Angela’s Story (2020)
October 20, 2020 |
The Coronavirus occupies all of us. Our attention, emotions and behavior. And it has certainly impacted everyone’s finances. The homeless are especially vulnerable. And their support systems, always stretched, are even thinner.
This bothered Angela Villegas of Lakeside Bank. So, very quietly, she did something. By herself. She borrowed a Lakeside van and stuffed it with clothing, new sleeping bags, new tents and cans of cooking gas. Everything new she paid for herself. Her daughter Crystal then suggested she contact the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. And on May 1, Angela drove that full van to a homeless encampment.
We only learned of this because Angela asked to borrow a van. Thank you, Angela. You are one of the “better angels of our nature."
Sponsor of 2021 Halloween party supplies for the Valentine Boys & Girls Club celebration.
Thank you to everyone who donated to our 18th Annual Holiday Food Drive! Thanks to Joe Perrelli and Al Bradley for collecting it all, and to Garvey’s Office Products for delivering all but the Elmhurst Branch’s donations to the GCFD! We raised $275 and 20 boxes of food to provide nearly 1500 meals for those in need! Our Elmhurst donations went to the Elmhurst /Yorkfield Food Pantry. Congrats to Lakesider Pat Weiler for winning our employee raffle for a $300 Amazon giftcard! BOT customer Anil Daramjee won the customer raffle.
Due to COVID-19 many have struggled to feed their families, and many of our neighbors are going hungry. So, Lakeside Bank sponsored a Virtual Food Drive to benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository April 19-May 3.
“As we face this unprecedented public health and economic crisis, our community must join together to ensure none of our neighbors go hungry,” said Kate Maehr, executive director and CEO of the Food Depository.
This Virtual Food Drive supported the Food Depository’s ongoing efforts to address the increased risk for food insecurity as a result of COVID-19. The economic impact from business and school closures are expected to disproportionately impact Cook County’s lower-income families and hourly workers
Every day, the Food Depository distributes an average of 200,000 pounds of food through its network of 700 partner agencies and programs, to people in need across Chicago and Cook County.
For the past 16 years, Lakeside Bank has sponsored a holiday food drive for the Food Depository, donating nearly 16,000 lbs of food to help alleviate hunger. Now more than ever, it’s time to step up to help those in need.
Our Virtual Food Drive donated 13,382 meals. That’s more than 16,000 pounds of food. There are still a lot of long lines for food … but we helped.
We thought, It's about time … for a little sole. So, Lakeside staff organized a fundraiser to support Pacific Garden Mission (PGM)!
Since 1877, PGM has been helping bodies and souls as a place of refuge and transformation for the homeless and hurting. Lakeside staff volunteered there for a day of service last Fall, and have had a long-standing relationship with them for years. After learning that they could use shower shoes, Lakeside staff chipped in to donate 320 pairs of flip flops! Lakesider Erica Chianelli delivered six boxes of flip flops to PGM on June 30th.
"These flip flops will ensure our homeless residents with a great confidence when it’s shower time. During this very crucial moment in history, it’s so wonderful to receive your support," said Gerald Casey, PGM Director of Outreach Ministry.
To learn more about PGM, visit https://www.pgm.org.
We sponsored the Glessner House Ice Cream Social on 8/29/21. Over 500 enjoyed ice cream throughout the day!
On October 23, 2021, fifteen Lakesiders and their families volunteered to clean up beautiful Palmisano Park as part of our Annual Make a Difference Day Volunteer Outing. The group filled 20 garbage bags! Thanks to: Brian Kastle, Matt Palmisano, Eva Ayala, Brian Keane, Susanna Fong, Albert Ng, Dorothy Rzeszutko, Cathy Nowak, Mal Dubert, Ania Kozak, Qixian Liang, Roman Hernandez, and Erica Chianelli & her daughters.
On August 14, 2021, Lakesiders, friends, and family volunteered at Margaret’s Village Women & Family Shelter, 7315 S. Yale, as part of a Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago volunteer project. Volunteers transformed the parking lot through debris cleanup, weeding, mulching/composting, and tree trimming. Special thanks to Matt Palmisano for leading and coordinating this effort. Thank you to Mike Fogarty, Dorothy Rzeszutko, Al Czeszak, Bryan Keane, Brian Kastle, Bob Shehan, Odis Cole, and David Pinkerton for coming out! You truly helped provide a clean and safe environment for the Margaret’s Place residents!