CHICAGO (CBS) — In a Thanksgiving tradition that started more than a decade ago, a Chicago family has made it a mission to prepare a meal every year for people experiencing homelessness.
The neighbors who serve Chuck Grouzard and his wife Margaret always thank them. But the family gets so much more by lending a helping hand.
“It’s great to be able to help and give back and be with the residents,” said Chuck Grouzard. “You learn about their journey and you realize we’re all on the same journey together.”
Chuck and Margaret Grouzard work perfectly together. They make Chuck’s special cheese eggs at the Lincoln Park Community Services Old Town Shelter, 1521 N. Sedgwick St.
“It’s definitely a team effort, but we did it,” Margaret Grouzard said.
Lincoln Park Community Services – which has two locations and can accommodate up to 120 people each night – provides temporary housing and helps residents find jobs and a home they can call their own.
“I realized that there are many reasons why people are homeless, and that’s why we can’t judge anyone,” said Pauline Parkinson.
Parkinson is a scientist who dreams of getting a job developing drugs. On a day when most people were hoping to spend time with her family, she reflected on her adoptee at the shelter.
“They have become like family,” Parkinson said. “I unofficially adopted one of the residents who was here.”
Joseph Daniels is part of that group. He visited the shelter Thursday and left with a full heart and stomach.
“People are showing us that they care about us,” Daniels said.
Daniels’ expression suggested surprise that he was being treated so kindly.
“You’re dealing with people who are homeless, and people seem to look at you, in a certain way – I’m not most or all of them, just some – and you all come here, you motivate us and to treat us kindly and nice, and talk to us,” he said. “That’s what matters.”
On Thanksgiving, Daniels said that’s what he’s most grateful for.
“That kindness will be returned from me to others as a result,” Parkinson said.
