When Mechanical Supervisor Dan McCarthy was a child, a small food bank operated out of his elementary school in the south suburbs of Chicago of Midlothian, IL, and was run by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a lay Catholic organization serving the needs of the community.
Many years later, that food bank is still there, and Dan is an active volunteer helping to serve about 40-60 families every week who depend on the help.
Photo: Dan and his mother, Karen, helping out at the St. Vincent de Paul food bank.
“The manager of the charity was the last resident nun at St. Vincent de Paul who remembers me as a youngster and knows my family,” says Dan. His mother, Karen McCarthy, who worked in CN Labor Relations in Homewood for 42 years, is also a committed volunteer at the food bank.
For the last 12 years on his days off, Dan has volunteered to bag food for distribution to clients, stock shelves, or sort donated pallets of non-perishable goods or fresh produce.
“Being able to help others is a gift and the biggest reason I volunteer. I believe any act of kindness, no matter how small, makes a difference to someone, somewhere.”
The CN Railroaders in the Community grants the organization receives in recognition of Dan’s volunteer time go a long way.
“The funds help replenish pantry items or help out someone who needs temporary housing or to pay an overdue utility bill,” adds Dan. “We are grateful for the support.”