Four Inspirational Volunteers Selected out of 4,000
DuPage Pads 2014 Volunteer of the Year Announced
For Immediate Release
May 22, 2014
Contact:
Carol Simler
DuPage Pads Executive Director
630.682.3846 Ext. 2310
csimler@dupagepads.org
Janelle Barcelona
DuPagePads Director of Development
630.682.3846 Ext.2220
jbarcelona@dupagepads.org
(Wheaton, IL) Volunteers are a force of positive change in the community and are the heart and soul of DuPagePads. To celebrate their achievements in honor of National Volunteer Week (April 6-13, 2014), for the third year in a row DuPagePads requested that supporters submit nominations for the Volunteer of the Year Award in two categories: Adult and Youth (age 13 to 17). A committee selected the winners.
Adult Winners:
Paul Kalinich, Maureen Parker, Cindy Sheely;
Youth Winner:
Riyah Basha.
These winners were awarded plaques and given special recognition. We are excited to share the stories of our winners and to recognize their dedication to our mission of ending homelessness.
Paul Kalinich
Ever since Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn opened as an overnight site more than 25 years ago, Paul has been volunteering at DuPage Pads on Sunday nights. Paul is a friendly face that greets program participants when they check in and visits with everyone like a neighbor. As a seasoned volunteer, Paul has the wisdom to handle any issues that may arise. Now retired, Paul shares his passion for DuPage Pads by acting as a spirited volunteer recruiter. A nominator wrote, “Paul Kalinich embodies all that DuPagePads is about and aspires to be. He is a role model to me and others in our church and community.”
Maureen Parker
Maureen has been volunteering for DuPage Pads since her congregation St. Joseph Church in Downers Grove became a support site 28 years ago and has rarely missed a shift. Over the years, she has helped wherever she is needed from setting up to checking in program participants to cooking meals. One nominator wrote, “Maureen’s dedication and demeanor have a way of making everyone feel special: she knows the name of most of the participants when they walk in and has helped cook a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving for those in need.”
Cindy Sheely
Cindy has been volunteering with DuPage Pads since her congregation, Roselle United Methodist Church, began volunteering 28 years ago. For 26 of those years, Cindy has been her congregation’s Support Coordinator in charge of recruiting and managing approximately 100 volunteers to fill available shifts. Additionally, she organizes a holiday party and asks guests to bring a donation to DuPage Pads in lieu of gifts or refreshments. One nominator wrote, “…she is always faithfully serving, helping out both in the evening and again in the mornings. She is a very dedicated volunteer who continually inspires others to get involved with DuPage Pads.”
Riyah Basha
Riyah, a junior at Hinsdale Central High School, is our Youth Volunteer of the Year. She has superb leadership skills as one of our youngest Support Coordinators. In addition to recruiting, organizing and managing volunteers for the Islamic Foundation, Riyah sold hot chocolate to raise $1,200 to cover the cost of breakfast for the season. She buys groceries before each shift and drops the supplies off the night before. The first Wednesday of the month she arrives at 4:30 am, supervises breakfast preparation and cleanup and then heads off to high school. Her dedication is so strong that she even drove through a blizzard this winter to serve. One nominator wrote, “Riyah is amazing. I don’t know another 11th grader who has shown such dedication to DuPage Pads in one of the busiest years of high school. She is a role model and inspiration to other youth in our community.”
Currently, DuPagePads has over 4,000 volunteers and is recruiting volunteers to assist during the Spring and Summer seasons. Consider assisting today to help DuPagePads with their mission to end homelessness.
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DuPagePads, founded in 1985, is the largest provider of services to those who are homeless in DuPage County. Providing the county’s largest Interim (Overnight) Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing Programs, DuPagePads’ solution to ending homelessness is housing, coupled with support services and employment to restore hope and rebuild lives. The administration office is located at 601 W. Liberty Drive, Wheaton, IL 60187. Additional information can be obtained by contacting DuPagePads at 630.682.3846 or at www.dupagepads.org.