Back when Jayera Griffin was just 2 years old she helped out at a couple of food pantries with her mom, and that compassion has turned into a passion for giving back to her community.
At age 14, she began a free laundry day for low-income neighbors, and later started offering free dinners and lunches for police and firefighters in Riverdale, her home and where her parents live, and where she also has collected and distributed free socks for older residents.
Now Griffin, who is preparing to graduate in May from Western Illinois University, is being recognized for her philanthropic efforts with a Compassion Award from the FECK Awards, a national program created by Chaz Ebert, CEO of Ebert Digital LLC and wife of the late film critic Roger Ebert.
Griffin is working toward a degree in elementary education and plans to continue helping the underserved, beginning with teaching in her own community at Washington Junior High School in Dolton-Riverdale School District 148, which she attended. Her mother, Tanya Williams, worked in education and her dad, Michael Griffin, was a DJ, though both now are retired.
“I think with low-income communities, there’s a lot of overlooking,” Griffin said, explaining she loves Riverdale and enjoyed a middle class upbringing, but has watched neighbors struggle financially.
While other, more high-profile schools and communities received donations and assistance, Riverdale’s institutions never seemed to be on those lists, she said.
“It’s kind of like, well, what about us,” Griffin said. “It’s like the forgotten child of communities.”
The inaugural FECK Awards honor people for forgiveness, empathy, compassion and kindness, the organizers said, will be awarded at 6 p.m. April 4 at the Ritz Carlton Water Tower Place, with a reception starting at 6 p.m. and dinner and awards show at 6:30 p.m.
“These awards were born out of a simple but urgent belief — that the world needs more forgiveness, empathy, compassion and kindness,” Chaz Ebert said. “When I wrote It’s Time to Give a FECK, I hoped to spark a movement that celebrates these values in action.”
Griffin said she’s grateful for the award, though the thought of winning hasn’t completely sunk in. As part of the prize, she’ll get to donate to a charity of her choice. She’s leaning toward supporting Michael Airhart and his Taste for the Homeless effort.
“For me, it doesn’t hit me until I’m in the moment,” said Griffin. “I’m pretty sure on the day of the award ceremony I’m going to cry.”
The free laundry effort she started came about when she was tutoring elementary school children as part of her National Junior Honor Society community service hours.
“I saw that the kids’ clothes had rings around their collars and stains on their outfits and we wore our uniforms of white-collar shirts and navy blue pants,” said Griffin. “I noticed those kids were the ones who acted out the most.”
Griffin went to her mom wanting to do their laundry but her mother said, “You’re not doing that.” So devoted her allowance along with donations from the District 148 board to get the project rolling.
“I used to spend $5 a week on cheese fries, so I started saving instead,” she said. The money went toward getting the laundry done at Rosie’s Laundromat in Riverdale.
Community leaders were impressed, and Riverdale village officials declared April 3 as Jayera Griffin Day, a day to promote community service.
She still goes back to the laundromat to see Rosie and supply free detergent, an effort her dad helps with.
Griffin also has helped out at Period, Inc., gathering menstrual products for girls, and has sponsored CPR, AED and first aid training classes for youth. She’s also held school supply drives and holiday programs for neighborhood families.
She said she got it all from her parents.
“They’re just huge on community service and giving back,” Griffin said. “I interviewed my mom for a class and story about Black women and asked her core beliefs. She said giving the shirt off your back for someone who needs it because you will be blessed in the end.”
Griffin’s dad nominated her for the FECK award. His volunteering includes helping seniors by mowing their lawns, trimming their hedges and bringing them dinner on holidays.
“I’m proud of her,” he said. “She’s been doing a lot of stuff for the community. It brings the community up a little bit.”
He also acknowledged that he and his wife encouraged their daughter to help others from a young age, not as a chore but as an act of kindness.
“It is from the heart,” he said.
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
