Sycamore’s Angels Rebekah Lodge, a ‘family’ that makes a difference

By Kelli Duncan for Chronicle Media

Participants in the Angels Speak Out for Autism 5K on April 28 hold signs and cheer on the walkers. (Photo provided by Jane Stiles)

A group of motivated individuals in Sycamore strive to make a difference in their community by helping those in need and spreading love wherever they go.

The goal of Angels Rebekah Lodge No. 106 —  “Rebekahs” for short — “is to elevate the character of mankind,” according to Jane Stiles, the lodge’s vice grand.

Rebekahs are affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, an international fraternal organization dedicated to spreading friendship, love and truth through acts of community service. Similar lodges exist throughout the United States and in around 30 other countries.

They offer support to both individuals experiencing hard times by hosting dinners, meat raffles and other fundraisers for individuals and families who are going through hard times.

The Rebekahs have also raised money for organizations such as Safe Passage, Opportunity House and Hope Haven and hold frequent food drives for area food pantries.

Stiles said that, since they plan their events based on suggestions from their members, they are able to raise money for a wide variety of different causes that members all feel passionately about.

“If one of our members has a new idea for a fundraiser, they bring that up and we discuss it and then I’ll start making plans to make that happen,” Stiles said.

All Rebekahs’ fundraisers and events are open to the public. Stiles said that their main focus is to try to be responsive to the needs of their community.

“Somebody from the community may come to us saying they need help with something and we almost always try to help them out,” Stiles said. “So we just never know who’s gonna come through the door or give us a call.”

Stiles was introduced to the Rebekahs through her husband’s involvement with Odd Fellows.

She was among the first members to be initiated when Sycamore’s Rebekahs Lodge opened in 2009 and has been with the organization ever since.

Stiles said that she has held every possible position in the Rebekahs over the years, currently serving as the vice grand which is comparable to a vice president position, meaning next year she will be eligible to serve as noble grand, or lodge president.

The lodge has now grown to include 19 members who come together twice a month to share a meal and discuss future community service projects.

“We’re a family, you know, we consider each other sisters and brothers and we try to support each other emotionally,” Stiles said.

She said one of the Rebekahs’ most recent philanthropic ventures, the Angels Speak Out for Autism 5K walk on April 28, was a huge success. The annual event benefits Sycamore’s Opportunity House.

Opportunity House is a non-profit organization and rehabilitation center for adults with developmental disabilities. They offer different forms of speech and occupational therapy as well as services to help adults with disabilities have access to employment, housing and social activities.

Opportunity House also helps about 80 clients participate in the Special Olympics each year. They offer eight different Special Olympics sports programs year-round from bocce ball to basketball.

Since then, the Rebekahs hosted back-to-back food drives at the Hy-Vee in Sycamore on the first Saturday and Sunday of June. Stiles said that Saturday’s proceeds also went to the Opportunity House and Sunday’s contributions were given to Hope Haven, a local homeless shelter.

“In October, we actually have another 5K that’s for breast cancer awareness,” Stiles said. “This will be our ninth year in doing that one and the funds from that go to the Mammogram Fund over at the cancer center at Kishwaukee Hospital through the KishHealth Foundation.”

Their last fundraiser for the KishHealth Foundation raised $4,200 for the cancer center.

The Rebekahs will have booths set up at Pumpkin Festival in Sycamore (Oct. 24-28) as well as the Burlington Days fall festival in September.

“We love going to the fall festivals,” Stiles said. “And the money that we raise from those events we use to buy Christmas presents for DeKalb county foster children.”

Members must be at least 17 years old and be of good moral character. Stiles said that anyone interested in joining should come to one of the organization’s meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at the Sycamore Odd Fellows Lodge.

“You just come and meet everybody and see if you think you’ll be a good fit and see if we think you’ll be a good fit into our little family,” Stiles said. “We want people of good moral character that hold helping other people true to their heart.”

New members must have a sponsor within the organization before they can be initiated, but Stiles said they are always eager to welcome new Rebekahs who share their passion for friendship and community service.

“When you help people, it makes you a better person,” Stiles said. “So it does make me feel good to be able to make a difference in the community and I enjoy the friendships that I’ve made in the organization … It’s a great organization, I absolutely love being a Rebekah.”

 

Sycamore’s Angels Rebekah Lodge, a ‘family’ that makes a difference–