Meet Cathie Johnson, PHP President and Founder–
When Cathie Johnson realized, in the early months of the CoVid19 pandemic, that low-income seniors and veterans were unable to provide for themselves, both physically and financially, the idea of People Helping People-Palatine bloomed. Within days of setting up a Facebook page and announcing her intention to provide meals for this food insecure population, community members hoped on board, dropping off ingredients and hot meals to be delivered.
Cathie was eager to help because she knew what it was like to need help.
“My passion to provide food and other necessities for others stems from living my childhood in a state of poverty,” she says. “As a result, I worked hard to overcome my situation and vowed to work hard and provide differently for my children/family. Now I am in a position where I can assist others with similar needs.”
A 23-year resident of Palatine, her volunteering roots run deep. She served as cheer coach, travel hockey manager, baseball team mom, PTA officer, room mom, BSA unit leader (to name a few) when her boys (now 23 and 35) were younger. Cathie operates an in-home daycare service and says her background in finance has helped her track donations and manage multiple projects.
When she’s not delivering meals, writing menus or coordinating donation drives, she and her husband, Scott, like to escape to their lake house.
Meet Deb Gabriel, PHP Director–
Deb Gabriel remembers meeting Cathie when their sons were in junior high so when she saw the Facebook post looking for volunteers to make meals for food insecure neighbors, she knew she had to help.
Her job as a financial advisor meant she was an essential worker during CoVid19’s early days and was fortunate to have a paycheck still coming in. Coupled with her previous career as Food Editor for the Daily Herald and she had the means and the skills set to help. “I’m not afraid to try new recipes, to cook for a crowd,” she said. “My family thinks nothing of having me having three pots going on the stove and the fridge stocked with ingredients they can’t touch. It really was no different than cooking pasta for the PHS swim team or pulled pork for 50 hungry coaches “
As PHP projects evolved to assist other populations and community organizations, Deb has been able to use her contacts in the local business community to further PHP efforts. She thinks it’s important for her boys (now 20 and 23) to see her helping the community she’s called home for much of her life.
“I grew up in Palatine; it’s where my husband (Aaron) and I chose to raise our family,” she said. “I have to do my part to keep Palatine strong.”
Meet Karen McHale, PHP Director–
As a mother of four, member of the Rolling Meadows City Council and the religious education coordinator at Holy Family Parish, you wouldn’t be alone if you wondered how Karen McHale could fit anymore on her plate.
Yet she finds the space.
“Volunteering is so fulfilling for me. I would encourage everyone to carve out a little time to do it,” she says.
She found the People Helping People Facebook group and jumped in with meal prep and delivery, sometimes even getting her kids involved. She and husband Mike are raising Mikie, 12, Brendan, 10, Maggie, 8, and Kevin, 6, in Rolling Meadows.
“It was so simple to help during a time when so many needed help,” Karen says, “Cathie would put a call out for food items or assistance and it was very easy to answer the call.”
Karen’s thoughtfulness benefits the People Helping People board.
“Allowing myself to take time to come up with a plan or response and execute it successfully while taking into consideration those around me and the effects it may have on them and the surrounding community.”
Meet Penny DeJohn PHP’s Secretary and Treasurer–
“It’s not my job” is not part of Penny DeJohn’s vocabulary.
“I’ll help with what needs to be done, even if it’s outside my area of knowledge,” the 29-year Palatine resident says. “I’ll do what needs to be done or help someone find the solutions. And having a pickup truck is a plus.”
Penny, a client executive by day, has been using that truck since PHP’s early days to help transport meals to hungry families, birthday party kits to families in domestic shelters and hoodies to lower-income high school students.
Her volunteering stretches back decades to her Boy Scouts of America days when she first connected with Cathie.
“When I saw how Cathie was helping our community, I knew I wanted to help,” she said. “It’s part of my DNA.”
She also volunteers with CrossFit Games and enjoys knitting, biking, reading and helping her mom with yard work.
Allie Gillies, Webmaster
Having known Cathie and having lived through food insecurity in 2010, Allie knew she wanted to help PHP and help its mission to feed families in need in any way she could. Being an avid volunteer and on the Board of another local non-profit, and a writer, Allie decided to help by offering to set up PHP’s website. Despite not having a clue how to do it, she decided to forge ahead and learn how. Allie and her family are residents of Palatine and have lived here since the fall of 2013.