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MY SUN DAY NEWS

Proudly Serving the Community of
Sun City in Huntley
 
Diane Tarrant (left) with cool neighbors who step up during the pandemic. (Photo provided)

Diane Tarrant (left) with cool neighbors who step up during the pandemic. (Photo provided)

Shoveling it forward

Residents push through the winter pandemic with good faith and helping hands

By Christine Such

Nancy Jenks posted on the Wildflower Lake Neighbors page, “If anyone needs their driveway shoveled, send me a private message. I will take the exercise.”

Jenks did receive a response on Facebook. The post read: “My church friend always needs shoveling. She is recently widowed, nice woman.”

Jenks walked over and not long after simply posted “Done.”

Jenks likes to keep moving.

Before the Pandemic hit, she taught many of the fitness classes here in Sun City.

Jenks said, “I am an avid walker in all kinds of weather and cyclist when weather permits. When the stay-at-home order went into effect, my husband Doug and I started walking more than our casual neighborhood walks. We were walking daily six to ten miles. I needed to keep moving because I went from teaching 25 classes a week to teaching zero. I was walking sometimes twice a day to get the ten miles logged in for a day. Putting all those extra miles in, burn extra calories. I ended up dropping about ten pounds. Not eating out because of the restrictions helped also. I have to say a few pounds came back.”

“Cool” Neighbor Nancy Jenks took a moment away from shoveling a neighbor’s driveway to have a little fun and make a snow angel. (Photo provided)

“Cool” Neighbor Nancy Jenks took a moment away from shoveling a neighbor’s driveway to have a little fun and make a snow angel. (Photo provided)

The value of helping and supporting your neighbors, community, friends, and family have been at the top of our minds and now more than ever. Sun City residents are not only shoveling but dropping off meals or offering on the next trip to the grocery store to pick up anything for them.

Ken Such recently had surgery and three of his neighbors had shoveled out the driveway.

“Recently, I woke up and Larry Wojtas next door had already plowed my driveway. Another time we are coming home from a Doctor’s appointment and Alex Schank was finishing up our shoveling. The ‘Rule of Three’ applied this season with neighbors Pam and Ed Richard phoning us one morning and telling us ‘You don’t have to shovel. We have a service coming today for you.’ We never had lived in an area that people bend over backward to help,” he said.

Winter is a challenge of its own, add a pandemic and you have a disaster. Sun City neighbors want to lend a helping hand to neighbors, by spreading acts of kindness across the Neighborhoods.

Kath Wendhack said, “I live in Neighborhood 23, and am currently renting on Evergreen Drive. My husband is handicapped and my back is messed up. For the last two snowstorms, I did some shoveling. I would just take my time. My neighbor, Denny twice came over to help me and my neighbor Bob brought over his snowplow to help this last snowfall. I am so very grateful to have such great neighbors and live in a community with so many wonderful people. We need more kindness and less negativity.”

Donna Bordsen feels the same.

Bordsen said, “I am so lucky to have Jackie and Herb P for my neighbors. They have been so good to me especially this past year since my husband died. Always ready and willing to assist with almost anything that I need. They are a great company and frequently invite me for dinner. I love them with all my heart.”

Diane Tarrant has a host of helping neighbors.

Tarrant said, “Six Houses in a row plus one. These cool neighbors make every day a better day, Pandemic or not. They send me texts checking in, homemade treats delivered to your door, garage gatherings, picking up dinner for the whole crew and delivering to your front door, patio fun, Zoom wine chats, walks with talks, sharing PPE supplies, watching your home while away, Christmas caroling, and helping you look for your drone. We hope to go back to our regular Drinks on the Drive, hugs, concerts, impromptu dinners/lunches, game nights, and laughing till it hurts. We even received a cute 2020 ornament. We are so blessed.”





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