Mundelein students and police serve veterans

Posted May 02, 2017 11:00 pm

Fremont District 79 submission

Mundelein Crime Prevention Officer Rachel Messina prepares to serve veterans at a recent Mundelein After School Coalition event. Courtesy of Fremont District 79

The Mundelein Police Department and area school students spent a recent Friday serving a multicourse meal to dozens of veterans.

The police department oversees the Mundelein After School Coalition, which includes students from area middle schools and Mundelein High School. The coalition provides activities for adolescents after school lets out that are safe and which keeps them from making poor decisions. Part of the group's mission is to offer outreach services to the community.

About a dozen coalition students representing M.H.S., Fremont Middle School, Carl Sandburg Middle School and West Oak Middle School brainstormed different groups for which to raise funds, from pets to veterans, and settled on assisting local veterans. A fee-based Halloween event helped them raise $500, which they donated to local veteran groups.

Fremont School seventh-graders Avery Refka and Natalie Altenhoff of the Mundelein After School Coalition serve food to local veterans. Courtesy of Fremont District 79

Mundelein Police Chief Eric J. Guenther thanks veterans for service at the Mundelein After School Coalition event. Courtesy of Fremont District 79

Mundelein District 75 Superintendent Andy Henrikson helps in the kitchen at the Mundelein After School Coalition event. The coalition includes representatives of the Mundelein Police Department and schools in four school districts. Courtesy of Fremont District 79