5 ways to take part in Wheaton's Make A Difference Day
Every year, Wheaton's community relations commission keeps coming back with new programs and projects to celebrate Make A Difference Day.
"It's well-received by people," said the commission's chairwoman, Ronnie Gillis. "We try to make people aware of the things that are going on in their community and provide an opportunity for citizens who normally wouldn't be involved to be involved. It's very rewarding for us, as well as for the community."
Here are five ways you can participate in this year's Make A Difference Day events:
1. Attend Touch-a-Truck event
The city's community relations commission is hosting a new ice cream social and Touch-a-Truck event at the public works building, 821 W. Liberty Drive, from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday to honor Wheaton police and firefighters, and the city's adopted Army battalion. Kids will have a chance to see a fire truck and police car up close.
Visitors who bring a donation of a toy or food item will receive a free ice cream, hot chocolate or popcorn. The event will be held rain or shine and ample parking is available in the commuter lot on Liberty Drive.
2. Donate toys for stockings
Each year, the community relations commission sends stockings to the families of Wheaton's adopted Army Battalion in Fort Riley, Kansas. Items that are needed include small children's books, travel-sized toys and games, packs of gum or holiday candy and other children's items that will fit into a stocking, like gloves, mittens and hats.
Items can be dropped off in collection bins located at city hall, all three Wheaton fire stations, the Wheaton Public Library, Wyndemere Senior Living Community and the Wheaton Sport Center.
3. Donate food for Stuff-a-Truck
The People's Resource Center and the Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the Stuff-a-Truck food drive, which aims to fill trucks with 40,000 pounds of food to be delivered to the center's food pantry.
Many local businesses have collection bins set out this week to collect nutritious, nonperishable food. Studio Movie Grill is offering a free, same-day movie admission in exchange for food donations through Thursday. The Wheaton Public Library is also accepting food donations to forgive overdue book fines on Saturday.
4. Help pack meals with Rotary
Several area Rotary Clubs are aiming to pack 100,000 meals for hungry people on Saturday. Volunteers 7 and older are welcome to pack food at the Holiday Inn and Suites, 150 S. Gary Ave. in Carol Stream. Shifts are available from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 to 4 p.m. The food will go to the Northern Illinois Food Bank and hungry families in Nicaragua. To register, contact sheri@thehearingdoctors.com.
5. Collection for homeless veterans
Members of Wiesbrook Elementary School's YMCA Indian Princesses group are collecting items for the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans. Individuals and groups are welcome to donate household items, hygiene products, cleaning products and more to the Freedom Commissary at 433 S. Carlton Ave. in Wheaton. A wish list is available at helpaveteran.org/wish-list-donations. For information, contact John Dixon at john@mshv.org or call (630) 871-8387, ext. 617.