Waubonsie Student Council runs paper drive for needy senior citizens

Last month, Waubonsie Valley High School's Student Council spearheaded a schoolwide donation effort to provide paper products to the impoverished senior citizens served by the Humanitarian Service Project.

This donation was made possible by the WVHS Student Council's philanthropic initiative. During the beginning of February, the group took it upon themselves to host a schoolwide paper drive for one week, collecting a copious amount of paper towels, tissues, and toilet paper for the needy seniors served in the Senior Citizen Project. When the drive was over, students gathered to load up the paper products from the enormous mound just outside the school's doors into the two cargo vans to be driven back to HSP's facilities.

For the past three years, the WVHS Student Council has hosted three remarkably successful paper drives. In addition to paper products, the SCP provides 100 lbs. of groceries delivered directly to the doorstep of the 123 seniors each month. The package includes 15 varieties of fresh produce, 7 types of frozen meats, 4 loaves of Pepperidge Farm bread, 6 bags of nonperishables and paper products. Every three months seniors also receive hygiene products. To add an individual touch, seniors receive monthly gifts from a "Secret Pal," pet food, and a birthday cake in the month of their special day. The goal of the SCP is to alleviate the stress and suffering the seniors endure while struggling to get by at the brink of poverty.

The Humanitarian Service Project is at 465 Randy Road, Carol Stream. For details, email hsp@humanitarianservice.org or call (630) 221-8340. To learn more, visit www.humanitarianservice.org or the blog at humanitarianserviceproject.blogspot.com.

The Humanitarian Service Project's mission is to alleviate the pain and suffering that poverty creates in seniors and children living in DuPage and Kane counties. Last year during the Christmas Offering, 840 families with 1,600 children received gifts and 150 impoverished families received three weeks of groceries, frozen meats, bread, and fresh produce. With the Senior Citizen Project, HSP provides monthly food deliveries of 100 pounds including fresh produce, frozen meats, bread, non-perishables, paper products and secret pal gifts to 123 low-income seniors. The Children's Birthday Project reaches the youngest underprivileged, making birthdays and Christmas truly memorable occasions for 925 children. Feed the Kids program provides 100 low-income families with groceries and fresh produce worth $1,500 retail in total for the summer. HSP conducts an annual school supplies drive, which sends supplies to the DuPage Back to School Fair in addition to furnishing schools and individual children with necessary supplies.