Community Collaboration Quenches Thirst for Greater Healthy Beverage Options in West Chicago

Earlier this month, a group of business leaders, City officials, Community School District 33 administrators, staff and students gathered in a hallway at Turner School in West Chicago for a photo in front of the newest addition to the building - a water bottle filling station. While the students and staff in each of the District's elementary schools and the Leman Middle School have grown accustomed to this new feature, the work behind the scenes to make this a reality needed to be celebrated.

Through the coordinated efforts of the City of West Chicago's Mayor Ruben Pineda and District 33 Administration, every elementary school building now has one water bottle filling station and the Middle School has two. Brent Lautenbach Project Manager of the West Chicago branch of Ch2m donated all of the stations, while Tom Loos, owner of Action Plumbing, Inc., of West Chicago and Guy Seemans of Associated Electrical Contractors, LLC., of Woodstock, made donations toward the installation of the necessary plumbing and electrical. Other individuals and groups that were instrumental to this effort, Maria Lentz, of Ch2m, Healthy West Chicago, an organization dedicated to making West Chicago one of the healthiest communities in the region, and the American Heart Association, were also present.

"For our students and staff, these filling stations facilitate drinking water throughout the day which we all know is an important, healthful habit. We are grateful to Mayor Ruben Pineda and the business owners who helped make this possible," stated Dr. Charles Johns, District 33 Superintendent.

As the District moves to adopt an updated Wellness Policy and the City of West Chicago supports the work of Healthy West Chicago, these water bottle filling stations are a huge step in supporting healthy choices by encouraging students and staff to drink more water and less sugar sweetened beverages.

*Photos and information courtesy of District 33.