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Tis the season for giving, even for businesses
Updated: February 18, 2013 1:17AM
LA GRANGE — Asking and giving.
It’s not always easy to ask. And, when times are hard, like they have been over the past few years, it’s not always easy to give.
Yet, to keep our little corner of the world churning forward, we do ask and we do give.
I recently asked a local merchant for a favor. Well, less a favor than nearly 20 pounds of ground beef to be donated to my son’s Boy Scout troop for its annual Christmas dinner.
The merchant, Casey’s Market in Western Springs, gave. Owner David Casey didn’t hesitate, knowing it was for a nonprofit organization, for boys who volunteer hundreds of hour of their time in our communities.
Casey’s has donated food products and gift certificates to scores of service and charitable organizations over the years.
For the good of all of us, this local business is hardly alone.
DeVries Market in La Grange also has donated probably thousands of pounds of food over the years to close-by people and nonprofits.
“We’ll donate to churches, food pantries, schools and maybe even individuals who are going through some had times. There was just a group in here the other day, who are doing a function for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, and we donated some gift certificates to them, too,” reports owner Wayne DeVries. “If we can help out someone in need, we try to do that.”
DeVries is like many small business owners, humble about what the store donates to people and places. “It’s what you do,” he says simply.
Likewise, Bert Jacobs, owner of the Clipper Ship Gallery in La Grange, acknowledges donating many limited edition prints (valued at $200) to nonprofit organizations, but says that as a small business owner, he gives for the sake of giving.
“We don’t do it for the publicity, of course, and we try to give to charities and churches that minister directly to people because we know the results will be helping someone,” says Jacobs, noting that the gallery’s frequent framing partner, House of Color in Countryside, also has donated its frames for good causes.
“It really brings out the best in people and for that reason, we are happy to participate,” Jacobs adds.
Another local merchant who reflects the spirit of this season all year long is Beky Knight, owner of Monday’s Child children’s boutique in La Grange. She has given items for auctions and clothing sales, and has also donated First Communion dresses.
“Why mark them down when I know there are people out there who can use it?” she says
Like other merchants, Knight isn’t quite comfortable tooting her own horn in that respect.
But I assured her that I have no problem doing that for her and merchants like her. In fact, I bet I could fill the entire length of this column with the name of business owners who have, even in hard times with thin margins, donated something of real value.
I’m sorry I couldn’t mention all of them.
Thanks for doing what you do, because, in DeVries’s words, it’s just what you do.
