Community Corner

Local Photographer Wins BEDS Charity "Spirit Award"

Mike Greer has volunteered with BEDS Plus since the charity's inception in 1988.

Western Springs professional photographer Mike Greer has been honored with the 2011 George Hines Spirit Award from BEDS Plus, a local charity organization devoted to feeding, sheltering and helping the homeless. The award was presented to him on Monday at an orientation for BEDS volunteers.

Greer has volunteered with BEDS since its founding in 1988, first at Lyonsville Congregational in Indian Head Park, and now with First United Methodist in La Grange. He has donated his shutterbug skills to the organization (this fall, he’ll teach a class) as well as managing Thursday-night shelters and food kitchens at the church.

In his early years, Greer would volunteer for the early-morning shift, starting at 3 a.m. to prepare breakfasts for the needy. He’s also known for being ever-ready to step in as a substitute for someone else’s shift.

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“It’s a terrible thing to be homeless, not to know where you’re going to sleep at night, or eat, or not have anyone to go home to,” Greer said. “[BEDS] is the way you’d want anyone else to treat you if you were having a problem.”

The Spirit Award is named after George Hines, a partner at Spirit Trucking who passed away in 1999 from brain cancer. He was visited in the hospital by a BEDS-affiliated pastor, and Spirit Trucking has donated over $35,000 to BEDS Plus in his memory.

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Greer said he is encouraged to see the BEDS program growing to include new services—like his new photography class.

“It’s become much more than giving them a place to stay at night,” he said. “You want to help them get out of this. You want them to end up with a job and a place to live—that’s the long-term goal.”

BEDS Executive Director Molly Salisbury praised Greer’s 23 years of service. “He’s an inspiration to new volunteers, our board and our staff,” she said in a press release. “He embodies the enthusiasm of our volunteer corps.”


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