We’ve all heard a version of the saying, what we give to others often returns to us in unexpected and deeper, more fulfilling, ways. But how many of us have actually put that belief to the test?
With busy schedules, family responsibilities, and endless to-do lists, it’s easy to push helping others aside. Yet, for Marilyn and Paul Georgy, giving back is more than an occasional act—it's a way of life. Having once struggled to put food on their own table, they understand firsthand what it means to be in need. This personal experience allows them to truly relate to those they now serve.
The Georgy name may be familiar, as it is synonymous with the Crystal Lake Food Pantry, an organization that, today, serves over 1200 families in the community, 80 new each month. Their bond with the food pantry is deeply rooted in shared successes, challenges, and a passion for making a difference. From the moment you are in their presence, their closeness as a couple is apparent; finishing each other’s sentences, exchanging playful glances and giggles, naturally relaxing when the other speaks. Their connection is undeniable—both to the cause and to each other.
Marilyn and Paul Georgy’s story dates back to June of 1972 at a hometown community picnic prior to Paul’s senior year at Southern Illinois University. Marilyn had just graduated high school and the two had an instant connection. So much so that Marilyn told her friend that night, “I am going to marry that guy!” Today, Paul can still recall, in detail, the “cute white top and shorts” Marilyn was wearing on that fateful day. They both agree, that night changed their lives. Their romance blossomed, marrying on November 17, 1973.
Marilyn and Paul were both raised in farming communities: Marilyn the seventh of 16 children growing up in Highland, Missouri, near St. Louis, and Paul, the oldest of four from Trenton, Illinois. Both were raised Catholic, have a strong belief in family, and prioritize community.
The values that guided them when they first began their life together remain the foundation of their marriage today; family, trust, honesty, partnership, and making life decisions together.
Career opportunities brought them to Crystal Lake, where they raised their family—two sons and a daughter. Throughout their marriage, they weathered setbacks, career highs and lows, and at times, not sure where their next meal would come from, by consistently relying on their faith and each other for strength.
As they built their life together and found success, they never lost sight of the importance of giving back to the community. Their joint belief that “Helping others isn’t just an act of kindness; it’s a way of nurturing the best parts of ourselves,” is what guided them. With Paul focusing on providing financially and Marilyn dedicating herself to family life and supporting local charities, they instilled in their children the values of hard work and giving back.
Both wear their hearts on their sleeves—Marilyn’s with tears of compassion, as she’s known to cry at the drop of a hat, inspiring others with her empathy. Together, they’ve been steadfast advocates for those less fortunate. Since the 1980s, their efforts have centered on fighting hunger and helping to grow the Crystal Lake Food Pantry into the vital resource it is today. When asked, they’ll tell you that every dollar donated stretches eight times its value in purchasing power and how this year the need will increase 16% and revenue will decrease by 25%.
Paul will personally guide you through the aisles of the warehouse stocked with food, proudly sharing stories told to him by the people they’ve served. He dares you not to shed a tear as you listen. The couple eagerly shares the details of the Inspiration Kitchen, where chefs and community members alike prepare new recipes for shoppers, and the Food Rescue program that collects thousands of pounds of food each month.
Marilyn will direct you to the reading nook, inspired by her mom; a voracious reader who challenged her kids to lose themselves in a book that would take them to places they couldn’t afford to travel to on their own. She taught them to curl up in a chair (her favorite spot) and escape into another world - getting lost in the richness of the words. It was her guidance that led Marilyn to create the space in the waiting room where kids and parents could snuggle with a book, under the hand-crafted pencil drawing of her mom, donated by a dear friend.
The true impact of the Georgys cannot be quantified, but the lives they’ve touched and the sense of purpose they radiate serve as a powerful reminder that helping others creates a lasting ripple effect. They embody the spirit of ‘pay it forward,’ demonstrating that kindness echoes far beyond the moment.
“Helping others isn’t just an act of kindness; it’s a way of nurturing the best parts of ourselves,”
Marilyn and Paul Georgy's connection is undeniable, both to the cause and to each other, reminding us that kindness has a ripple effect.