SUN CITY – In life, some people are givers and some are takers.
Eleanor Workman (N.17) is a giver with “Hire a High School Helper.”
Huntley High School juniors Drew Westermeyer (left) and Harry Choin shovel snow off a Sun City residents driveway this winter. (Photo provided)
Workman gives students at Huntley High School an opportunity to experience the business end of a job as well as providing a service to the residents in Sun City.
“I’ve been in business all my life,” she exclaimed. “I’m a marketer.”
Workman observed several needs in the community and wanted to help the high school youth. She asked herself, “What can I do to help the kids?” because she noticed they were out of work and needed money.
Workman contacted Huntley High School principal Dave Johnson and collaborated with him to obtain her “work force.” She has the students fill out applications and finds out if they can drive or not. Then she calls them for an interview. The students go to her home, and she matches their skills and teaches them how to talk to adults.
What: Student work program for odd jobs around Sun City.
Organized by: Sun City resident Eleanor Workman
For more info: Contact Eleanor Workman at 847-515-8387.
Workman gives them paperwork, as they have to account for their time and wage, so they learn record keeping as well as sharpening their people and business skills.
“I‘m trying to teach them business,” she said. “They have to keep track, keep records.”
There are rules to follow. The students do outside work only: raking leaves, mowing lawns, shoveling snow, pulling weeds, cleaning out a garage, etc. Prices vary from $10 to $25 for their services.
“Everyone is cooperative,” Workman commented.
The system for “hiring” one of Workman’s student helpers is simple. When Workman receives inquiries, she explains what tasks the students can do and then calls the students. The students then call the customer and make arrangements.
Workman also recently helped a senior at Huntley High School get a job with an insurance company.
She has been in business all her life as, entering in at the age of 18 years old, when she worked in custom drapery and then with insulated bags for pizza.
She even invented the “first pizza bag on the market.”
Workman first introduced her insulated bag product at trade shows and traveled from California to New York, and the rest is history.
She initially worked in Elk Grove Village, and then when the business got too big, she came to Crystal Lake.
“I rented the Pam [kitchen spray] spot because the previous company was too big and had to move on. I started making the bags for Meals on Wheels and had eight people working for me. We hit every State but three,” Workman said.
About five years ago, she sold the business and came to Sun City, where she kept on working.
“I was bored and can’t sit around, and I don’t like to play pinnacle. I’d like to get into Jacobs High School in Algonquin.”
Principal Johnson commented, “We’re very pleased to have Workman connect with our kids and with the Dell Webb community and to help the kids. It’s a win-win situation.”
Workman has been providing this wonderful service to the residents for about a year now.
