Carpentersville school chips in for charity
Last year, students from Dundee-Crown High School helped a local family pay for treatment for a 7-year-old girl battling leukemia.
This year, those same students are hoping to continue the tradition of service with the Carpentersville high school's second "A Community Cares" event.
The event is fundraiser for two local charities - Elgin's Community Crisis Center, which serves victims of domestic abuse; and Aunt Martha's Youth Service Center, which focuses on children and teens.
In choosing the charities, students hoped to expand the focus of the event to serve more kids and families in the communities that surround Dundee-Crown.
"With this outreach, we can help more people by helping organizations that serve families in our district," said Dundee-Crown counselor Judy Gard, sponsor of the event.
"A Community Cares" is a project of Students Assisting Family Emergencies, or SAFE, a committee within Dundee-Crown's service-oriented Beta Club.
This year's event combines a festival with a garage sale and will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 22 at Dundee-Crown - rain or shine.
Clubs from throughout Community Unit District 300 will run activities for kids, while local residents can sell their unwanted items. This year, SAFE has expanded the garage sale to include vendors hawking crafts and collectibles.
"A Community Cares" will also feature a hot rod show, a raffle with more than $2,000 in prizes from area businesses, a silent auction, live entertainment and concessions provided by the Lions Club of Algonquin.
Last year, "A Community Cares" was able to raise more than $4,000, most of which went to the family of Cindy Diaz, a 7-year-old girl who has been diagnosed with leukemia.
"Even though it rained - people still participated," said SAFE member Denisse Espino Barros, a senior from Algonquin. "For it being the first year, I think it was really successful."
Added Algonquin senior Kaitlin Wright: "It really helped them pay their medical bills."
Students leading this year's effort said they have no specific fundraising goal but simply hope to raise as much as possible for the local service groups. They hope to make "A Community Cares" an annual event, benefiting a different cause each year.
To enter the garage sale/vendor portion of the event, call Judy Gard at (224) 484-5046. It costs $10 for two parking spaces in the Dundee-Crown lot.
<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p>
<p class="News"><b>What</b>: A Community Cares, a garage sale and fundraiser to benefit Elgin's Community Crisis Center and Aunt Martha's Youth Service Center</p>
<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 22</p>
<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> The parking lot of Dundee-Crown High School, 1500 Kings Road, Carpentersville</p>
<p class="News"><b>How much?</b> Admission is free; $10 to rent a 15-by-15-foot space</p>
<p class="News"><b>Details:</b> Call (224) 484-5046</p>