United Way of Elgin organizes community food drive
It's not Thanksgiving or Christmastime yet, when people are traditionally bombarded with pleas to donate food.
But a lot of people still won't have anything to put on the table today, tomorrow or next weekend.
So the United Way of Elgin hopes to change that with A Day of Action, Take A Bite Out of Hunger.
The group, 2022 Larkin Ave., Elgin, is organizing a community food collection drive.
"This is the first year we're doing this. This is the first year for the National Day of action across the country," said Diane O'Connor, the agency's director of community Impact.
Organizers hope businesses, churches, service organizations, neighborhood associations, and youths will collect non-perishable items for the Community Crisis Center, Center de Informacion; and Salvation Army.
Donated food can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the United Way office, 2022 Larkin Ave., on or before June 20.
On June 21, volunteers will deliver the food to local food pantries.
O'Connor said organizers chose this day because it is the longest day of the year and symbolic of having more time to help others.
For more information, call (847) 741-2259, e-mail doconnor@uwelgin.org, or visit www.uwelgin.org.
@Leadin for body copy:Congratulations to: The top finishers in the 31st annual Elgin Valley Fox Trot last month.
Aaron Etienne was the top male finisher for the 5K run, and Katie Adams won for females.
In the 10-mile run, Dave Wilson and Alona Banai took the top spots.
Overall, 793 people signed up for the 5K event and 734 for the 10-mile race.
The event raises money for the Elgin Parks and Recreation Department Youth Scholarship Fund.
@Leadin for body copy:Look out, Honolulu: Elgin recently was named one of the top 100 cities to raise a family by the men's magazine "Best Life."
Elgin was rated 52nd (Honolulu, Hawaii. was rated tops).
Other Illinois cities and their rankings Naperville, 17; Springfield, 19; and Chicago, 60.
Best Life editors looked at: date for education, crime, unemployment rates, museums, parks, commute times, divorce rates and more for 257 cities.
The 10 worst places to raise a family, according to the magazine: Springfield, Mo.; Dayton, Ohio; Corpus Christi, Texas; Flint, Mich.; Columbia, S.C.; Waco, Texas; Philadelphia, Penn.; Fayetteville, N.C.; Beaumont, Texas; and Clarksville, Tenn.
@Leadin for body copy:Stepping up: The South Elgin Lions Club will install Paul Groth as its new president Friday.
Since becoming a Lion in September of 2001, Groth organized the first annual Beep Ball game between several Lions clubs.
Beep Baseball is played blindfolded.
He also organized the first annual "Eye Glass Sorting Party" in March 2006 and sorted more than 120,000 pairs of eyeglasses. He received the International President's Award during the 1-J District Convention in 2006 for organizing that event.