Community delivering hope

Lake Forest Academy junior Thomas Emery is spending his weekend in the Motor City, not to attend a concert or to visit friends, but to make a special delivery.

Emery and nine other Lake Forest Academy students are delivering a truckload of hope to Detroit in the school's second annual Harvesting Hope Project.

Accompanied by three faculty members, the students will provide assistance and deliver supplies to Lighthouse Path, Vista Maria and Detroit Rescue Mission.

"We're so blessed that giving up a weekend is not enough," said Emery, 16. "It will be cool to see Detroit and to help everyday people in need."

The project, Harvesting Hope, is a joint effort between the school's Parents Association and Service Learning Program. Vista Maria is Michigan's largest nonprofit residential and community-based treatment agency for abused and neglected girls; Detroit Rescue Mission provides food, emergency shelter, transitional shelter, substance abuse treatment, recreational and prevention programs for children to more than 1,000 people a day; and Lighthouse of Oakland County Inc. provides services to low-income families in Oakland County.

On Saturday, about 100 students and 80 parents sorted clothing, household items, food and toiletries donated by students and community members. After an early Thanksgiving dinner, they loaded up a 20-foot truck and sent the contingent of students and teachers on their way.

Emery participated in the school's first Harvesting Hope project last year, traveling to New Orleans to help the residents of Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana who were affected by Hurricane Katrina.

"The most shocking thing was to see the devastation even a year after," Emery said.

Donated items ranged from computer equipment to double mattresses to all the fixings for Thanksgiving dinner. These will help program recipients improve their quality of life, said Mary Mucci, director of parent relations.

"We are providing Thanksgiving dinner for 54 families this year," Mucci said. "The project brings our whole community together."

John MacCarthy, his daughter Annie, a sophomore, and son Jack, 13, who is applying to attend the academy next year, purchased diapers, baby wipes and paper goods for Vista Maria. The Winnetka family sorted and packed boxes, as well.

"We are happy to help," MacCarthy said.