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Itasca Family Day boosts community outreach

Itasca's Usher Park seemed to be hosting a family party.

Music filled the air, food was plentiful and kids and parents enjoyed a Saturday together.

But Itasca Family Day was about more than quality time. It was about families helping families.

The first-time event was a fundraiser for the Itasca Community Outreach Team, part of a continuum of support that aims to help residents through tough times. While other volunteer groups provide emergency financial aid, a pantry and a temporary homeless shelter, the outreach volunteers aim to solve problems one family at a time.

Penni McCumber of the First Presbyterian Church of Itasca passed out water to those celebrating Itasca Family Day.

"It's really important that we all get together in these times with all the violence going on in the world, and Itasca is such a close-knit community, so we are out here for those that need help and a little extra boost," she said.

Those who attended Itasca Family Day learned Itasca Community Outreach Team volunteers work to keep families solvent and self-sufficient by adopting a family facing crisis and doing what they can to ease the financial burden - helping to fix up a house, for example, or bringing meals to a family weighed down by medical bills. Proceeds from Itasca Family Day will help the outreach team help the next family.

In Usher Park, families were able to express themselves through chalk art on the park's sidewalks, have their faces painted and enjoy live music. And when they were hungry, a lineup of food trucks stood at the ready with a variety of tastes to sample.

For information about the Itasca Community Outreach Team, visit ItascaCares.org.

  Don Dopka of Elk Grove Village plays lead guitar with the band The Objections during Itasca Family Day at Usher Park. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
  Don Willerth of Northlake gets ready to listen to music provided by The Objections during Itasca Family Day at Usher Park. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
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