri N., Marge, John, Jenny & Stacy P., Lori & Josh P., Cameron & Chase R., Laura Ann & Roy S., Stacey & Alex S.

As we scan over this past year, we want to make sure you are
aware of the difference you have made in the world.

* You decorated bedsheets and donated money for the survivors of the devastating earthquake in Haiti and your generosity supplied a Haiti school with access to a much needed water supply.

* Your help in our community garden this spring, summer and fall ensured that many family meals contained fresh grown produce.

* Many Chicago public schools provided students with essential school supplies that would not have been possible without you  volunteers who took time out of your busy schedules to help in the delivery process.

* A high school in New Orleans has been transformed into a more functional learning environment for students thanks to your volunteering efforts and donations.

* Many local seniors were spared the hardship of yard clean-up this fall, as you volunteer “rakers” spent several hours one Saturday in November gathering leaves and stuffing bags to the brim and leaving them curbside for pick-up.

We are all neighbors really – the fortunate and the less fortunate -  watching out for each other, ready to lend a hand – ready with an open heart.  We are fortunate to have the support of so many generous volunteers.  Our successful projects are a reflection of your kind and generous hearts and endless flow of goodwill.  We sincerely thank you for your support with our Holiday Drive and every single endeavor we have set out to accomplish over this past year.

May the New Year bring an abundance of all good things
to you and your loved ones.

Caring, Sharing and Shining Brightly…

That’s what this year’s

Holiday Food, Clothing & Toy Drive is all about!

In the midst of an unstable economy, families from every walk of life face financial challenges.  As joyous as the holidays can be for some, they can be a time of increased stress and hardship for others.  In order to reach out to as many families as possible this year, our 2010 Holiday Food & Toy Drive will assist two very active charitable organizations with their own Holiday Drives.

We invite you to join us!

Meet two organizations ready to help fulfill the

Holiday Wish List for many local families.

Humanitarian Service Project (HSP)

The Humanitarian Service Project (HSP) started in Karole & Floyd Kettering’s spare room  in 1979 with the purpose of helping needy families during the Christmas season in the DuPage County area by providing them with an abundance of groceries and gifts.  The Christmas Offering still continues today, providing 150 impoverished families with 3 weeks of groceries, frozen meats, fresh produce and gifts for all the children. In 2009, 23 tons of food and 12 tons of Christmas gifts were distributed.

Respond Now

Respond Now has been operating since 1969 answering the emergency needs of residents of the Chicago South Suburban Area.  Every Holiday season, they organize a drive that results in opening the doors of the First Christian Church in Chicago Heights to allow a parent to “shop” for clothing and one toy per qualifying family. Respond Now offers relief and a helping hand to the poor among us.  “We believe in helping our neighbors because we have no doubt that CARING is the key to true community!”

There are THREE ways to Help!

1.  “Feed a Family”

$60 provides for 3 wks of Fresh Groceries

GH is donating $600 to Humanitarian Service Project’s “Feed a Family’ Program again this year – providing 10 families with fresh produce, meat and groceries – thanks to a generous donation by the Amicus Foundation.

Please join us! Make your donation checks payable to:  Humanitarian Service Project, and send to Global Hope, Inc., PO Box 863, Downers Grove, IL  60515 — by Friday, December 17

2.  Donate Items

Toys, Clothes and Coats

GH is donating $1,000 to Respond Now’s “Holiday Store” to purchase toys & clothing thanks to a generous donation by the Amicus Foundation.

Please join us by . . .Collecting new toys, gloves, socks, hats and new or gently-used coats for infants through teens in partnership with our friends at Perma-Seal Basement Systems.

Sift through your closets, take advantage of local store holiday discounts . . . or. . .start a mini collection drive among family, friends or co-workers!

Drop off unwrapped items  — Mon-Fri 7 am to 8 pm at:
Perma-Seal, 513 Rogers St., Downers Grove, by Friday, December 17

3.  Volunteer

At our Hands-On Holiday Event

Respond Now needs our help in assisting at their Holiday Store in Chicago Heights.   The heartfelt experience of volunteering promises to be one you’ll not forget. Celebrate the holidays Global Hope Style and join us!!

