U-46 schools give back to the community

Students and staff in School District U-46 are helping their peers and neighbors in need this holiday season. From food and toy drives, to special shopping trips to buy shoes, the efforts reflect a collective will to help each other and the community.

"Through their compassion and generosity, our students, staff and community partners reflect the best of this season," said CEO Tony Sanders.

Students and staff have led holiday-related charity events throughout the month. Some of the ongoing school efforts are as follows:

• Fox Meadow Elementary, 1275 Jenna Drive in South Elgin: Wednesday, Dec. 16, Students are making cards and sending them to a little girl who is the lone survivor of an arson attack on her home.

• Hawk Hollow Elementary, 235 Jacaranda Drive in Bartlett: Student council food drive to support the Hanover and Wayne township food pantries through Tuesday, Dec. 15. Items will be delivered on Friday, Dec. 18.

• Highland Elementary, 190 N. Melrose Ave., Elgin: Throughout week of Dec. 14, Taylor YMCA collects clothing items and toys, and prepares gifts for three Highland Elementary families.

• Huff Elementary, 801 Hastings St., Elgin: Throughout week of Dec. 14, by appointment, partners at West Ridge Community Church are generously providing five of school families a "Giving Tree" to best meet their wishes.

• Liberty Elementary gym, 1375 W. Bartlett Road in Bartlett: 8:20 to 9:40 a.m. and 12:50 to 1:10 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, students will bring in their Hanover Township Food Pantry food drive items and build a "fort" to box in the principal. Classes will have a Go Noodle dance party to celebrate.

• Lincoln Elementary, 1650 Maureen Drive in Hoffman Estates: Through Friday, Dec. 18, students send candy cane greetings to their families. Money collected will go toward grocery gift cards to help families in need.

• Spring Trail Elementary, 1384 Spring Valley Drive in Carol Stream: Through Friday, Dec. 18, collecting hats and mittens for the village of Carol Stream.

• Elgin High School, 1200 Maroon Drive: Beginning Friday, Dec. 11, HOSA class coat drive.

• Gifford Street High School Room 306, 46 S. Gifford St., Elgin: From noon to 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16, Gifford Street Regional Office of Education teachers, students providing the Maryville Academy residents and their children gifts to spread the cheer of the holiday season.

• South Elgin High School, 706 E. Main St.: Through Monday, Dec. 14, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's Toys For Tots; and HUG club collecting donations through Friday, Dec. 18, for "Change for Hunger" campaign to help raise money for families in need.

Throughout the month, various events have occurred which provided an opportunity for schools and clubs to help make a difference in the community. The past school events are as follows:

• Fox Meadow Elementary brought in more than $2,000 over three weeks for "Change for Hunger," which helped benefit the Food for Greater Elgin.

• Glenbrook Elementary participated in a canned food drive to support the Hanover Township Pantry.

• Horizon Elementary student council members collected donations for the Hanover Park Lions Club food bank.

• Liberty Elementary Step Up Club organized a "Tie-In," where students helped make tied fleece hats, scarves and blankets. Items were donated to homeless families in the district.

• Fifth-graders at Lincoln Elementary donated two hours of their time at Feed the Children. Their efforts will help feed 45 children in one year.

• For the third consecutive year, in conjunction with other schools within the district, Prairieview Elementary has raised funds to help provide coats for U-46 students. This year, Prairieview raised $1,500. Prairieview also partnered with Hanover Township for their annual toy drive.

• Ronald D. O'Neal Elementary in partnership with New City Church hosted a Gift Mart, where families were invited to select presents for their children. Gift wrapping, refreshments and crafts were available.

• Spring Trail Elementary collected and donated 26 boxes filled with nonperishable food items. The Carol Stream Fire Department collected these items for the local food pantry.

• Sycamore Trails and Timber Trails Elementary participated in the Elgin Community Crisis Center's holiday drive, where students collected toys, hats and gloves.

• The Giving Tree tradition continued at Canton Middle School. The staff helped provide gifts for students and families during the holiday season. This year, Canton collected more than 80 gifts which were sent to families in need. Staff members chose ornaments off the tree and purchased a gift that will help one of their students.

• Eastview Student Council organized a holiday food drive for the 20th year in a row. Students collected more than 3,700 items for the local food drive.

• The Bartlett High School Giving tree gathered donations for 65 Bartlett High families. The total amount of gifts valued more than $12,000. Student council members wrapped and sorted more than 600 gifts.

• For the past 13 years, Elgin High School's Student Council has invited a feeder elementary school to participate in Operation Payless, where 30 students are paired with Elgin High students and take a shopping trip to a Payless Shoe Store. The high school students help the elementary school students choose a pair of shoes that are paid for through the Elgin High student council's fundraising efforts. The students then enjoy lunch at McDonald's end the day with a tour of Elgin High.

• The Future Teachers Club at Elgin High School participated in Toys for Tots drive alongside other district Future Teachers Club members.

• The Child Ed program at Larkin High School participated in a toy drive, donating toys to the less fortunate.