Dist. 214 program lets students help seniors

When Ann King first moved into her Mount Prospect home in 1976, she loved working on the landscaping, adding bushes, trees and plants around her property. Thirty-five years later, King. now 71, lives alone and needs a little help keeping up with those chores.

“I’m used to hurrying around, it bugs me that I have to slow down,” King said on Sunday.

Luckily, she has some help. King is one of 30 local homeowners getting assistance from A-OK, or Acts of Kindness, this fall. A-OK is a service organization run by Northwest Suburban High School District 214 in Arlington Heights. The group helps older residents stay in their homes by helping them with outdoor work such as raking leaves, cleaning gutters and other small repairs each fall and spring.

The program partners with Elk Grove Township and Wheeling Township to find homeowners in need.

Teams of high school students do the work, and District 214 community education Director Mike Field said this opens their eyes and teaches them to communicate with older residents.

“It’s a good feeling helping others and helps the kids develop a sense of responsibility and understand why its important to volunteer,” Field said. “And the older adults enjoy talking to the kids and getting to know them, it brightens their day.”

As students from Prospect High School helped clean up King’s yard on Sunday, piling leaves into more than 10 yard waste bags, they were able to talk and get to know one another.

“It feels good to help out,” said Prospect senior Megan McCoy, who does other volunteer projects with the school.

Sponsor Dave Jacobson, Prospect’s service learning coordinator, said he hopes the project breaks down stereotypes between generations, helping teens and older residents learn about one another.

“They might see headlines and think all teens are bad, but this helps them see them in a better light,” he said.

Freshman Katrina Corral said this was her first house with A-OK, but that she was enjoying being able to pitch in and spend her Sunday helping King. “She would not be able to do this on her own so I’m glad we’re here,” she said.

Though somewhat slowed by age and illness, King said she isn’t ready to stop just yet. She spent Sunday helping the students pull weeds, offering food or drinks, and directing the work flow.

“I think I’m pretty bossy,” she said. “I used to be able to do it all myself, but I could never get it all done now. They really work hard and it’s just so appreciated.”