Carillon Lakes community takes pride in outreach

CREST HILL – A treasure trove of retirement-age volunteerism was showcased at the Carillon Lakes clubhouse Thursday.

The community's homeowner's association marketing committee held its Activities Fair that featured more than 50 volunteer activities for residents.

Several of those clubs also showed how their outreach affects people in Crest Hill and surrounding areas.

"We are a really active community," said Barbara Hodgson, chair of the committee. "We all started because we felt there is a need for this."

Carillon Lakes is a community of 1,113 townhomes and single-family homes in Crest Hill and Plainfield. It consists primarily of residents over the age of 55.

The fair featured organizations with interests ranging from Bible study to investments to Wii bowling. But while providing social events and activities for Carillon Lakes residents, several also are involved with food drives, outreach to hospitals and schools and supporting troops overseas.

"We have fun but we take it very seriously," Hodgson said.

Voices of Carillon Lakes

When there is a need to have music cheer up friends and those in need, Voices of Carillon Lakes has been there to provide it, resident Wayne Lundberg said.

The group was formed about seven years ago when a couple of guys in the community started singing Irish songs together. The group expanded to include 50 people, with 18 in the men's chorus.

"We have two concerts a year here," Lundberg said. "We go to places where we're needed. Our main focus is entertaining the residents here. But the men's chorus goes out and we know they approve when we're done."

The men's chorus has performed at other communities and for several events in Crest Hill.

Creative Friends

Creative Friends is a knitting club with ideas.

Those ideas have translated into jackets adorned with a sequenced Donald Duck, colorful scarves and hats and unique gifts made from inexpensive materials.

The finished products have been given to children's hospitals, and families and individuals in need.

"We can't do anything about the stuff on the news. But we can help them out," said leader Donna Kordas

The 10-year-old club has made quilts for donation and knitted products for children in programs like Edward Hospital's "Little Hats, Big Hearts."

Veterans Committee

Veterans at Carillon Lakes like Lloyd Clark and George Trenda use their muscle to help not only the other organizations in Carillon Lakes like the Italian American and Friends Club with their fundraisers and events. They honor veterans who have fallen in the community and hold military services in Crest Hill.

"We don't just do that here. We have a program for police and law enforcement in areas like in Plainfield, Crest Hill, Joliet and the county and state," Trenda said.

The committee plays a leading role in Crest Hill's Memorial Day service and helps city Councilman Charles Convery with his Toys for Tots program.

"Service is still embedded within us," Clark said.