Recognizing Volunteers Don and Linda Bolte

Residents of Oak Park, Don and Linda Bolte have been long-time volunteers of Housing Forward for more than 10 years. As members of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, they started volunteering as fill in meal providers at the Berwyn PADS Shelter site when the regular team was unavailable.

Eventually, they became involved in several other capacities: they provided breakfast once a month at a former PADS Shelter site in Elmwood Park, and provided lunches to First United Methodist Church as well as First United Church of Oak Park PADS Shelter sites.

When St. Christopher’s PADS Shelter site became an overflow site, Linda served as the Site Coordinator until last year when she handed the baton over to another member of the church. Together, Linda and Don still serve as dinner providers at St. Christopher’s and help with other PADS Shelter projects. Don oversees the donated business clothing closet at St. Christopher’s. Linda has also directed their church’s support of the “Holiday Gift Giving” project at Housing Forward. She has also managed several back-to-school drives for clients in Supportive Housing.

Don and Linda heard about Housing Forward through their church as well as from Laura Kliewer, a past President of Housing Forward's (then, West Suburban PADS) Board of Directors and a current Friend of Housing Forward and supporter. Laura would always bring Housing Forward’s activities and needs to their attention. As they learned more about the mission of the agency, they knew they wanted to give both their services and financial support to help meet the goal of our mission.

After over 10 years of volunteering, Linda and Don Bolte still believe that the most important and rewarding aspects are the interactions they have with the people they assist that need our help. Housing Forward thanks them for their long-standing commitment to volunteering and paying it forward.