We may have lost many members of The Greatest Generation, but we can continue to learn a great deal from those who are still with us. Among them is Mr. Samuel Grimes, a Catholic Charities volunteer, then employee who retired in January 2020 at the age of 95 after 25 years delivering noontime meals to homebound seniors. 

Mr. Grimes was part of a team of drivers that delivers approximately 200 noontime meals a day through Catholic Charities North/Northwest Region Senior Nutrition Program.  

Mr. Grimes says, “I loved it, because people seemed to appreciate it, and I was out doing something positive with my time. You have to wake up every day with a purpose, and delivering the meals fit my schedule.”

Originally from Centerville, Tennessee, Mr. Grimes served in the United States Merchant Marines during World War II and continued his service after the war for a total of twenty years. He then worked as a Food Service Administrator in several hospitals on the East Coast before retiring and moving to Chicago. With the encouragement of his wife, Cathy, Mr. Grimes started volunteering for the Maine Township Meals on Wheels program. 

According to Donna Schultz, recently retired Director of Senior Nutrition Program Operations in Cook County, “Mr. Grimes cares deeply about people. When he was a driver, he would take the time to also do a Wellness Check on every senior he delivered meals to.”  

Donna continues, “One Monday, Mr. Grimes went to a home that he went to every weekday, and the woman he was delivering a meal to did not respond when he rang the doorbell. He knew there was a problem. Mr. Grimes called 9-1-1 and when the Emergency Response team came and got into the house, they found that the lady had fallen and had a stroke over the weekend. They rushed her to the hospital, and she survived. That woman contacted us afterwards and she said that if it were not for Mr. Grimes, she would not be here today. This happened with several other clients, too.” 

Sharon Tillmon, Senior Director, Community Food and Essentials had the opportunity to meet Mr. Grimes recently at the Arlington Heights Senior Center. She said, “It is amazing that this gentleman still had the desire to give back to others into his nineties. I could not miss this. I had to meet Mr. Grimes and shake his hand.”

In 2014, Mr. Grimes participated in an Honor Flight trip in which he joined other U.S. veterans in a Day of Honor in Washington D.C. Catholic Charities Arlington Heights staff members were part of the Welcome Squad cheering Mr. Grimes and his fellow honorees as they arrived back at Midway Airport at 11:00pm that night. They also threw a birthday party for Mr. Grimes as he turned 98 in March.   

Mr. Grimes’ wife, Cathy, a professor, passed away earlier this year. Reflecting on his years of service to Catholic Charities, and looking to the future, Mr. Grimes says, “My faith has helped me endure through the chapters of my life, and it continues to help me now. I love life, and I take things one day at a time.” 

Donna sees the impact Mr. Grimes continues to have on everyone he is associated with. She says, “Mr. Grimes has so many friends and admirers here. He is a giving man and he had never done less than give his all in his work at Catholic Charities.”