Montini Catholic hosts successful coat drive during Catholic Schools Week

In conjunction with Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 30-Feb. 5), members of Montini Catholic's Bronco Football Team teamed up with the school's Campus Ministry to sponsor a coat drive with donations benefiting John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County.

The Montini group worked with Montini Catholic alumnus, Dr. Michael Alebich, Class of 2003, who is the clinical documentation physician leader, co-director of Medical Student Programs and attending physician at Stroger. Dr. Alebich was also a member of Montini's football team back in the day.

Last year, Dr. Alebich reached out to his alma mater in the hopes that Broncos could provide assistance in obtaining new and gently used coats for the hospital's many underinsured patients - many of whom are without basics.

"I remember one day a patient was ready for discharge. It was maybe 15 degrees outside and he was undomiciled," he said. "To make matters worse, his clothes were discarded in the emergency department. We had to buy him clothes as we had limited supplies in our social work office for a man of his size.

"I felt this was an easy fix. I thought to myself, 'I'll ask the Montini community, they will donate and this situation won't happen again'," Dr. Alebich said. "I wasn't disappointed."

With so much success last year theology department chair Michael Blanchette decided to do it again and Coach Mike Bukovsky was happy to get his team involved.

"There's always a need for warm coats in Chicago," Blanchette said.

The team promoted the drive leading up to Catholic Schools Week and began accepting donations mid-January through Jan. 28.

"We were honored to be able to help Dr. Alebich and his patients at Stroger," Blanchette said. "There is no better time (than Catholic Schools Week) to demonstrate compassion and kindness toward those in need. We are very happy that Dr. Alebich reached out to us and will continue our relationship with Stroger in the hopes of helping even more of those in need in the future."

"Our entire Bronco community was extremely generous this year, as we collected and dropped off over 150 coats for the less fortunate community surrounding Stroger Hospital," Bukovsky said. "Dr. Alebich and his staff were very appreciative, as this year's drive was even more successful than last year's!," Bukovsky said. "He gave a special thanks to the members of the Bronco Football Program and the Campus Ministry Department for their leadership and initiative in helping those in need, and carrying on the true LaSallian mission!"

"On behalf of Stroger Hospital and the patients we serve, I send a heartfelt thank you for the generous donation from the Montini family," Dr. Alebich said. "These coats may seem like a small gesture to the individual donator, but they will go a long way to assist our neediest patients."