Chicago Heights Man Humbled By Award from Tinley Park Agency

You never know what to expect when you ring the doorbell of the food pantry at .

Sometimes you'll see reindeer ears, sometimes long black hair with a witch hat and sometimes no costume at all. That's the kind of entertainment William "Bill" Dillon provides as he welcomes visitors.

Dillon was the co-recipient of the 2011 Ted Reimer Volunteer award at the agency.

"I try to make things lively around here," Dillon said. "If I can make the people smile, I'll do it. Around the holidays, I always try and do something like wearing rabbit ears or some crazy headpiece. So when the people come through the door, it gets them to smile." 

Dillon and his wife have lived in Chicago Heights for 40 years. Recognized by most, he's always getting involved and finding ways to help others.  

Employed at LaSalle Bank for several years, Dillon worked in the land trust department, which ultimately connected him with Together We Cope.

"When you get close to retirement, towards the last couple of years they have you go to work for United Way," he explained "It's what they call a loaned executive. My job was to raise funds for United Way. One of my other duties was to call up the agencies United Way helped and have them talk about their agency. That's how I met the people from Together We Cope." 

Dillon has been the door greeter at Together We Cope for six years every Tuesday and Wednesday.

"When I first started here, I helped unload the trucks and put the food on the shelves," Dillon said. "Then I began answering the food pantry door. I enjoy that. I bring the groceries over to them when they come in. I talk to them, see how they're doing. I try and make them feel good, even if it's just for a few minutes.  A lot of times people come in, they're a little depressed. I try and talk them up."

But not all the moments have been sad. Dillon has seen his share of success stories.

"I would see the same woman every month to get groceries," he remembered. "She had a family of six. One day she came in and told me she would not be seeing me anymore, I asked why, are you moving away? She told me, No I got a job. She would rather have been working and not to get food from us. Being that we were here and to help her during a rough time, to see her get a job was exciting."

Bill Dillon has spent many years volunteering in other areas of his life, including traveling with the band when his three children were a part of it. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus out of St. Liborius in Steger.  

"As a Knight of Columbus, we raise money for the mentally handicapped," Dillon explained, sounding like a public relations expert. "The Knights of Columbus will begin their fish fry's in September. The funds go to help children in Steger, Crete and the Chicago Heights area. If you want to help people, come out and be a Knight."  

He also has been an usher at the 10 a.m. mass for several years at . 

In the Volunteer of the Year program, representatives from Together We Cope spoke about Dillon's exceptional character:

Together We Cope's clients who ring the bell and are greeted by volunteer Bill Dillon always have a good experience. Bill is full of good cheer and he treats people respectfully and with kindness. Known as the guy that always says "yes," Bill can be seen volunteering at most of the agencies events, always with a pleasant attitude and ready to have fun.

Dillon said he was floored and appreciated being honored by an organization with a cause he believed in.

"I was very surprised," he said. "I was humbled. I told everyone at the banquet, they are all volunteers of the year because I do just like what everyone else does."

Thinking back on all his years of helping people, Dillon said the most painful moments were also the most inspiring.

"I was here when the Katrina victims came and when the Oak Forest apartment building burnt down. They came here to get clothes. The look on their faces, they had nothing, but they came here to Together We Cope and they got something. To me these are the success stories, when the people are being helped."