U-46 schools collect donations to help families

Students at several Elgin area schools are kicking off a season of giving with food, clothing and toy donation drives, shopping trips to buy shoes, and other charitable activities this month.

Harriet Gifford Elementary students collected more than 1,500 food items, which will be distributed to the Community Crisis Center in Elgin, All People's Interfaith Food Pantry at First Congregational Church of Elgin, and the Salvation Army.

"This year is one of our largest collections of food," Principal Joe Corcoran said, adding that it's a significant achievement for the Elgin school, a majority of whose students come from poor families.

"Our school's low income rate is 87 percent," Corcoran said. "I've found that some of these (students) are the most giving people. A lot of our families know the other end of that. When we do something like this, they are really happy to help out. The nice thing, too, is this is all the kids driving this. They do a phenomenal job."

The donation drive has been an annual holiday tradition for more than 17 years. In January, the school will organize another fundraiser for Food For Greater Elgin, Corcoran said.

Ongoing charitable efforts at other Elgin Area School District U-46 schools include:

• Hawk Hollow Elementary in Bartlett food drive supporting Hanover and Wayne townships food pantries.

• Highland Elementary in Elgin and Taylor YMCA collecting clothing items, toys and preparing gifts for three Highland families.

• Huff Elementary in Elgin partnering with West Ridge Community Church to provide five Huff families a "Giving Tree."

• Liberty Elementary in Bartlett collecting food items for the Hanover Township Food Pantry.

• Lincoln Elementary in Hoffman Estates sending candy cane greetings to families in need and collecting money for grocery gift cards valid at Jewel, Wal-Mart, and other grocery stories.

• Spring Trail Elementary in Carol Stream third-graders collecting hats and mittens for the village of Carol Stream.

• Gifford Street High School in Elgin students and teachers, in partnership with the Regional Office of Education, providing gifts for Maryville Academy residents and their children.

• South Elgin High School students collecting donations for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program and raising money for the "Change for Hunger" campaign.

"We all do a little bit," Corcoran said. "When you look at it collectively, that's a lot. It shows kids in schools they can make a difference in their communities."