By Judy Carmack Bross
Rizz, short for charisma, was 2023’s word of the year, while outreach, surely a word of this year, found definition all over Chicago in acts where the charisma of caring mattered to so many seeking a better life in Chicago.
The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago recently recognized Liz and Tom Kohlbeck with the Rev. Seiichi Michael Yasutake Peace and Justice Award for incredible community service with feeding and clothing ministries, most recently St. Chrysostom’s Closet. Theirs is the story on Christmas Eve that we would like to tell, about a partnership based on the concept of dignity and generosity, carried out with remarkable daily service to others.
“To me it is about dignity. So many are living in despair. When I see all the generosity around the Closet what I think of is how to get it equitably distributed,” Liz Kohlbeck said. “There is no reason why anyone should go hungry and be cold in the city of Chicago.”
St. Chrysostom’s Closet, first at St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church and now at Church of the Ascension — both in the Near North — that welcome the migrants, homeless, and others among us who visit each week seeking clothing, blankets, household goods, diapers, and strollers for kids, toys and food staples available at no cost. On other weekdays, volunteers, around 75 in total, sort clothing by sizes and needs and fill shopping lists for other organizations helping those in need.
From Left to right: Vi Daley, Sharon O’Brien, Kathy Clark and Beth Burk.
The community generosity is incredible: churches including First St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran and Fourth Presbyterian, neighbors, and organizations like Catholic Charities, the Old Town Triangle Association, the Casino, have heard the call and winter coats, mittens and gloves arrive in great amounts, given not only to the weekly visitors but sent to shelters and the needy all around Chicago, vans to accompany deliveries from those who rescue food from large companies such as airlines and convention halls, to organizations lending a hand all over Chicago.
The Rt. Rev. Whayne Hougland, Jr., Interim Rector at St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church, told us:
“At Christmas we celebrate the wondrous gift of God coming into the world as a humble child to show us what love looks like. The joyous light coming into the world, this Christmas love is particularly poignant for the least, the last and the lost, for those living on the margins, the friendless, the needy, anyone who needs hope in this often dark and fear-filled world.”
“Tom and Liz Kohlbeck are beacons of Christmas light through their selfless ministry caring for refugees pouring into our city. They feed, clothe, supply, support, advocate, and care for these most precious children of God. Their gorgeous ministry is nothing less than a Christmas miracle shining a holy light into the world as an example of love coming into the world bringing hope and joy to all who receive it.”
And as those miraculous stories made all the more meaningful at this time of year tell us, one person can take their idea, use wisdom in the connections they make, inspire others to join them on trying to fill an almost impossible need: Rizz defined.
Liz Kohlbeck sat down with us recently at St. Chrysostom’s Closet on a sorting day, Tom organizing with others racks coats for children and adults, bins of gloves, hats and scarves which would find homes the next day. For so many years they have worked together and define how to serve others, obviously an ongoing joy for both.
“There is so much to accomplish so that all people have access to food, clothing and shelter. The present immediate need to take care of migrants which is a pillar of how we should always operate to make sure that children, the elderly and those living on fixed incomes will not be forgotten.”
“We have one retail day to distribute to usually 150 to 200 people, and then often a special coat day in this cold. Vans go out from the Closet during the week to police stations where migrants still are, public and private schools that have migrants call us, and many other organizations that help immigrants and other underserved people ask for Closet supplies. The ReVive Center for the Homeless has a small closet that we help to fill, the Orange Tent project which provides tents and meals, children’s clothing, toys and books go to the House of the Good Shepherd.”
“The immigrant families are very strong, they have gone through so much. You see that great sense of responsibility not only for themselves but for each other and for the other families who enter the Closet. You have to have a lot of moxie as well: you couldn’t have made these journeys without fortitude. I have gotten to know some really good people.”
“With so many things out of our control in today’s world, I think our volunteers feel that they can do something in their control. To see things getting to people gives hope to all. There really has to be a higher power involved. We are reaching so many people who are allowing us to reach them with this great need and they in turn are reaching out.”
Liz and Tom begin their dedication to feeding ministries very early while living in Sheboygan.
“Since our late 20s and early 30s food ministries have always spoken to us. At our church, Our Lady of Grace Episcopal, a woman who had lost her son to AIDS began a food ministry in his memory. We feed about 200 people a week drawing on Boy Scout food drives, efforts of our citizenry, and a consortium of other churches and service clubs.”
The Rev. Seiichi Michael Yasutake Peace and Justice Award, given by the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago recognizes those who devote time and talent to the cause of the oppressed in our midst and the lifting up of justice where there is little to none. The Kohlbecks received the award at the recent General Convention.
In addition to her work with the Closet, Liz sits on the board of Chicago Shares, dedicated to fighting food insecurity in Chicago, and the Women of St. Chrysostom’s, and there is not a day that she doesn’t fill with service to others. The Kohlbecks roll up their sleeves each day of the week and define hands-on volunteering, whether at the Neighbors in Need dinners at their church or for the Closet. In addition to this work, Tom has so often the person to take communion to those who are ill or unable to leave their homes.
“The Closet unites the best attributes of humankind to grace this project not only for the migrants in our City but all in our community,” Tom Kohlbeck said. “It takes all of us to make the Closet work.”
To participate please write: st.chryscloset@gmail.com.
