Students volunteers assist staff at Friendship Park Conservatory

Three Des Plaines Community Foundation student volunteers helped the Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 W. Algonquin Road, greenhouse staff wash thousands of flower pots during the past summer break. The girls are Chippewa Junior High School students looking to give back to the community.

Lacey Argus, Kensey Reeves and Hailey Suwalski were happy to help out the Friendship Park staff and wash a portion of the 25,000 flower pots that are washed every year.

According to Friendship Park Conservatory manager Barbara Koch, the girls put in some serious hours washing pots to prepare for the next season's planting in the greenhouse.

"By washing the flower pots instead of replacing them, we keep the costs down and are more earth friendly," she said.

"This was the first time we used student volunteers at the greenhouse in addition to our regular volunteers and it was just great," said Gerrie Kamm, horticulturist at the park.

"Rosemary Argus, the executive director of the Des Plaines Community Foundation, often visits the conservatory and had asked if there were volunteer opportunities for the students."

Friendship Park Conservatory greenhouse is a 10,000-square-foot building where all the plants are grown for Mount Prospect Park District facilities and many other parks throughout the district. These facilities include Central Community Center, RecPlex, Lions Recreation Center, Meadows Aquatic Center, the Mount Prospect Golf Club and Friendship Park Conservatory.

"We are always looking for student volunteers to help the foundation to better the future of Des Plaines," said Argus.

A number of student volunteers from Maine West High School have signed up to volunteer their time for elderly Des Plaines residents.

Some of the acts of service performed by the foundation student volunteers include:

• Assisting homeowners in packing and cleaning.

• Cutting elderly residents' grass and raking leaves.

• Snow shoveling for the Des Plaines senior citizens and disabled.

• Soliciting and picking up donations and contributions.

• Recruitment of youth volunteers.

For example, the Des Plaines Community Foundation has had a presence at the annual Spring Fun Fair at The Mountain View Adventure Center in Prairie Lakes.

"Four student softball players got together off the field to lend a helping hand preparing for the event last spring," said Argus.

Maine West student volunteers Maren Garnett, Lacey Argus, Mia Thomas and Makenna Delafeld helped unpack and prepare the bicycle helmets, which were distributed to the children. The foundation had a tent at the event and gave out 100 bicycle helmets to the first children who attended and needed a helmet. Bike safety checks, bike safety information and minor maintenance were provided.

Other student volunteer work includes the Des Plaines Snow Angels. During snowstorms this past winter, Paul Bartholomae and approximately 25 to 30 Maine West students shoveled hundreds of driveways and sidewalks of local residents. Residents can call the Neighbors Helping Neighbors hotline through the Des Plaines Community Foundation.

"Mainly seniors call to have their driveways and walks shoveled," said Argus. "These are residents who want to be independent and live at home, but who might be in their 80s and 90s, have suffered a heart attack or stroke and cannot shovel their driveway."

If residents can afford to pay the student volunteers, they will do so. Otherwise, the community foundation pays $25 per household. The students must also provide their own shovels and snowplows.

To show appreciation to the student volunteers, the Des Plaines Community Foundation recently unveiled a new scholarship award targeted to junior and senior high school students.

"The new Sadie Rose Argus Leadership Award has been established to recognize young individuals who volunteer and share their time and talents with the Des Plaines Community Foundation," said Chris Pesche, president of the foundation.

The Sadie Rose Argus Leadership Award will be given to students in recognition of their efforts and volunteer hours directly related to carrying out the mission, programs and services of the DPCF.

Winners will be cited for program leadership, recruitment of youth for volunteer activities, exhibiting exemplary character and creating new opportunities for individuals in Des Plaines that enhance quality of life. There are no resident requirements.

"The scholarship was created to help bring juniors and senior high school students' postsecondary assistance for those who volunteer and help the DPCF carry out their mission, programs and services," Pesche said.

The award amount is determined by and at the discretion of the DPCF committee. This is the first year the foundation has offered this new scholarship.

Issued by the board of trustees, a maximum of $2,000 will be paid to a postsecondary education institution selected by a student who earns this recognition.

The Sadie Rose Argus Leadership Award may or may not be granted annually. However, the award amount must be dedicated and set aside and identified as a dedicated resource for the award and/or future awards.

There is no application for the award. Eligible juniors and seniors may be nominated by the DPCF executive director, DPCF board members or a community member directly impacted by the DPCF's work and by s student providing that service.

Those nominated will be reviewed by the nomination committee that will consist of a minimum of four DPCF trustees. The committee will be judging the student efforts and volunteer hours directly related to carrying out the mission, programs and services of the DPCF.

The foundation raises funds to identify, link and mobilize assets to support the service programs of the Des Plaines Healthy Community Partnership Programs, whose activities improve the lives of those that live and work in Des Plaines.

Some of the programs include Neighbors Helping Neighbors Program Committee, Healthy Community/Healthy Youth Program Committee, Intergenerational Program Committee, and Seasons of Service Program Committee.

The foundation has no paid employees and is all volunteer. It is a 501c3 organization and funds are obtained from individuals, businesses, and corporate tax-deductible contributions, as well as from other foundations.

For information on becoming a student volunteer, visit www.DPCharties.org or www.desplainescommunityfoundation.org.

Future volunteers can call Rosemary Argus at (847) 297-4932 or (847) 525-5566, or sign up to be a student volunteer through Paul Bartholomae at (630) 709-5010 through Maine West High School.

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