One of Beth Hickey’s favorite Village activities is Knitting with Friends–a group that has become a community within the larger Village community. They gather once a week for two hours to knit, help each other and chat, and over the years have gotten to know each other well. Beth says, “We talk about ourselves, about our families, current events, movies, plays, you get the idea.”

One of the group members, Susan, loves to cook and every week brings something homemade as a treat for everyone. Susan also is a docent for the Architecture Foundation of Chicago. She was hoping to become certified for a tour and wanted an audience, so several of the Knitting Group attended the hour and a half tour. Yes, she was certified and they all learned a lot.

Beth relates that, “Even though we have not met the family members we hear about, over time we feel we know them. When a family member becomes ill as was the case with one of our husbands, we wanted to be of help to him and his wife. Susan took food to their home, Laurie, a nurse, gave comfort and knowledgeable help and for several years the rest of us listened and offered encouragement. When he succumbed to his illness, it was only natural that those of us who could, attend his memorial service together.”

One day, one of us said, “I look forward to Wednesdays because I love the knitting group.”  Beth says, “Me too, Ada, me too.”

Photo by Diana S. Philips

Winnie Godfrey is a longtime member of the Village who says, “I joined for community and to be with people who share my passion for art … and maybe, someday, who knows? … I might need some help.” Well, someday came when Winnie broke her knee and tibia. “I was at a total loss about what to do and how to move forward. After a few days I called the Village to ask questions about caregivers, transportation, and mobility.” The Village supplied her with vetted resources for medical supplies, home health, physical therapy, and more. She could not walk for 8 to 12 weeks and the loan of a collapsible transfer wheelchair from a fellow member, plus a referral to a special taxi service made getting to doctors and other appointments easy and comfortable. She found a trusted caregiver previously employed and recommended by other Village members. “All along, the Village has help me with connections to people who are knowledgeable and capable like the thorough, patient volunteer who helped me do a PowerPoint presentation for an exhibit of my art. And then, in the sudden crisis of a broken leg, the advice and information allowed me to stay independent and thrive in my own home and environment.”

Photo by Diana S. Phillips

In 2016, Don Bell moved to the North side of Chicago, and through the Reduced Fee Membership program became the 400th member of the Village.

He was truly a man whose life was in transition. He had just lost his mother after 18 years of being her primary caregiver; he had moved away from two adult sons and six grandchildren. He had just turned 65 and as a gay man, was looking forward to being part of the first generation of out LGBT seniors. He says, “In the Village I found just what I needed. I found contemporaries working at living active and purposeful lives. I found powerful women in positions of leadership and men who were not the least bit diminished by it. I found new approaches to re-imagining my aging experience through Life 3.0, and I found commitment to diversity through the LGBT Task Force. It didn’t matter that I was African-American. It didn’t matter that I was from the South side. It didn’t matter that I had limited financial resources. I found welcome.”

Don says, “I am thoroughly committed to what we’re trying to do collectively as The Village Chicago. We are people building a caring and connected community across the barriers of race, class, gender, age, ability, and sexual orientation.  And here I have found not only welcome, but fulfillment, friendship, and purpose.”