In Spirit of Giving, Business Donates ShareFest a New Website

When the committee for ShareFest 2012 began shaping its goals for 11 days of giving, which started Sept. 1, they envision donations of food, muscle, clothes, books and even blood for the Blood Drive.

But no one thought about a donation of a website to feature the variety of elements involved in the community-wide campaign to assist those in need during difficult economic times. 

Then Bill Byerley, of New Lenox-based  Internet Development firm, stepped up to the template and offered his expertise on effective and interactive web designs. The retail cost for such a project, which was officially launched in July, ranges from $3,000-to-$5,000.  It includes multiple pages, a spot for live streaming video, a photo gallery and more.

Check out ShareFest's new website.

The goal of the website is "to show the purpose of ShareFest. More importantly it's about giving back to the community and showing people how others are giving back," he said.

Page Desk, Inc. regularly donates its services to organizations and non-profit groups that otherwise wouldn't have the financial means to build a professional website, he said. In the past few years, the business has voluntarily built about 30 such sites. 

A former member of the and a current member of the , Byerley lives and breathes the act of giving and serving the community. Even his hobby as an amateur ham radio operator is connected to rescue efforts in times of natural disaster.

The founder of the two-year-old, he has trained a total of 28 licensed ham radio operators. They're prepared to handle communications when cell towers, the Internet, telephone wires and electricity are down.

"Ham radios are the only true fail-safe means of communication out there," he said.

When a tornado or a hurricane rips a blustery path through a community, emergency personnel rely on ham radios for communication. 

"You have to be licensed to operate a ham radio. Only licensed radio operators" can function on those radio waves, added Byerley.

In July, he added, a group of ham radio students graduated with their license to operate. The class met regularly in the community room of the

Byerley said on Sept. 8, he'll be in communication with groups of volunteers around the community via ham radios. Those with the right background are expected to communicate each group's whereabouts. It's a plan to ensure the volunteers' safety and to keep update on supply needs and the like.

Be creative. How can you volunteer your services?