North Shore Helpers, a volunteerism group that includes members of the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce & Industry, returned to bring holiday cheer to Englewood’s Primo Center by providing a party for women and their children.
This year’s festivities took place inside the Primo Center gym in Chicago (6212 S. Sangamon St.).
Approximately 50 women and 100 children served by Primo Center locations were party guests, said Northbrook Chamber member Dan Gelfond of Riverwoods, cofounding member of North Shore Helpers, a 501c3 charitable organization.
Since 2016, North Shore Helpers, with donor support, has delivered gifts and new merchandise to individuals in Chicago with several annual parties held in recent years at the Primo Center.
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“These are all women and children who live here temporarily,” Gelfond said. “We’re just trying to bring some hope and happiness to them at this time of the year because we know they might not all get the holiday presents that they asked for.”
That Saturday morning, Gelfond and fellow volunteers brought $14,000 in value of Target gift cards. Pizza, sweets, cans of popcorn and accessories like vibrant scarves for moms were also enjoyed.
Amenities included an oversized inflatable snow globe for kiddies to romp in, pumped up disc jockey music to dance to and a ring light photo booth.
“Every kid who lives here got to pick out three gifts on Amazon that they wanted and they’re going to get one of those gifts,” Gelfond said as the celebration started.
“They’re actually going to get a gift that they asked Santa for which we feel is great and they’re going to have a lot of smiles today.”
Shelley Cooper, Primo Center chief community relations officer, indicated feeling, “grateful,” to North Shore Helpers.
“In the midst of all that they (Primo residents) have encountered, there’s still joy and happiness and laughter,” Cooper said.
Primo Center provides shelter, guidance to permanent housing, physical, dental and mental health care, early childhood development and supportive services to homeless families in Chicago.
Primo Center operates facilities in North Lawndale and West Humboldt Park on Chicago’s West Side, in Auburn Gresham and Englewood on the South Side and in Hermosa on the Northwest Side.
Four decades ago, the late Bishop Quintin Primo, Jr. and community leaders established the Primo Center which serves over 1,000 people each year with more than 100 volunteers, 70 staff members and an annual budget of nearly $6 million, according to https://www.primocenter.org/about-us/.
“When you talk about a very affluent community such as Northbrook, very removed from the existence that our families at the Primo Center experience, they still want to share,” Cooper said, complimenting volunteers and donors supporting North Shore Helpers.
Gelfond said North Shore Helpers launched when friends and colleagues came to know each other via the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
“We (founding members) all met at the Northbrook Chamber, we all became best friends at the Northbrook Chamber and we all decided to start a charity because of that friendship and business relationship from the Northbrook Chamber,” Gelfond said.
Matt Settler of Buffalo Grove, a Northbrook Chamber member, volunteered on Saturday with spouse Nellie Settler.
“These are lifelong friends that I’ve made just through going to the chamber events,” Settler said. “These are all my friends and family and it’s a great time.”
Reached by Pioneer Press, Kathi Quinn, Northbrook Chamber executive director, said, “The Northbrook Chamber is full of givers.
“I like to think North Shore Helpers was ‘born’ at Northbrook Chamber,” Quinn said.
Quinn recalled several years ago, before North Shore Helpers became an official charity, the cooperative collected money and blankets for the homeless.
“Their group grew from there, formalizing their mission,” Quinn said.
“This is the heart of our chamber, a business organization giving time, ideas, support and ultimately business.”
Founders and board members include Dan and Marla Gelfond, Geoff Horwitz of Riverwoods and Alan Waner of Volo. Board member Matt Settler and ambassadors Nellie Settler, Myra Borkan of Buffalo Grove, Mara Heichman of Buffalo Grove, Eric Zitron of Buffalo Grove, Howard Wallach of Vernon Hills, Larry Rosenthal of Northbrook and Odette Olson of Northbrook are among volunteers.
Odette Olson, also a Northbrook Chamber member, said, “One of the most important things in life is to always give back.
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“I taught my children from day one that we’re not here for ourselves, we are here to give to others,” Olson said. “And that’s what we do.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.