Success Stories
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program ~ Tim Gunning
Tim Gunning enjoys meeting new people. He likes it so much, in fact, that he can say hello in dozens of different languages.
And he insists that “Namaste” a Hindi expression meaning, in Tim’s own words, “the hearts and souls of two people have just met, and they will become nice to each other”, should be an international greeting. “It’s the greatest expression on earth!” he exclaims.
Not surprisingly, Tim’s outgoing cheer and good nature expectedly rubs off on others as he volunteers with countless programs throughout the Chicago area. One of Hull House Association’s most active volunteers, Tim began his volunteer work with the Little Brothers of the Elderly, a site of Hull House’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), in 1999. As a member of the organization, Tim drives and accompanies elderly Chicagoans on trips to the grocery store and brightens their days by dropping by to chat or bringing them a present on their birthday.
Transporting elderly citizens is just the beginning of Tim’s volunteer work. As an RSVP participant, he also volunteers at Mather Lifeways, delivers meals to AIDS patients, and is a personality on CRIS radio. He responds to homeless children’s letters to Santa, sorts winter coats, serves meals in homeless shelters, does mailings for a number of RSVP stations, puts together orders for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and works on pledge drives for WTTW-Channel 11.
Tim’s volunteer work began with Hull House, and will undoubtedly continue, as he has no plans on stopping his volunteer work any time soon. “Everyone needs help—I need help, you need help,” he says. “Give a hand, don’t sit around and do nothing, jump into the fray and do something!”
