Drive set to help victims of fires in California
Operation ROAR, a disaster relief service operated by a number of area Lions Clubs, but founded by the Mount Prospect Lions Club, will collect items this weekend to help victims of the recent fires in southern California.
A truck will be parked in the Randhurst Mall parking lot, just north of the Borders bookstore parking lot along Route 83, all weekend. Donations will be accepted from 5 to 9 p.m., Friday; from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday; and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday.
The Lions are looking for donations of gift cards for places like CVS Pharmacy, Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, but also new and "like new" donations of items that are badly needed by people in California who have lost everything.
"We will be sending needed goods to the Arrowbear Lions Club in the San Gabriel Mountains where 386 homes were burned to the ground in one subdivision alone," said Bill Steiner, one of Operation ROAR's board members. "We will be sending them things like small appliances, bedding, cooking utensils, clocks, towels and flashlights."
They are also working with a Lions Club in San Diego that can only accept gift cards because they have no place to store other items and no means to distribute them, Steiner said.
Operation ROAR was founded by the Mount Prospect Lions Club over two years ago to help Lions Clubs in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina distribute aid to people in need. Since that time the program has expanded to encompass other area Lions Clubs, as well.
"When we started Operation ROAR it was with the idea that we would only mobilize when there was a disaster affecting thousands of people because, after all, we aren't the Red Cross," Steiner explained. "But these fires certainly qualify. At one point over a million people were displaced. And not everyone out there is a movie star. There are many people who need help."
Once the items are collected, Steiner said, skids will be packed and sent out on partially full trucks headed to southern California. A member of the Mount Prospect Lions Club owns a freight company and he will be handling the shipping.
Does anyone remember? Does anyone have any photos or stories about the old Liljequist house that stood on the southeast corner of Route 83 and Lonnquist Boulevard until the mid-1980s? The Mount Prospect Historical Society is looking for information and photos to use in their upcoming Housewalk. Call (847) 392-9006 if you have information to share.
Runners -- take note:ŒThe Mount Prospect Jaycees will hold its 44th annual Turkey Trot race on Thanksgiving morning at the Mount Prospect Golf Course, 600 S. See-Gwun Ave. Check-in will begin at 8 a.m., with the first race starting at 9:15 a.m.
Three races are planned. Those 14 and under will run one mile and compete in two different age groups. Those 15 and up will run two miles and compete in six different age groups. Finally, there will be an open four-mile race for all ages. Trophies will be presented to the top three male and female finishers in each age group and T-shirts will be provided to the first 300 registered entrants.
An entry fee of $12 will be charged for those 15 and up and $5 will charged for entrants 14 and under. Proceeds will benefit the Jaycees' many local charities including Camp New Hope, Little City Foundation, the Anti-Cruelty Society and both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
The Jaycees are an organization for young people between the ages of 21 and 39. They provide opportunities to meet new people and do community service, but also offer training programs in public speaking and leadership development. Meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at Mr. Beef and Pizza, 1796 S. Elmhurst Road, Mount Prospect. Phone (847) 289-4395 for more information.