"if it is the individual's responsibility to get work, then what is our responsibility to help people in need find and maintain employment?"

She energetically stated that the message of scripture is "loving with an awareness of all the creativity and needs around us."

...her advice to someone beginning to work for social justice is to "stay based in Scripture, be open, have a sense of humor, have balance, and surround yourself with friends, family and a community that will support you."

Article by Bridget Sullivan and Joyce Ruhaak

Judy, recently nominated for the 2001 Gold L.E.A.F. award for "Community Service Professional," is the President of and a volunteer for C.A.R.E.S. (Congregations Acting in Response to Economic Stress), an ecumenical coalition to combat poverty.

She generated the idea for CARES while volunteering at the Hessed House in Aurora, a homeless shelter and food pantry. The idea arose after the 1997 "Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act" went into effect.

While the new welfare law offered some positive insights, Judy worried about its implications. She wondered if the economically poor would succeed in meeting their needs. Did they have an adequate education? Would they receive benefits? How would they find gainful employment? Could they find affordable housing, daycare, and transportation?

With these thoughts brewing in her mind, she recalled asking herself, "if it is the individuals responsibility to get work, then what is our responsibility to help people in need find and maintain employment?"

She presented these thoughts to her parish’s, St. Elizabeth Seton, Peace and Justice Committee and a series of actions followed. "What started out as a dream," she said, "turned into a reality with a lot of prayer."

So CARES, desiring a larger picture of Naperville’s low-income residents, conducted a survey between 1997-1998 titled, "What We Have Seen and Heard." A group of volunteers surveyed congregations and local service agencies, and then gathered statistics from DuPage County.

Judy discovered what she refers to as "hidden poverty." 1.5% of the Naperville community lives in poverty. Not surprisingly, she and CARES embarked on a "tremendous undertaking" with a vision to fight the "hidden" poverty.

This "undertaking" concentrated on three areas: a "rent deposit program," a car ministry, and the development of a centralized place for financial assistance, social services, and an available caseworker.

While the "Rent Deposit Program" has not "gotten off the ground yet," the Cars Ministry has enjoyed great success! "CARES gives the cars to the people who need them the most for employment or to look for employment," Judy commented.

Since 1999, CARES has distributed 90 donated cars to the people most in need. Judy firmly believes that the Car Ministry has "aided people in finding employment and keeping their jobs."

Yet one of the reasons CARES continues to see its vision come to fruition revolves around a "wonderful working relationship" with Catholic Charities, and support from the city of Naperville, "Loaves and Fishes," and various volunteers. "Many doors opened to make Naperville CARES a reality; it’s a miracle," Judy exclaimed.

In fact, "Loaves and Fishes," a homeless shelter and food pantry, donated some of their office space to CARES. Judy gratefully remarked that "combining CARES centralized services with a food pantry has worked out great."

So where does Judy extract all of her energy from to work for a more socially just society? One of things that launched her activism was the Joliet Diocese Peace and Social Justice Institute. She said the institute provided her with the "courage to keep going." It brought the Gospel message and call alive, and it familiarized her with the documents and statements from the bishops about the importance of integrating faith with social justice.

Today prayer and Scripture sustain and motivate her to keep working for peace and justice. She energetically stated that the message of scripture is "loving with an awareness of all the creativity and needs around us."

"It is important to have an awareness of where injustice is happening, even if we cannot do something about it ourselves." As a result, Judy has become more aware of the crucial issues surrounding the death penalty, and she has even found the time to travel to Fort Benning to protest the School of the Americas.

In the midst of all her work, she sees her greatest challenge as personal. She said she sometimes struggles to find a balance between "knowing what I can do that is healthy and recognizing when the Lord has someone else."

Thus, her advice to someone beginning to work for social justice is to "stay based in Scripture, be open, have a sense of humor, have balance, and surround yourself with friends, family and a community that will support you."

Although Judy cannot predict what the future holds, she said she hopes to travel with her husband after he retires and "have their eyes opened even more." Yet whatever comes, she always hopes to be "a voice for the voiceless."

In the mean time, she has three "absolutely amazing" children who she says teach her about life. Her daughter, Deborah, 33, is a filmmaker working in China. Her son, Stephen, 32, teaches Japanese Language and Literature at Ohio State and will be moving to Japan for a year in September. Her youngest son, David, 25, works as an electrical engineer for Sun Microsystems in California.

In her spare time, Judy enjoys swimming (36 pool laps every time!), gardening, reading, traveling, and being with friends and family.