Story posted Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Lions Park Students Giving Back
By RICHARD MAYER Assistant Managing Editor
Each month this school year, students from Lions Park Elementary School in Mt. Prospect have been sponsoring drives to donate certain items to needy individuals and families in the community.
In December, students sponsored a coat drive and collected boxes of coats, gloves, boots, earmuffs, and hats. All of the boxes were donated to the Community Connections Center on the south side of town.
According to Lisa Honcharuk, one of two Lions Park PTA Character Counts committee chairpersons, some fourth graders were selected to load the truck before it was delivered to the south side facility.
In January, fifth graders led a new/used school supply drive for needy families in the community. Items consisted of rulers, folders, binders, notebooks, crayons, lunchboxes, and more. Those supplies went to the Community Connections Center as well.
In February, the school is sponsoring a nonperishable food drive, which will go to a yet-to-be-determined food pantry.
Honcharuk said the donation will probably end up at the Village of Mt. Prospect's food pantry.
In March, second grade students will lead an effort to collect items to be distributed at a soup kitchen in Evanston.
Some of those items Honcharuk said would consist of granola bars or potato chips---things that can be sent with them when they leave the kitchen.
"We are trying to do it so it doesn't cost families anything," said Honcharuk. "We want them to give things they already have in the house. We don't want parents to spend additional money, especially with the current state of the economy."
In April, first graders will lead a drive to collect birthday supplies for needy individuals, which will be donated also to the resource center on Algonquin Road.
According to Honcharuk, items that will be collected include party favors, plates, or anything else that can be associated with a birthday party that some people can't afford to buy for their children.
"It's great seeing the kids get excited helping others out in need," added Honcharuk.
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