Tue, 12/21 -  9am – 3pm, (for store setup)
and / or
Wed, 12/22 -  9am – 3pm (help parents select gifts)

First Christian Church, 1045 Dixie Hwy, Chicago Heights, IL  60411

Bring family, friends or co-workers!
Time frames for volunteering are flexible.
Click Here to sign up or to ask any questions.

The Season of Giving is Fast Approaching!
Let’s join together to make this
the brightest Holiday Season Ever!!!

Holiday Food & Toy Drive

Coming Soon!!!

Start collecting . . .

new toys, children’s socks, gloves, hats,
and new or gently-used coats this Holiday Season.

There are more families than ever facing challenges this year. Due to these increasing needs, we are supporting two holiday drives.

Humanitarian Service Project (HSP) serving DuPage and  Kane Counties.  Respond Now serving the south suburbs.

Stay tuned for more details.

More to come soon . . . .

Senior Citizen Fall Yard Cleanup

Saturday, Nov. 20
at 8:00 a.m.

Meet at Perma-Seal
513 Rogers Street
Downers Grove, IL

Mark your Calendars!

Dust off those rakes – the leaves are falling and our Senior Citizen Fall Yard Cleanup is fast approaching.  Come one, come all - and join in Global Hope’s annual “rakefest” - as new friends and old friends alike gather for merriment and some serious raking to help out our senior citizens in Downers Grove, Westmont and Darien.

Then back to the offices of our friends at Perma Seal to warm up and refuel with some delicious fall refreshments!   More details to follow.  If you’d like to volunteer, please contact us and Marjie, our volunteer coordinator for this project, will be in contact with you.

GH Community Garden

Takes A Long Deserved Rest

Our beloved Community Garden has earned it!!

107 bags of produce delivered to both FISH Pantry and PADS!   Not to mention the beautiful friends made and fun had while weeding, watering and harvesting side by side with some awesome volunteers.  A fruitful season, we’d say, in many ways. We’re told that our fresh produce deliveries were a hit in both pantries – we’ll remember that for next year as we blow kisses to the rows and rows of withering, tired stems that provided food for many families all through the summer.

Sleep well little garden.

We thank everyone for their help this season. The incredible teamwork is what put “Goodwill in Motion” during the growing season – and we blow kisses to all of you as well.  Thank you.  Thank you!!!

Our little Garden made the news!!

Click here to read ”Harvesting for the Greater Good”

in the Downers Grove Patch

. . . at the Global Hope Garden

After a season of plentiful bounty, our GH Community Garden is winding down.  55 volunteers have tended our garden in so many wonderful ways – from weeding and watering to harvesting and delivering.

Downers Grove FISH Pantry and Downers Grove PADS have received almost 80 bags containing tomatoes, beans, squash, cucumbers, onions, beets, potatoes, peppers, radishes, etc to date.

Keith Kelly, Innovative Communications, filmed several volunteers gathering a morning’s harvest.  As always, Keith brilliantly captured the essence of GH at work.  Whether or not you’ve been out to visit the garden, this video is a must see!

Click here to view the embedded video.

With about 4 more weeks of growing season, there is still time to sign up to volunteer.  To peak your interest further, read volunteer, Beth Krueger’s, Voice of the Garden Newsletters here.

…to Deliver Supplies to Chicago Public Schools

On August 19th & 20th, 22 pallets of school supplies were distributed to 15 Chicago Public Schools, serving nearly 7,000 students.  Anna A. and her team of Global Hope volunteers devoted two days to delivering these supplies to the schools with the greatest need (a large percentage of homeless and low-income families).

Dick Flesher of Schools Count, a retired educator with a “get-it-done” attitude, bypasses bureaucratic obstacles and works directly with school principals. He takes and fills their orders by recycling used school supplies from area schools as well as purchasing new supplies where needed.  We support him in his passion for “starting all kids out on the right foot at the beginning of the school year”.

Anna, Jack, Caroline, Jim, Dickie, Teri and Mary worked with Dick’s many volunteers from Schools Count to complete this ambitious project.  Aside from the satisfaction of helping so many, they had the added pleasure of meeting appreciative staff members at several schools.  The experience, our team reports, was “priceless”.