This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Local Nonprofit Brings Generations Together

Kids Who Care brings happiness to seniors in Olympia Fields, Homewood, Flossmoor, Glenwood and Hazelcrest.

“Come in,” a voice said from behind the door at Freedom Village in Homewood.

As Ruth Schuldt saw the pink bag, her eyes lit up and a blush came over her cheeks. It wasn’t a visit from Santa Claus, although very close. Sandy Schramm, a Homewood resident and the Kids Who Care coordinator put a smile on the face of another senior.

“It’s been two and a half years since Kid’s Who Care has been part of Olympia Fields Horizon Hospice & Palliative Care,” Schramm explained. “Horizon Hospice has Hospice patients, Kids Who Care remembers those Hospice patients all through the year and others in the community.”

Find out what's happening in Chicago Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Kids Who Care does a lot for the patients on the holidays. The organization also gets a lot of help from young people in the community.

“Christmas time we do a little something such as cookie plates,” Schramm said. “Valentines Day we adopt all our patients to be our special Valentines. Spring season we also assemble a special delivery. The demand is so great from the community, a lot of volunteers say ‘we want to help.’”

Find out what's happening in Chicago Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ruth Schuldt, 87, opened up her gift bag and pulled out goodies, a balloon and a small stuffed animal. 

“Oh golly, how lovely,” Schuldt exclaimed. “I just love it. I think it’s so beautiful to bring something so pretty and to be so thoughtful.”

Sandy Schramm said she is used to reactions such as this. Ten years ago she was looking for a way for her sons to volunteer.

“There really [were] not a lot of opportunities for kids to volunteer,” Schramm said. “I found a small nonprofit called Braveheart and they said, ‘Why don’t you do your mission here with us and help seniors in the community?’ The first thing we ever did as an act of kindness from Kids Who Care was rake leaves at a Hospice patients home. That’s what started Kids Who Care.”

Since then, Kids Who Care has become grocery shop (at no charge) for housebound seniors in Olympia Fields, Homewood, Flossmoor, Hazelcrest and Glenwood. They also have events every month with and for seniors. Kids Who Care brings youth from high schools and grade schools in the area where they serve punch and talk to the seniors. They also go into the senior facilities and bring parties for them featuring snacks, punch and prizes at no charge to the area facility.

Bubbling over, Schramm said she is always smiling as she gives to others.

“We want to make them feel special,” Schramm said. “Knowing we are making a difference. There is a need there.” On part of the seniors for enjoying that energy of the youth and for being remembered. Then there is a part for the students, who need service hours. Kids Who Care connects the two. It connects the students who want to do something of value and the seniors who happily accept it.”

In ten years time, many stories of building relationships have come from this organization. Schramm recalled her favorite. The organization connected Laura, a widow without children the Kids Who Care grocery shopped for, with a mom and her sons. This mom was a teacher, and one Valentine’s Day the classroom adopted Laura. For that Valentines Day the children gave her things they knew she enjoyed. Laura wound up with 19 bananas, several stuffed animals, bottles of nail polish of all different colors, puzzle books and baskets. 

“Laura felt like a queen,” Schramm said. “She couldn’t believe the children did this for her.”

But that wasn’t the end of Laura’s exciting year. Later on in the year, the school had Grandparents Day and Laura was invited.

“Laura, who never had children of her own, never thought she would be able to attend something like that,” Schramm said. “Even the other children who didn’t have a family member there adopted Laura as their own grandmother as well. It made her year. It made her life. She still talks about that day now. You never know how a connection could blossom.”

If you know of someone who is homebound and need the service of grocery shopping and delivery and live within the area of Olympia Fields, Homewood, Flossmoor, Glenwood and/or Hazelcrest. There is no charge to the senior but it is not a same day service. Call  708-283-8150.

If you are a student in the Olympia Fields, Flossmoor or Homewood area and would like to volunteer for Kids Who Care, call 708-283-0271. Kindergarten through high school seniors can apply. Boy/girl scout troops can help as well as families. There are 50 events during the school year in addition to volunteer shopping. 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?