Assisting neighbors who are in need

There’s a sign that used to hang on a wall in a small, cold building in Round Lake Beach.

It might even still be there, the Rev. Michael Pimpo said. But the words have been memorized, so the message will not be forgotten, regardless of whether the sign still exists.

“Team work happens when nobody cares who gets the credit.”

That’s a sentiment that drives Pimpo, his wife – the Rev. Michele Pimpo – and all of the other volunteers that put in time at the People Lending Assistance Network.

Pimpo and his wife opened the doors to PLAN in May 2007 with the idea of creating an organization that would be more than just a food pantry.

“The design of what we put together was we wanted a four-legged table that would be food, clothing, furniture and appliances, and then what we call job-skills and life-skills education, so we can try to help these people get out of what they’ve gotten into,” Pimpo said.

The idea has been a success. In October 2009, PLAN served 2,350 households. That number increased to 2,850 households in November, and reached 3,000 households in December.

Those are important numbers for an organization located in the heart of Round Lake Beach, a community that has one of the highest percentages of unemployment in the county, Pimpo said. But sometimes it means even more for people who can’t get help from the state, but still need to get by.

"A lot of people [who] come in now, they're working, but their hours are down to 30 hours, 20 hours, cut in half," Pimpo said. "So, the unemployment rate is not only that high, but if you look at the people that are just existing, that aren't even considered in that number because they 'have a job' ... they're coming to us and saying, 'I never thought I'd be in here, I never thought I couldn't put food on the table.'"

It started with a plan
Pimpo said the idea for PLAN began in 2007 when his church received 12 pallets of food, and a decision had to be made with what to do with the donations.

"I said, 'What are we going to do with all of this?' And it's like, 'Well, let's start a food pantry," Pimpo said.
PLAN allows locals to come and receive a box of food once a month, while bread can be picked up daily. In its first year alone, the organization moved 360,000 tons of food and 70,000 trays of bread, Pimpo said.

But there are greater needs in the community than simply hunger, Pimpo said. This past fall, PLAN gave away 750 backpacks loaded with school supplies.

New moms have come and received cribs, high chairs and changing tables, Michele Pimpo said. Everyday items, like shampoo and laundry detergent, are passed out.

Sometimes, Pimpo said, people just need someone to listen.

“We’ve had other people come through the door that have had a death in the family or a tragedy that’s taken place in their own life ... and we’ve been able to sit down at this table and talk to them and ... help them change their perspective in life and give them something to believe in,” Pimpo said. “So, it goes well beyond here’s just a box of food.”

Candace Herrera of Round Lake Park has come to PLAN on several occasions. Her husband, an immigrant from Mexico, wasn’t able to work until this year when he finally received his immigration papers, she said.

But Herrera has three children to take care of, so PLAN has helped feed and clothe her family, she said.
It's not just the essentials that have helped her, however.

“It’s the people,” Herrera said. “They’re really nice. I got to know [Michael] pretty good. They prayed for my little one when she had an ear infection.”

Why it works
In the future, Michael and Michele Pimpo would like PLAN to be able to host financial-management classes, as well as teach job and computer skills – anything to give people a leg up.

But their vision also is to help people while they’re working toward those future goals.

PLAN works with the federal government’s Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program that helps mothers find employment opportunities to become self-sufficient.

For Michelle Constabileo, a young mother of two from Round Lake, PLAN has been a great place to work through TANF.
"I have worked at other places ... and it's not a caring environment," Constabileo said. "[Michael] doesn't judge you ... he's helped anybody and everybody who's walked through these doors."

Pimpo said his TANF workers have done a great job, but added that without the commitment of community volunteers of all ages, PLAN wouldn’t work.

Those volunteers, however, seem to feel PLAN wouldn’t work without Pimpo.

Jaden Holmertz of Grayslake has been volunteering his time at PLAN with his mother, Lori, for the past six months. It's one of the few places an 8-year-old is welcomed with open arms, Lori Holmertz said.
"Michael's very understanding of how to work with a child," she said. "Jaden's passion is the food.

"There's other things that need to be done, [but] it's fine with Michael if Jaden just works with the food."
Pimpo said he simply hopes PLAN can continue to meet the needs of the community.

“We know the best place to be is to give,” he said. “And when you learn that life is about giving and not about getting, it’s so much more fulfilling. For us, it’s like Christmas here every day because we’re able to help people, put a smile on their face and give them what they need.”

Getting to know ... the Rev. Michael Pimpo

Occupation: Pastor of Life of Faith Christian Church in Round Lake
Age: 41
Family: Wife, Michele; three daughters, Stephanie, Heather and Rebecca; and one son, Michael
Village of residence: Round Lake
Education: Bachelor's degree in pastoral studies from Christian Life College in Mt. Prospect; associate's degree in business management from Trinity College in Deerfield
Hobbies: Spending time with the wife and kids, golfing and going out on the lake in the summer

Read about the rest of this year's Forefronts winners at http://lakecountyjournals.com/news/forefronts.