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Many hands make light work at Gloria Dei
Northbrook Hickory Point School second-grader Alex Giambrone (right), 8, assembles Lutheran World Relief kits at Northbrook Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. | Karie Angell Luc~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: July 3, 2012 10:40AM
Isabelle Gundrum, 10, a Northbrook Shabonee School fifth-grader, carried an armful of neatly rolled up towels in her arm April 15, transporting it from rectangular banquet tables to circular ones.
And at that round table a fellowship circle of sorts unfolded, where Elizabeth Gotsch, a 46-year Northbrook resident, hand-tied yarn around those folded towels, spinning yarns with volunteers of all ages at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church on Pfingsten Road.
“We’re packing health kits,” Isabelle said.
Each kit held a toothbrush, soap, a towel, a comb and nail clippers.
“I feel that some people are going to be lucky to get these,” Isabelle added.
Volunteers and churchgoers who stayed after the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service stood in an assembly line, giving proof to the philosophy that many hands make light work.
The goal was making 1,000 kits for Lutheran World Relief to distribute during emergencies around the world, wherever people lack basic personal care items due to natural disasters.
“I am not a crafty person but I do love art,” said Gotsch with a laugh as she removed a piece of yarn that somehow made it into her coiffure. “But this is a great project; World Relief is a great project.”
“We’ve been doing this for four years and it’s a very popular event,” said Ulrika Brissman, a 20-year-plus Northbrook resident. “We don’t let people out of church until they help,” she added, joking.
“A captive audience! No, I’m just kidding, but the high school kids really love it; they have always been very helpful,” Brissman said.
In true assembly-line style, people took turns at various stations, making each effort as fresh as each brand new white bath towel being folded.
“These are full-sized towels,” said Brissman, who also said Lutheran World Relief has specifications to ensure project uniformity.
Total cost of the project was about $4,000, with half of the amount being donated by those associated with Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Nominal donations of $5 covered the cost of each kit.
“It’s great that people stayed after church to work on this,” said Bill Buttimer, a 12-year Northbrook resident.
For more information, visit lwr.org or gloriadeinorthbrook.org or call (847) 272-0400.
