One Neighbor at a Time Inflatable Carnival Raising Awareness, Funds

Kathleen Wiedenfeld spoke during a break between the bingo games at the Huntley American Legion this week to talk about her project, One Neighbor at a Time.

Wiedenfeld told the group gathered about the conditions in Pembroke Township in Kankakee County and how One Neighbor at a Time helps. How people live in mobile trailers without running water. How people do not have indoor plumbing. How she feels people should not live like that.

After her speech, someone suggested passing around a hat to collect money for the project.

“I was very touched,” the Huntley resident said. “I didn’t expect that. They collected $112 for us, just on the spur of the moment.”

Wiedenfeld has been tirelessly fundraising for One Neighbor at a Time, from organizing an inflatable carnival to planning a golf outing to setting up a Culver’s of Huntley Scoopie Night.

The inflatable carnival is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4 at Marlowe Middle School, 9625 Haligus Road, Lake in the Hills. There will be at least four inflatables provided by Palmer Enterprises in McHenry and an area for jousting, Wiedenfeld said. Tickets are $1 a piece.

“I’m hoping for it to be an annual thing. It may take a while to catch on but that’s ok,” she said.

One Neighbor at a Time is holding its first golf outing on Tuesday, Aug. 21 at Oak Springs Golf Club, 6740 E. 3500 S. Road, St. Anne. The cost is $60 per person or $230 per foursome and includes three meals, a shotgun start and best ball. There’s also a $10,000 prize for a hole-in-one.

The Scoopie Night is set for September 18.

One Neighbor at a Time is getting more recognition, too, so much so that Wiedenfeld is working on getting nonprofit status. She’s hoping the nonprofit status will help One Neighbor at a Time raise more funds.

So far, Wiedenfeld and her partner, Keith Bobo, who lives in Pembroke Township, have been able to help several people

In December, One Neighbor at a Time helped install running water and indoor plumbing for a 69-year-old grandmother named Betty.

“She is doing well,” said Wiedenfeld, who goes to Pembroke Township every week during summer. Betty, like many other people in the township, would put garbage bags in the toilets then throw away the bags.

“We are onto our next resident. Her name is Mrs. Washington,” Wiedenfeld said. She’s 65-years-old and lives with her 85-year-old mother. Mrs. Washington needed to have a cement slab poured under her trailer due to a new ordinance the township passed, Wiedenfeld said.

She’s been busy raising funds for that project but hit a snag when Mrs. Washington and her mother were evicted from the land due to unpaid property taxes that a family member was suppose to take care of, Wiedenfeld said.

“It’s taught us a lesson, to check out the property before making improvements,” she said.

Mrs. Washington has a new trailer so One Neighbor at a Time will help with any work that is needed.

Life in Pembroke Township has not changed dramatically since Wiedenfeld started One Neighbor at a Time, but she is making a differance.

“They know we are out there and trying to do good,” she said. “The people know we are quietly going along helping one person at a time. It doesn’t need to be announced, it’s just getting done.”