What a lovely evening! We met at North House Folk School for a tour of the campus, then received expert pizza-making advice from North House instructor Cooper Ternes. We created our own individual pizza masterpieces which were baked in the school’s wood-fired oven, enjoyed learning some little-known facts about one another, and guessed the identify of volunteers/staff members who shared photos of themselves from back in the day. And of course – no Care Partners volunteer event would be complete without fabulous prizes!
A BIG thank you to Care Partners Board member Kathy Reeves for contributing her beautiful, hand-made pottery (including a berry bowl and table centerpieces) which were among the prizes! Thanks also to Board member Nancy Starr who brought us greetings from the Board and to Board member Jack McHugh who also shared his appreciation for our volunteers.
All in all, the weather was beautiful, the company was even better, and the pizzas were delicious! Thanks to all who were able to attend! And a huge THANK YOU to ALL of our volunteers – you are truly the heart of Care Partners.
Care Partners Executive Director Julie Wilson deeply regretted that she was unable to attend the event (she is in the Twin Cities recovering from a recent back re-injury) but she sent along this message to share with our volunteers:
Beautiful Care Partner Volunteers…
Thank you for all you do – both seen and unseen for our neighbors throughout Cook County. Thank you for choosing to journey with a neighbor who may be lonely or need a rest. Thank you for the rides, conversations, chores, and more that you do each week. Ours is a “Labor of Love” – and Care Partners is brought to the community with your faces, your smiles, your words and actions of kindness, your listening ear and friendly visits.
I so wish I could be there with you today to share in person my heartfelt thanks – Thank You from Care Partners Staff, thank you from our board, Thank you from our community partners, Thank you from the families across the country and world that want to express to you…”Thanks for showing up and being present with my loved one.” And most especially…thank you from our neighbors – whom each of you has touched in your selfless generosity of presence. Grateful for your place in the family of things… Mary Oliver always says it best…
Julie then shared the poem “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver – here’s a video of the poem read by the author…
Photos from the party:
