Editor’s note: It originally stated that donation checks should be made to “Sterling Federal Bank.” This is incorrect. Make checks payable to “Jill Kaufman DBA” keeping “Cutting for a Cause” in the memo line. Jackie Woodman, of Crossroads Community Church, will serve as trustee.
When a tree falls, it can lead to an unpleasant, expensive, exhausting exercise. One Morrison, IL, woman has turned the bounty of her damaged tree into tax assistance for the elderly and disabled. By selling bundles of firewood and a multitude of craft items, for a donation, Jill Kaufman of Morrison, IL, devised a way to assist Whiteside County residents, those who were unable to pay the last full installment on their Real Estate taxes. Her target recipients may have received an Application for Judgement and an Order of Sale for delinquent taxes, interest, and costs from Whiteside County.
“These people may be your neighbors, friends, or co-workers who are elderly, handicapped, or disabled,” Kaufman stated. They had to make the choice to sell their taxes at a higher interest rate, on October 27, 2016, at the Whiteside Courthouse, in order to keep their homes. Home owners’ names were published in the County newspapers, prior to the sale of their property taxes.”
She continued, “It is a blessing that people came forward to buy their taxes! But some home owners may still lose homes they have worked for all their lives, if they fall short on these payments–due to income levels, being unable to work, or losing their handicap hours (through State cutbacks) or jobs that were funded by the State of Illinois. These people are the hardest hit in our [Whiteside County] communities.”
Kaufman enlisted Jacob Callihan, a Junior at Morrison High School, who she met “a couple years ago at Crossroads Community Church. He is very strong and reliable.” For this unique project, he cut limbs, split wood for bundling, leveled stumps for table bases and casual seating, and fabricated various wood crafts. There are toddler chairs, coasters, and candle holders. He has “been working about a month,” he noted.
Kaufman hopes County residents will rally behind this “Cutting for a Cause. After working with the handicapped for a lifetime and having a disabled family member,” she stated, “I believe this is a worthy cause. We can come together, because kindness builds communities.”
How can people help?
- Make a donation payable to Jill Kaufman, with “Cutting for a Cause” in the memo line. Choose Sterling Federal Banks in Morrison, Sterling, or Rock Falls, IL.
- Purchase any items from Kaufman. Call 815-499-1839 to see the selection.
- Offer your time to cut and seal-coat wood. Make bundles or crafted items for sale from her tree.
- Hire Callihan for yard chores. He works for a donation.
