Make a difference in Wheaton with food collection, park cleanup

Saturday marks Make a Difference Day in Wheaton, but organizers are hoping it will inspire residents to volunteer in the city year-round.

"It's getting the word out, not just for one day of doing something good, but to get people involved in volunteering," said Bill Gilbertson, a member of the city's community relations commission.

Kerry O'Brien, executive director of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, said the city started celebrating the nationwide Make a Difference Day seven years ago. The biggest communitywide effort to make a difference each year has been the Stuff-A-Truck event, an attempt to fill trucks with 40,000 pounds of food to be delivered to the People's Resource Center.

"We emphasize that it be nutritious food, stuff you want to feed your own family," O'Brien said.

Schools, churches and about 40 chamber businesses have been collecting nonperishable food donations for about six weeks. Volunteers will be going to all the collection locations this weekend to pick up the boxes and place them in a truck that will be stationed outside the Wheaton Public Library.

Anyone who still wants to make a donation is welcome to stop by the east parking lot at the library between 10 a.m. and noon Saturday to drop off items. They also can make donations directly to the People's Resource Center through www.peoplesrc.org.

The library is offering $1 off fines per donated food item, up to $5. O'Brien said it's just one example of the many ways businesses tried to gather donations in creative ways this year. Studio Movie Grill offered free admission to a movie, Cantigny Park granted free parking and Jersey Mike's gave out free sandwiches in exchange for donations.

"Because of the community's generosity, we are assured that we will be able to feed the families that come to our food pantry in our busiest month," said Susan Manning, marketing coordinator at the People's Resource Center.

The community relations commission also has been collecting gift items like small toys, mittens, snack foods, candy and gift cards to fill holiday stockings for the children of the city's adopted battalion, "The Big Red One." Collection boxes are set up at the library and city hall and anyone who wants to make a donation can contact Gilbertson at beegees2@sbcglobal.net for more details on what is needed.

Other activities on Saturday are focused on bettering the environment.

At 9 a.m., volunteers are being asked to gather with tools to help weed and rake Adams Park in front of the library near Main and Wesley Streets.

"We try and involved people that have some gardening experience and other people just to haul away some of the brush and things that get cleared out," Gilbertson said.

The city's environmental improvement commission will take part in an adopt-a-highway cleanup effort. Volunteers will be supplied with neon vests, grabbers and garbage bags and Scout troops and church groups are encouraged to attend. Anyone interested should contact commission member Nancy Flynn at 5flynn@live.com.