BRIMMING WITH GRATITUDE

Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores can’t thank sponsors and the community enough for their help in raising more than $60,000 over the last few years for an LBS charter club that redistributes funds to several military support organizations.

Jim Thompson was pushing a cart overflowing with toys in a Walmart one day when a woman—startled and curious—blurted, “What in the world are you doing?”

A smiling Thompson slowed his roll and replied, “Collecting gifts for the (U.S. Marine Corps Reserve-run) Toys for Tots program.”

Thompson, a Vietnam War era veteran and retired marketing executive, went on to inform the shopper that Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores and the Village of Lake Barrington were collaborating once again to bring joy to children in need during the holiday season.

“The woman,” recalls Thompson, “whipped out a $20 bill, right then and there, and gave it to me.

“People are amazing.”

So is Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores, for which Thompson, a native of Evanston, serves as vice president of communications. Formed in 2006, the Lake Barrington Shores charter club has raised more than $60,000 in the last few years through its generous sponsors (32 and counting) and annual events, including a 5K Run/Walk for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation on Memorial Day weekend.

Tunnel to Towers builds mortgage-free smart homes for the United States’ most catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.

BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Education Center, a nonprofit organization based in McHenry County, received a substantial contribution from Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores last year.

“A 42-year-old ex-Marine spoke to our group last summer, describing how simply being around horses, and caring for them, changed his life for the better,” says Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores President and ex-Navy SEAL Bill Bishop, a Vietnam War veteran. “Combat experiences and the ensuing PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) had debilitated him, confining him to a couch at his home for years. He must have been battling other challenges, too.”

“He’d lost all motivation,” Bishop continues. “Someone told him to check out BraveHearts. Fortunately, he did just that. Feeding, cleaning, and riding horses lifted his spirits immediately and gave him a sense of purpose in life.”

Substance use disorders and homelessness also devastate the lives of veterans at alarming rates. Death by suicide was the second-leading cause of death by veterans under the age of 45, according to the 2024 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report (mentalhealth.va.gov). “Our intention from the beginning has been to re-distribute the funds we receive to military organizations that aid veterans in need and their families,” says Bishop, a retired banker who grew up in Rogers Park. “But not just Lake Barrington Shores veterans. We’re committed to helping veterans, and open to hearing from veterans, who live in all five villages of Barrington, in Lake County, in Cook County, and in McHenry County. Help is out there for them, as well as benefits; we’re here to guide them to that help.”

One such resource is Crystal Lake-based Veterans Path to Hope (VPH), founded by Vietnam War veteran Alan Belcher. Since 2001 VPH has run New Horizons, a transitional living program in Hebron for homeless veterans. VPH also provides an invaluable drop-in center for veterans that’s staffed by a certified peer support group.

“A veteran in need walks into their office and gets immediate assistance,” Bishop says. “Therapists are available there. Professionals in many fields want to be there for veterans and their families, just like we do.”

Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores donates money to 14-16 military-centric organizations each year, Thompson estimates.

Its mission: To foster patriotism, love of our nation’s flag, and to promote appreciation of our Country, US Veterans and their spouses and children. Further, to maintain in perpetuity a Memorial Garden located within the Lake Barrington Shores grounds to honor all Lake Barrington Shores veterans that have served in the United States Armed Forces.

“We’re honored and thrilled to do what we do as Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores,” Bishop says.

Andrew Tangen, the superintendent at Gurnee-based Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County since 2017, has spoken at events staged by Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores. The commission promotes the welfare of honorably discharged veterans of military service and their families through maximizing all possible benefits through effective and dynamic advocacy and by serving as a central service for all veterans living in Lake County.

“Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores isn’t a congressional charter or a fraternal society, but it effects change at a local level and its leadership is strong, as you’d expect from folks with military backgrounds,” Tangen says. “It’s a wonderful group that came together years ago and said, ‘Let’s do something for our community’s veterans.’”

“It also brings to light,” he adds, “the success stories of veterans.”

Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Randall Rigby was a member of Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores’ first tight-knit unit in 2006. He’s scheduled to be the keynote speaker May 26 at the group’s Memorial Day event at The Lodge at the Shores.

Two days later, retiring Lake Barrington Shores Village President Kevin Richardson will be interviewed at the same venue in Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores’ Military Speakers Bureau series—a year after two-time USO Vietnam entertainer Kathryn Belda-Roche fielded questions at the gathering.

“Kevin has been a tremendous supporter of our organization,” Bishop says.

“So many people to thank, from our board of nine to our 30 veterans and from our Lake Barrington Shores community to people in other communities,” he adds.

Thompson also mentions the members of the non-veteran arm of the organization, noting, “The Lake Barrington Shores Patriots volunteer their time and energy to help with all our events and even march with us in parades.”