Fragomen Joins Chicago Cares for Day of Service

On Friday, September 11, 58 volunteers from Fragomen in Chicago joined Chicago Cares to complete meaningful community service projects at six different sites across Chicago – Elizabeth Woods Senior Apartments, Flannery Senior Apartments, Garfield Park Conservatory, Lakeview Pantry West, Lorraine Hansberry Senior Apartments, and Maplewood Park.

Volunteers supported the efforts of community partners that provide services to a wide range of people and neighborhoods within the larger Chicago community. For the National Day of Service, Fragomen volunteers’ efforts focused on senior isolation, environment, and hunger issue areas. Here's a look at the individual efforts:

Elizabeth Woods Senior Apartments: 

• Created 8 floral centerpieces to decorate the tables in the community room 
• Cooked and served soup and baked apple pie for residents 
• Served and ate lunch with 20 senior residents that enjoyed the lively conversation 
• Engaged about 20 senior residents in Bingo and handed out prizes (useful household items that will save low-income seniors money on groceries and home supplies) 

Flannery Senior Apartments: 

• Prepared a warm soup and apple cobbler for residents 
• Served and ate lunch with 15 senior residents that enjoyed the lively conversation 
• Helped maintain a senior community garden by doing some light weeding 
• Created mason jar vases, with colorful flower arrangements, to distribute to residents 

Garfield Conservatory:

• Replanted large cast iron plants and a collection of small grass plants 
• Helped staff organize and clean a propagation house 

Lakeview Pantry West:

• Received and sorted 2,360 pounds of food for Lakeview Pantry West staff to later distribute 
• Wiped down counters and food storage bins that would later be used to sort and organize large food donations 
• Organized current food donations and swept floors to keep the space clean and orderly 
• Organized family and kids clothing sections for Lakeview Pantry West staff to later distribute 

Lorraine Hansberry:

• Created 12 beautiful autumn themed centerpieces to transform the common space 
• Prepared a hot meal and appetizing dessert for residents 
• Served and ate lunch with 30 seniors that appreciated the lively conversation 
• Engaged about 30 senior residents in Bingo and handed out prizes to everyone playing 

Maplewood Park:

• Unpacked, sorted and organized over 100 books for youth programming 
• Revitalized the library with a fresh coat of bright green paint 
• Constructed and painted three bookshelves to help organize different classrooms 
• Landscaped the front entrance and planted an assortment of colorful tulips, bulbs, and shrubs 
• Engaged 100 4th grade students in a fun Science Fair organized in the gymnasium 

In total, 207 volunteer hours were dedicated to six community partners in the city of Chicago! Here are some photos of our team in action: