Sunday, September 9, 2012

RominChariots

Saturday, September 8th, offered me a completely new experience. An Angel's Touch was invited to Romin the Island, sponsored by RominChariots Car Club. This is an organization that indulges in their collective passion, (antique and restored cars) while reaching out to help the community. Each year they sponsor a number of car shows, to take part in different parts of Blue Island, and then passes on the proceeds to a charity. Their last car show for the season took place at Nombach Builders parking lot, across from the Forge, with an after show party at the Forge.
As I said, this was a new activity to me. Chris and Anglina, friends of my daughter, Becki, and members of my sort crew, used to belong to a similar group, so they gladly showed me the ropes. Fifty three vehicles entered the show. Scott, of RominChariots, said it was the biggest show of the year. Some of the vehicles were rusty and yet to be restored, while others were painted perfectly and highly polished. I think the ones I loved the most looked like they were used as props in Road to Perdition.  

When the show came to an end, awards were made, raffles were pulled, and night had fallen, what Chris called the fire show took place. Five different vehicles were pulled from the lot. One by one, the owners opened the engines up as wide as possible, allowing the tailpipes to shoot fire and backfire. It was loud. No it was ear shattering, and it was so cool. I felt the heat in my cheeks from the exhaust even though I stood at least thirty feet away. Chris said it was the largest fire show he had ever seen.

And when it was all over, the coolest thing of all happened. Scott Schmaltz of RominChariots, donated their proceeds to An Angel's Touch. Thanks Scott, and thanks RominChariots. You have no idea how much this will help our Christmas activities. 










Thursday, September 6, 2012


The Angel and the Penny provided by 

~ Touched by the Love of Angels ~ facebook page.


Thank You

To be published in the Blue Island Forum:


Dear Sandy:
Thank you for your support of An Angel’s Touch and for allowing us to advertise in The FORUM. We held its first benefit, Christmas in August, on August 18th. As I explained before, the last two years were incredibly hard. Because of the economy, our school food drives brought in less than hoped for, and we wound up spending more out of our annual budget than usual. We asked for canned and boxed food, in order to make a difference now, before the Christmas season begins.
We had a steady flow of people all day long. The music, provided by Tommy Gerez and Alex Fancois of the Soda Jerks was incredible, and the food, donated by Beggars Pizza, D’Masti Catering and Browns (111th & Cicero), was delicious. We received enough food donations to fill the flatbed of a large pick-up.
Blue Island is a generous and a wonderful community to be part of.
Thank you to RBM Motor Sales, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Mark and Kathy Kuehner, the Robert Moran family, The FORUM, BITV, Calumet Township Senior Center, Beggar’s Pizza, The Forge, Korbakis, the Mathis family, Iversen’s Bakery, Lucie O’Connor, Franklin Framing, Jeben’s Hardware and the Jebens Family, Alderman Nancy Thompson, Stefanelli’s, Flowers by Cathe, Lillian’s Attic, The Hair Cuttery, Gayla’s Bar, Brown’s, McDonald’s, Double Play Saloon, Restorante de Tenochitlan, Carr Gardens, Mariscos 7 Mares, Char’s Obedience Training, Rachell Orozco, Marie Jones, Anna Stange, Lorie Campione, T&G’s, Debby, Jill and Jon Coyle, Gloria Zaper, Chris Rondella, Angelina Kelly, Eric Peterson-Finn, Grace Diaz, Samantha Kelly, Pele Hayes, Robert Frizell, Tommy Gerez and Alex Fancios. A very special thank you to Becki Coyle. Without her help, I might have lost my mind. And thank you to all those who donated.
Our next activity is our annual can shake. This provides us with most of the money we bring in and goes to cover our expenses throughout the year, as well as cost of extra food at Christmas. Anyone interested in helping out should contact Jim Reihel.

Thank you again,
Jude Coyle
An Angel’s Touch

Christmas in August

Last year we didn't bring in enough food at Christmas. Our schools, all who have been so generous with their time and their efforts, just couldn't pull in enough food. They tried so hard, but ran headlong into the worst economic situation since the Great Depression. Seeing that the economy is still stalled, we decided to hold Christmas in August. So we invited the public to join us at the Calumet Township Senior Center for food, fun, music and a raffle. We asked that each family bring with four cans of food. Where we didn't fill the hall with celebrants, we did have a steady flow all day long. Blue Island area business people, and individuals were so kind and so generous. We had a great time, and we brought in enough cans to fill the bed of a pickup truck. 


































Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Thank You Letter

(All letters are copied as written.)

Dear touch of angels
I'm sorry for my delay in wrighting you. I have been very ill. I'm feeling a lot better now and I have not forgotten the beautiful christmas thay you all Supplied to me and my boys. It has been the best christmas Sence I was a child. To the family that sponsered us. Thankyou so much for the great presents. Patrick started school and all the cloths you supplied made him look like a million dollars starting school. The tree and decorations has inspried the christmas joy in me that I lost so many years ago. and I will forever look at that tree each and every christmas and Remember the Kindness that you have all showed my family. I will hang the beautiful stocking with pride. I was overwelmed at all you have All shared with me this christmas you supplied everything that I needed even down to the cleaning after the dinner. I shared my christmas with my neighbor who is disabled and has no family. It was a great day you helped my family and brought joy to a neighbor who was lonely and disabled. You all will never know how you have brought the christmas spit and love back to me and my children. They never had a tree before. Thank you so much from the bottem of my heart to all who helped to make up so happy. I thought that Kind of Kindness was gone. You all are beautiful great people. And I admire everyone of you. Thank you so much again and I hope you all had a great christmas and I hope good things for you in your life.
forever Thankful

Wednesday, February 29, 2012



http://www.facebook.com/TouchedbytheLoveofAngels, borrowed with their permission.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Thank You From An Angel's Touch: The Year of Friendship

Thank You From An Angel's Touch

The Year of Friendship

(as published in the February 21, 2012 Blue Island Forum)

by Jude Coyle

Before I start, let me say that this article is about the experiences of my family. There are quite a number of people involved in An Angel's Touch. Unfortunately, as much as I'd like to, I haven't got the time or the space to write about what they do, which I guarantee is a lot.

Let me open with something I usually finish with: Donations stop at Christmas. Hunger doesn't. This year has been a bad year for most of us. Money is much dearer and the need is dreadful. Donations were very bad this year, and in fact, after 17 years of doing this work, I think this year was the worst. We were again lucky. We ran out of food early on. But thanks to Jim Reihl and his wonderful can shake, we were able to force our way forward. When the second wave of requests for help hit us, we bought food.

The second wave of food donations came after delivering to most of our families. So most went directly to the Salvation Army and St. Benedict's St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. Please note. Every year we try to collect as much as we can just so we can pass food onto these groups. Our goal is to help families through emergencies, and being hungry is an emergency. Helping ease that by providing food to both these organizations then becomes one of our priorities. So, please, keep them in your prayers.

We lost a great friend this Christmas. Rose Rita used to collect cereal for us. She began way back when she was first elected Alderman. She called friends and family to say, “Please bring me a box of cereal.” By the time we arrived at her home to pick it up, she had bags loaded with boxes stacked in her entrance hall, up the stairs, and out in the garage. The first year she collected so much, we loaded our car, boxing both my son and me into our seats. Ed had packages stacked on his lap, on both shoulders, between his feet, and behind his head. When I opened the door to let him out, my husband and I caught cereal boxes as they fell. Rose began another tradition that day. She apologized because she didn't collect as much as she had hoped. Each year, she collected more, and each year she apologized for what she didn't collect. Once before John Rita passed, he commented towards me as I shook a collection can his way, about how cereal was taking over his home. I should mention that John was as wonderful to us as Rose was. Last year Rose was so ill, and yet she managed to make several calls, and again apologize. This year, Annie West collected cereal. We appreciate Annie's efforts and we pray she continues. Still every time I see a box of cereal I will think of Rose and her generous spirit. We will miss her dearly.

On to the next subject. I've written many times how my family became involved in An Angel's Touch because friends helped us out at Christmas when Bill took ill. It wasn't just food, presents and the niceties that meant the most to us, it was lasting friendship. Our troubled time wasn't easy. We had three children and needs we couldn't meet. This year the Coyle family relived that time as we watched our closest friends go through it. R. is a Vietnam vet, and Bronze Star recipient, and currently a member of the 99 club. In other words he was laid off three years ago when his company went under, and is no longer eligible for Unemployment. He tried and tried to find a new job. At his age though, no one was interested. He took ill, and lost a ton of weight. This man is about 5'9”, and now weighs less than 120 lbs. After about a year of testing, the V.A. doctors decided that it might be celiac disease. There's a lot more involved in this story that makes their situation harder yet.

There is a bright spot though. Bill and I picked up turkeys from Doubleplay Lounge. The Calumet Park Troublemakers have partnered with us over the last three years to help make the holidays a special time for needy families. As we were loading our trunk with five full turkey dinners, Bill took the opportunity to explain R.'s situation to Tony, Doubleplay's proprietor. A week later Tony called. “Say, Jude, you know your veteran friend? Troublemakers would like to help him.” He gave me a check. It wasn't an extraordinary amount, but let me tell you from personal experience, it was enough to knock our friend from his feet. So thank you Troublemakers for making his family's Christmas special.

Also a big thank you to Blue Island's troubadour and renaissance woman, Anna Stange. She surprised me one morning with a phone call. "Can I knit hats for you?" So thanks to Anna, we passed on a ton of exquisitely made hats.

Thank you to Patti Filewicz and the FORUM for collecting animal food. When money is that tight, dogs and cats are left behind.

Last year we helped a man living in his car after losing his home. This year he called to say he lost his car. We helped him and 37 other families. We joined with other organizations to help fire victims. We also helped 6 other charitable organizations. Like last year, we helped fewer families. It just seems that the families we did help found themselves in worse situations than ever before.

Please, friends, remember when donating, don't be embarrassed about how little you can give. Every can, every box and every penny adds up. More than that, your donations lets each family know that when something happens, they have friends. What better place to find friendship, than in Blue Island?

To all our friends, to all our donors, thank you. Please accept my apologies if I forget to mention your name or if I misspelled it. Your participation makes it possible to do the work we do. So thank you Mayor Donald E. Peloquin, his office; City Council, particularly Aldermen Nancy Thompson, Leticia Vieyra, Jan Ostling, Marcia Stone, Nancy Rita and Cathy Spizzirri; the Police and Fire Departments, the Building, Public Works and Water Departments; City Clerk Pam Frasor, Linda P, Linda O, Betty and Barb; MetroSouth Hospital; the Blue Island Public Library; Annie West and the Calumet Township Senior Center; St. Rita High School, DDE Key and Leo Clubs; Raeann Zylman and Veteran's Memorial Middle School; Paul Revere Intermediate and Primary Schools; First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Grace United Methodist Church; Lori Campione and St. Walter's School; Accurate Perforating; Mike Moran and RBM Motor Sales, Krueger's Funeral Home, the Calumet Park Troublemakers; Tony and the Doubleplay Lounge; The FORUM, Bob Jones and Beverly Bank: Bobbie and Jewel Foods; the Simborg Family, Temulac Boat Club and Windjammers Marina of Chicago, Korbakis Liquors, T&G's, Iversen's Bakery, Carr Gardens, A&R Security, Jim and Carol Reihl, John and Marsha Rauch, Betty Nagel, Nancy Schultz and Raymond Garay. Cadet Girl Scout Troop 602, Perry Recker, Anna Stange, Willie Scott, the Mark and Kathy Kuehner family, Gerry and Kim Runge, Jon and Becki Coyle, Gloria Zaper, Chris Rondella and Matt Hess. A huge thank you to my son, Ed, who was indispensable in everything we did this year.





Rose V. Rita
March 21, 1933 to December 2, 2011


John Spizzirri
July 22, 1961 to September 15, 2011

You will be missed.