Stories from Chicago
IVC Member Reflection: Susan Olenski, IVC Chicago
Recently we asked IVC Chicago member Susan Olenski to share some thoughts and fond reflections on her time serving at Our Lady of Tepeyac High School. We hope this will be the first in a series of short interviews that allow members to share their experiences.
IVC Names New Director in Chicago
The Ignatian Volunteer Corps announces the appointment of Tom Galvin as Director for its Chicago Region. The Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) harnesses the expertise of individuals over 50 who have the passion and commitment to direct their attention to issues…
For when I was hungry…
In the midst of the civic unrest and anxiety about the coronavirus, we can lose sight of the ongoing crisis of food insecurity. Defined as “the disruption of food intake or eating patterns because of lack of money and other resources,” Katie Fitzgerald, Chief...
Frontline to Online: Volunteering in the Time of COVID
Barbara Flynn loved her IVC placement in Chicago. From 2017 through 2019, this former librarian served two days a week at Accolade Adult Day Care, companioning people with dementia. A move back to Southern California in late 2019 had her seek out the IVC San Diego regional office, and she began 2020 eager to find a new social service agency placement. Then came the stop sign that is the COVID-19 pandemic!
Serving Behind The Scenes
Like all schools in the US, Christ the King (CTK) College Prep has had to adapt to online learning due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
My Kids
This blog post comes from Ignatian Volunteer Rich Pozdol of Chicago and is reprinted with permission from the IVC Chicago Footprints blog from earlier this year. Father “Bo” T.M. Lyons, spiritual director extraordinaire, and I were having dinner at Siam, my favorite...
Lord, Take Me Where I’m Most Needed Today
This blog post from Ignatian Volunteer Marta Sayeed was originally published in IVC Chicago's Footprints blog. For several years, I have volunteered as a chaplain assistant at Stroger (formerly Cook County) Hospital. Earlier this year, it took me longer to decide if...
Shedding Light in the Dark
by Mike Galbreath Dark. Pitch black. No power. No lights. Basement waters now four inches and rising… Days and days of winter rains and melting snows. Is this why I volunteered? Slipping face-down into the dark, oily water. Nothing to pull me up. Am I gonna drown in...
The Meaning of Friendship
This blog post, by Volunteer Pat McCourt, originally appeared on the IVC Chicago Footprints blog. Click for printable view My friend, Kevin, describes himself as a “70-year-old hippie bachelor.” He retired on disability about ten years ago and has lived in his...
A Lesson Learned
This reflection from Ignatian Volunteer Kate Kniest was originally posted in IVC Chicago's Footprints Blog. On a routine day at Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, I learned a profound lesson from a colleague who is deeply concerned about students and their families,...