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Al and Donna Koons honored for decades of lending‑closet volunteering at senior center
Summary
The Village Board presented the 2025 Kenneth Hood Senior Service Award to volunteers Al and Donna Koons for their work operating the Senior Center lending closet; they reported 1,521 guests and 2,480 items lent in the prior year.
At the Sept. 15 meeting the Arlington Heights Senior Citizens Commission presented the 2025 Kenneth Hood Senior Service Award to Al and Donna Koons for long‑running volunteer service at the Senior Center lending closet.
Fred Vogt, a commissioner with the Senior Citizens Commission, described the award’s history and criteria and noted the Koons’ efforts to modernize the lending‑closet operations during the COVID‑19 period. Vogt said nominees must demonstrate significant volunteer contributions to older adults in Arlington Heights.
Al Koons told the board the closet serves people of all ages and that volunteers operate the service six days a week. “Last year, we had 1,521 guests come through our lending closet to borrow medical equipment, and . . . 2,480 pieces of medical equipment from our lending closet,” Al Koons said, adding the service is provided without charge and volunteers produced about 260 hours in 2024.
Nut graf: The lending closet loaned equipment to residents at no charge and distributes surpluses to underserved communities; board members recognized the couple’s work as a sustained civic contribution to Arlington Heights’ older residents and others who need short‑term medical equipment.
Vogt described other Koons’ activities: organizing excess equipment distribution, training volunteers on new inventory software and installing displays to increase visibility. The couple also decorates and displays a holiday village at the Senior Center.
Ending: The Village Board and attendees thanked the Koons for their volunteer service and presented the award; the Senior Citizens Commission encouraged residents to contact the Senior Center about borrowing equipment or volunteering.
