Illinois Unit 36 Treasurer Jennifer Carbonara organizes unit’s first Be the One Expo, bringing in 11 other agencies and organizations to share resources with area veterans.
Watching Hallmark Channel movies based near military bases made Jennifer Carbonara want to live close to such a base so she could support servicemembers, veterans and their families in the area.
That eventually drew her to the American Legion Auxiliary, and then to Unit 36 in Des Plaines, Ill. And wanting to serve those who served, along with her own past experience, led her to organizing the unit’s Be the One Expo Sept. 20 at the GENCenter in Des Plaines.
The expo brought together members of Post 36’s American Legion Family with other nonprofits, government agencies and others who support veterans, military families and caregivers.
Carbonara, who now serves as Unit 36’s treasurer, said she found out she was eligible for membership because of her grandfather’s military service. She said the idea for the expo came to her last spring after talking with members of the post.
“There was a message placed in my heart that said, ‘I have to do something. I have to organize something or put some sort of an event together,” she said. “(The Be the One Expo) grew out of that.”
Carbonara got an OK from the rest of the unit and then fell back on her experience organizing American Cancer Society Relay for Life events. She reached out to other organizations to take part in the expo, getting 11 agencies, nonprofits and government entities to attend. One of those, Senior Helpers of Greater Chicago, asked to help sponsor the event.
“It took off from there, and I started looking at ways to sprinkle in other things,” Carbonara said. “We started adding in raffles, and instead of a registration fee we asked for a raffle basket. And we decided to do a luminaria to honor those we’ve lost to suicide.
“I wanted this event to be very much about community and communication. Offering resources to servicemembers and their families. But also taking the time … to never forget those that we’ve lost.”
Momentum picked up as the word got out. “Once people (involved) started advertising this, I had people calling me from all over saying, ‘We want a table,’” Carbonara said. “Unfortunately, by that time, I was already kind of full. I didn’t want people to feel like they were on top of each other.
“I told people, ‘I don’t have table space for you, but please come to the event. You’re welcome to come, walk around and network and pass out flyers and talk to the people that are there.’”
Those who took part in the expo included representatives from VA Hines Health Care, the Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County, Chicago SHIFA Psychiatry and multiple nonprofits – as well as American Legion Department of Illinois Commander Celeste Latham.
Matt’s Mobile Meats in Chicago donated lunch for all the expo’s participants. Another area business covered the cost of signage at the event, while the GENCenter also gave Carbonara a big discount to rent the venue.
The goal was to bring resources to the veteran community. “It’s a small population, but it’s a pretty big community,” Carbonara said. “It’s a tight-knit community, and there are a lot of things out there if you know where to look.
“I truly believe we planted seeds that maybe we will not see grow today or tomorrow. But I’m hoping that somewhere down the road those seeds will grow, and somebody will say, ‘I remember this event, and I remember talking to so and so, and I know they can help me.’”
Carbonara has taken the Legion’s Be the One virtual training and has the Be the One app downloaded on her phone. She draws from her own experience when dealing with suicide prevention.
“My dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach cancer. Four weeks after his diagnosis, I turned off the machines keeping him alive,” she said. “And so, with a few other things that happened in my life, I felt that it would be better if I was with him and not here. It hurt too much, I couldn’t deal with it, and I didn’t want to deal with it at the age of 24 not having my daddy. Friends and family didn’t know how to help me. Nobody knew what to say or do.
“What I have dealt with is nowhere near what our servicemembers deal with and what they have to fight through. But it’s not a comparison. It’s not a competition. Life is a journey. We all have ups and downs, and that’s OK. But when we have the right tools and resources and support system, that’s when we can find the light in the darkness. That’s what I really wanted to hone in on.”
- Be the One