Giving Thanks

by Jennifer McGuffin

Of all the holidays on the calendar, none unites us more than Thanksgiving. Many religious holidays unify smaller groups of people based on their beliefs or heritage. And patriotic holidays like the Fourth of July have the potential to bring us together, but can be riddled with bipartisan discussions, politicians in parades and debates over the merits of interstate firecrackers. Even spirited Halloween celebrations can create differences between parents and school administrators about the tone and tenor of classroom parties every fall.

Thanksgiving, however, is clean. This tribute to American perseverance and the value of making new friends allows each of us the opportunity to take the time to express gratitude for the things that are going right in our lives, appreciate the people who surround us, and have a good, old-fashioned hot meal.

But for some members of the Naperville community, Thanksgiving means even more than that. These civic treasures view the fourth Thursday in November as a chance to reach across the proverbial table to help others, as well. Here are the inspiring stories of these special people—for whom we should all give thanks, as well.

Sharing the Love
The picturesque Norman Rockwell holiday requires not only a golden turkey and a smiling family, but it demands one other fundamental piece: a warm home in which to celebrate. For an unsettlingly large number of homeless people in our area, there can be no family holiday gatherings this time of year because there is simply no place to go.

The DuPage PADS organization works diligently all year long to provide not just emergency overnight shelter in area churches, but to offer life coaching, educational opportunities, support to overcome substance abuse, and transitional housing to help people put their lives on a better trajectory.

The group also has a holiday tradition to restore the spirit of the season to its clients living in subsidized apartments. The program is called Holiday Meal in a Bag, and the concept is very simple. Members of the community gather the ingredients for a traditional holiday feast, including a turkey or ham, side dishes, desserts and even the entertaining "extras" like holiday napkins and plates. The volunteers bring the donations to PADS, which then distributes them to its residents through official PADS channels to protect the clients' privacy.

The DuPage PADS Director of Development Kathleen Johnson is "amazed at the generosity of Naperville," and says nearly 100 meals were contributed last year.

"This program is all about family and relationships," Johnson says. "We get many requests from people to volunteer, and people jump at this request to help. It helps our clients feel normal again."

Eva Dahm, a Naperville resident and owner of a Naperville-based life coaching business, takes part in this program and says it is a very moving part of her holiday. "To help people create a holiday meal for the first time in a long time is very touching. This is a wonderful experience for everyone involved," she says.

The Holiday Meal in a Bag program also puts together Christmas feasts for PADS clients. For more information visit www.dupagepads.org.

Helping the Healers
All year long the medical experts and staff at Edward Hospital take care of those in need, twenty-four hours a day, often sacrificing theirown family holidays and personal lives to save and improve the lives of others.

At this time of year, those caregivers get taken care of a little bit themselves. The annual Turkey Toss is a tradition by hospital administrators to say "thank you" to the healers in our community.

A few days before Thanksgiving a freezer truck pulls into the Edward parking lot, stuffed with nearly 4,000 frozen turkeys. Top administrators then spend hours standing in that parking lot, running a "drive through" for employees and personally handing a turkey and giving a thank you to each member of the staff.

"As an organization, we believe that by taking care of our employees they are better able to care for our patients," says Cari Beckman, Edward's Director of Employee Relations.

"It's the last holdout of being a smaller company. Members of the management team, including our CEO, are out there in the cold and the wind for hours to say thanks," Beckman adds.

Hospital employees are not just on the receiving end of food on that day, they also hold a food drive and drop off non-perishable items as they receive their own turkeys.

Edward also makes a special effort to help patients and their families celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, knowing that it's especially hard to be in the hospital on a holiday. Patients who can eat a normal meal receive a traditional holiday feast, which is also served in the hospital cafeteria so visitors and the medical staff can take get a taste of the holiday, as well.

An On-Duty Holiday
For emergency responders in Naperville, Thanksgiving Day is just another day. The nature of fire and police work means that it's business as usual at the proverbial office, and they must be ready to help with injuries, illnesses and fires at any time. But for members of the Naperville Fire Department assigned to work the holiday, it's also like spending the day with extended family.

Deputy Chief Mike Zywanski says whenever possible, the on-duty firefighters cook a holiday meal during their quiet times and share it with their comrades and families. "Wives, girlfriends, and children come and have turkey, bring desserts and celebrate together if they can," he says.

But the meals don't always last long. "Calls take precedent over everything. If a call comes in, they're gone, leaving families to finish the meal alone," he says.

That sentiment is echoed in the halls of the Naperville Police Department, where officers still hit the streets to cover their beats on holidays. There is no big meal back at the station. "We have to be out in the community ready to respond," says NPD Commander Mike Anders.

"But the way our 12-hour, two-day shifts work, our officers get to spend some part of the holiday weekend with their families and perhaps celebrate Thanksgiving on Friday, instead. Police families just adjust. We understood this when we took the job," Anders says.

Petite Party
The magic of every holiday, of course, is when it's seen through the eyes of a child. The richness of Thanksgiving can be seen at tiny tables in the School Readiness Center every year at this time. The Naperville preschool, after spending a few weeks teaching the little ones about the Mayflower, the Pilgrims, and Native Americans, has a special tradition to help bring this historic holiday to life.

Each year before Thanksgiving, children create their own picture-perfect moment by dressing up as Pilgrims and Native Americans and sharing their own favorite foods with their classmates. The children are encouraged to make these contributions themselves. The risk of that, of course, is a table full of chocolate chip cookies and fruit snacks, but for the young students and their teachers, it's a delicious and precious feast.

The school's Owner and Director Amy Folliard says this celebration has a powerful impact on the children. "Parents tell me it's as much fun for the kids as their feasts at home, because at the school celebration, the kids get to pick their favorite foods and contribute to the meal. It's all about them," she says.

Thank you all who make our city a better place to live. We are grateful to call you our neighbors and friends. Happy Holidays!