Denise Meyer (left) Jo and Bob Schuck (right) volunteer weekly at The Share Table community meal at the Schreiber Center in Round Lake. Photos by Kathleen Hinkel.

Three dedicated volunteers have made a difference in the lives of guests at The Shared Table community meal at the Schreiber Center in Round Lake and discovered how service fills their souls.  

“We’re like a little family,” said Denise Meyer of Grayslake, who along with Bob and Jo Schuck of Mundelein, volunteer and serve seniors dinner weekly in partnership with Catholic Charities and the Albertine Sisters. Every Wednesday, volunteers prepare hot meals, set up the tables, serve the meals from trays tableside, offer dessert, coffee, and conversation for up to 30 seniors seeking socialization and companionship.  

“What I love about Catholic Charities, I love the people that come here for dinner,” Denise said. “I like sitting with them, talking with them. You become friends — it becomes more than just putting a plate in front of them. It becomes a friendship.” 

Denise started volunteering at the weekly meal and visiting veterans at the Hines VA three years ago when she retired after 30 years with a corporate payroll service. 

“All the years you work, you don’t have time to volunteer, but now I have the time, and I want to do it,” Denise said, adding she’s connected with many of the guests who have been regulars for years. “It feeds me, and it feels like a good thing to do. It’s fulfilling, and that’s why I do it.” 

Bob Schuck started volunteering at Catholic Charities in 2020, first in the home-delivered meals program then assisting the Albertine Sisters in the food pantry at the Schreiber Center. After he retired as a financial adviser, he joined his wife, Jo, volunteering at the community meal. 

“When we retired, we decided we wanted to give back,” said Jo, a former nanny and home day care operator. “It becomes a part of your life, you meet the people, you get to know them, you get to know their families, it’s our own little group. It’s very special.” 

The couple also volunteers with Denise at the Hines VA while delivering meals weekly. One of their senior meal clients was recently transferred to a nursing home and they make it a point to visit him every week. 

“You get caught up in their stories, and their lives, and it’s just really rewarding,” Jo said. 

Bob’s faith is what drives him to volunteer. 

“I do it for God, I do it for Jesus,” Bob said, quoting Matthew 25:40: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” 

The volunteers witness the companionship the guests also find with each other, many sitting in the same seats every week and becoming friends outside of the meal.  

“I like the company, talking to them, talking to everybody,” said Diane, one of the guests who joined her husband and joked, “the two of us would have to sit home and talk to ourselves after 51 years — that’s why I go out. We’re very lucky to have this in our area.” 

They meet regularly with Ilene of Lake Villa who has been attending the meals for years. 

“We’re very fortunate we have these volunteers, they’re wonderful,” she said. “They’re very loving, caring people, they’re givers.  I love Catholic Charities.” 

All three volunteers said they make it a point to be at the meal every week, unless they’re on vacation or ill. If they do step away, they know they’ll be welcomed back warmly. 

“They’ll say, ‘We missed you, where have you been?’” Denise said. “You’ll get a big hug and that feels really good. You feel like you make a difference.”