Give time, talent to make a difference
Masses of volunteers will hit the streets in DuPage County Saturday in an attempt to make a difference.
Known as Make A Difference Day, suburban organizations will be among those throughout the country that will take up collections or volunteer their time to help others.
"There are so many children whose days can be brightened by just something little, such as a box of crayons" said Pat Danly of the Wheaton Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society.
Members of the society will collect new 24-count boxes of crayons for children in need. Anyone willing to participate is welcome to donate.
"We were looking for something that we could do to make a difference … that wasn't going to be a huge cost to the community," said Danly, noting that many people are participating in projects at schools or churches.
The effort received help from College of DuPage, where students, faculty and staff donated roughly 1,000 boxes of crayons.
The crayon collection is one of the many projects that will be happening in Wheaton, which typically provides a significant Make A Difference Day effort.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is amassing a group of volunteers to clean up East Branch Forest Preserve in Glendale Heights.
The district is coordinating with NOW Foods to expand its annual October work day into a Make A Difference Day open to the general public.
"NOW Foods was really excited when we suggested opening our work day to the public," said Chris Linnell of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.
Also, there is a toiletry and cleaning supply collection in Roselle for Sharing Connections, which assists low-income families Donations from the general public are welcome.
In Aurora, seven high schools are leading a food drive for local food pantries.
The Montessori Academy of Glen Ellyn also is collecting for a local food pantry.
Advanced Healthcare Associates in Wheaton will serve as a drop-off site for food pantry donations to the Peoples Resource Center pantry in Wheaton.
Make A Difference Day is the largest volunteer day in the nation. For details, visit www.usaweekend.com/diffday/.
The projects
For more information about these Make a Difference Day projects and others around the suburbs, visit www.usaweekend.com/diffday/
Advanced Healthcare Associates, Wheaton
• Accepting donations to the People's Resource Center Food Pantry in Wheaton
• Seeking others: No
• Call (630) 260-1300
Montessori Academy of Glen Ellyn
• Collecting and delivering items to a food pantry
• Seeking others: No
• Call: (630) 681-8278
A Lasting World, Geneva
• Reunion party for those who attended Camp HOPE (Helping Our Planet Earth), a weeklong summer environmental education camp for children in Appalachia. Also will collect holiday wish lists from the kids.
• Seeking others: No
• Call: (630) 917-3912
Sharing Connections, Roselle
• Organizers will collect toiletries and cleaning supplies for Sharing Connections, an organization that helps those in need in DuPage County
• Seeking others: Yes
• Call: (630) 319-6530
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
• Clean up trails and shorelines of the East Branch Forest Preserve in Glendale Heights. Main entrance is on Glen Ellyn Road a quarter mile south of Army Trail Road.
• Seeking others: Yes
• Call: (630) 933-7233
Wheaton Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society
• Collect new 24 count boxes of crayons to be given to children in need.
• Seeking others: Yes
• Call: (630) 690-3910
City of Aurora Community Services Department
• Seven high schools will lead a food drive
• Seeking others: Yes
• Call: (630) 906-7445
Other Wheaton organizations planning Make A Difference Day events include: Wheaton Christian Grammar School, Whittier Elementary School, Adams Park Friends, Encompass Cat Unit, DuPage Sign and Banner, Girl Scout Troop No. 1900 from Lincoln School, First Presbyterian Church, Sandburg Elementary, Chili's, Charlie's Ale House, Briar Glen Elementary School, Whittier Elementary, Families of Sherwood and Berkshire Place, Daughters of the American Revolution, Pleasant Hill School in Winfield.