Retired District 200 teacher helping kids get ready for school

As a retired teacher and administrator in Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200, Lori Belha knows how important it is for kids to start the school year right.

And she’s determined that all kids in the central DuPage area do just that by providing 1,500 backpacks to students in need.

While Belha has a past life in education, she lives and breathes her current life of service to others. When she isn’t attending Wheaton Rotary meetings (where she is president-elect), she is either cutting grass for her church in Warrenville, volunteering at District 200 schools testing students, or organizing fellow District 200 retirees to participate in the “Give Back Club,” a group Belha formed after she retired in 2011.

She insists she’s enjoying her retirement because, “when you are truly doing what you love to do, it isn’t work.”

For those who know Belha, they know she has a knack for “rallying people” behind a cause.

“Every teacher knows the first day of school is very important for each student,” Belha said. “To have a backpack filled with school supplies is just one way that we can help a student begin a positive and happy journey throughout the school year.”

With the help of other service groups and businesses — including the Central DuPage A.M. Rotary, Fifth Third Bank in Warrenville, the Give Back Club, and Trinity Lutheran Church in Warrenville — the Wheaton Rotary Club has purchased 1,500 backpacks for kids in need.

In turn, the Wheaton Rotary will provide 850 backpacks to the Humanitarian Service Project, 400 to the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce’s Backpack Drive, and 150 to the churches of Warrenville.

Belha’s church, Trinity Lutheran, has committed to fill the remaining 100 with at least 10 school supply items.

“It is so gratifying and fulfilling to work with both the Rotary club members and Give Back Club members who have the same passion for helping others that I have,” Belha said.

“The needs in our community continue to grow and I am blessed to have the time and energy to help in many different projects. I have met a lot of other people who have the same vision to coordinate and organize volunteers who can help in so many ways. We would welcome anyone who wants to join us and volunteer.”

The Rotary Club of Wheaton meets at 12:10 p.m. Wednesdays at Arrowhead Golf Club on Butterfield in Wheaton.