Everyday Hero: Karen Looper

When you are a friend of Karen Looper, asking for help is not a necessary action. She is always in the forefront when someone she loves is in need.

“When my husband passed away 5 and a half years ago, Karen was my saving grace,” friend Lenore Erickson said. “She put aside her needs, and on service day, even though she wanted to attend, she stayed at my house preparing food and making sure everything was ready.”

Looper said she would not have had it any other way, and does whatever she can for her friends and family.

“When Lenore’s husband died, it was chaos and I wanted to be there to help make meals, organize people and make sure everything was ready for her,” she said.

Those who know Looper say selfless acts like these are what make her such a good friend and community asset.

“The best thing is that she knows everyone since she was born and raised in Morris, and then lives in Coal City,” said Lois Darlington, friend and owner of Clayton’s Tap bar in downtown Morris. “She is much more widespread than I am and has a broader base of soliciting businesses when we are fundraising together.”

Looper said one of her favorite ways to help her community is by volunteering at the annual Operation St. Nick Christmas in July fundraiser at Clayton’s Tap. Last year’s event raised more than $46,000, which was used to purchase Christmas and back-to-school supplies for children living in Grundy County.

She said she has a 100 percent success rate when she asks local businesses for donations. Looper also helps during the event with the silent auction, raffle, live auction, or wherever she is needed.

“I think its fun to work with a rewarding organization and to get a lot of people involved. It makes me feel good,” Looper said.

Darlington said Looper is a close friend and always helps out with the many fundraisers held at Clayton’s Tap, as well as helps behind the bar on a busy night.

“I was doing a fundraiser for a family who didn’t have the proper help. I posted on Facebook about being busy, Karen read into it, texted me and said she would be there in 15 minutes to help,” Darlington said. “Not many people would give up a weekend night to help at an event for a family they don’t know.”

Erickson said Looper is always looking for ways to make someone’s day brighter, sometimes by surprising friends with small tokens of love.

“A friend of ours broke her foot and she loved this little cupcake place up in Naperville,” Erickson said. “Karen drove up there and bought cupcakes, and showed up at this friend’s house with cupcakes to make her feel better. That’s what she does.”

Erickson said she is blessed to have a person like Looper in her life because she makes everyone with whom she is friends with happy.

“She is good for me because she doesn’t sugarcoat anything, which is good,” Erickson said. “She is an honest person and always comes up with ways to make me smile.”