Allendale students, staff raise money for Red Cross
Submitted by Joanne Levine
There’s a lot going on in the lives of kids receiving care and treatment at the Allendale Association in Lake Villa, a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to excellence and innovation in the care, education, treatment and advocacy of troubled children, youth and their families.
In addition to the common pressures kids face today, many Allendale kids are victims of abuse, neglect or severe mental illness and are working to overcome a variety of serious emotional and behavioral challenges.
But despite their own considerable hardships, students from the Allendale School saw that victims from the recent natural disasters were struggling, too, and they wanted to do something to help.
That’s why nearly 60 kids recently participated in a fundraising drive for victims of this spring’s earthquakes, floods and tornadoes. For nearly three weeks, the students filled Hinckley & Schmitt water bottles with their loose change, collecting $120 that was sent to the Chicago office of the American Red Cross.
The money will be divided to help victims of the many recent domestic and international natural disasters.
Roosevelt Johnson, an Allendale teaching assistant and organizer of the fundraiser, says the students learned valuable lessons about supporting other people in times of need. The fundraiser also heightened their awareness of current events and provided a positive socialization experience.
“Helping other people really helps these kids heal,” Johnson said. “As they’re working to overcome hardships, they’re also giving back and contributing to a positive circle. And they really feel good about their efforts.”
Allendale serves more than 1,260 children, youth and families annually through a variety of residential, clinical, educational, vocational and recreational programs. Allendale’s main campus in Lake Villa houses the Elizabeth Morse Special Education School, the Bradley Counseling Center and intensive residential treatment programs.
Additionally, Allendale operates a residential treatment program in Benet Lake, Wis.; group homes in Waukegan and Highland Park; an outpatient community-based child/family counseling center in Gurnee; and day treatment special education satellite programs in Woodstock.
The institution has served troubled adolescents since its founding in 1897 by Edward “Cap” Bradley, a young Princeton graduate interested in the plight of urban youth and the poor conditions under which they lived.
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