Meet Kara Zukoski Jess Park, director of school programs, recently corresponded with HandsOn Connect user Kara Zukoski to discuss her contributions to The Palatine Township Food Pantry, The Wheeling Township Food Pantry, WINGS, Connections for the Homeless, The Harper Student Emergency Relief Fund, and the 214Cares Emergency Fund. Their correspondence has been edited. Jess Park:…
Author: Jess Park

#BeEssential: 3 Ways You Can Address the Societal Ills Exposed by the Coronavirus
In times of widespread crisis, workers may not be essential but volunteers are. Ordinary people are typically the first to assist in a disaster and the last ones to leave. Volunteerism, unlike vocation, demands civic character and exemplifies the ideal of democracy. It acknowledges that the well-being of every individual is integral to the well-being…

Choosing to #BeEssential: An Interview with a Volunteer Tackling Hunger During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Throughout this month, HandsOn Suburban Chicago (HOSC) will be highlighting the altruism the pandemic has inspired by getting to know people who acted on our website’s opportunities to be essential. If you would like to tell your story of volunteering during the novel coronavirus crisis, please email it to jess@handsonsuburbanchicago.org. Meet Meal Delivery Volunteer Liz…

#BeEssential: Finding Purpose in Times of Profound Uncertainty
COVID-19 has opened Pandora’s box. But the global chaos spurred by this virus has also crystallized how interconnected humanity is. Never before in our lifetime have our everyday actions impacted others in such a far-reaching and overwhelming way. (Remember when coughing was just a banal reflex?) Although this new reality can feel paralyzing, we can…