Parade-style event at Libertyville High School aids annual food pantry collection

For more than 30 years around the holidays, Libertyville High School students have collected food and supplies for the needy.

But this year featured a first.

With Willie the Wildcat mascot up front followed by drums and cymbals, a wave of students paraded through the halls on route to trucks bound for the Libertyville Township food pantry waiting outside.

"One of the goals this year was to have a visual for our students to see the amazing work of our collection," said Jennifer Uliks, student activities director.

Among the eye-catchers worn by student council members and teachers were colorful pullover costumes, takeoffs of a variety of familiar brand name food products. Uliks, for example, wore "Prungles" reminiscent of a certain snack chip.

"Some brave staff wore them all last week as a final push to motivate classes and students to participate," she said.

This is the school's "serve season," one of four throughout the year to demonstrate community spirit and assistance. There are other efforts such as a coat drive and shoe collection but the canned food drive - actually non-perishables - is the big one.

Students earlier blitzed neighborhoods with information and picked up donations this past Saturday.

The parade and drum line was held Monday at the beginning of second period and students from participating classes joined as it passed.

"We're making it fun but also helping people during Thanksgiving time," said junior Jana Eabdel, a student council member. "It's always good to give back."

An exact count wasn't available but boxes, bags and other containers of canned goods, nonperishable food and supplies filled the beds of four small trucks.

"Typically, we see 40 to 50 households a week. Now, it's up to 120," said Kathleen O'Connor, Libertyville Township supervisor who helped load supplies Monday. "The economy is really taking a toll on the families we serve."

The food pantry is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Tuesday to those who provide proof of Libertyville Township residency. Families can use the pantry weekly.

Between cash and food donations, the pantry hasn't fallen short, O'Connor said.

"This is one of our biggest food drives so it really helps us," she added.

Visit Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128's webstore to donate through December.

The food pantry serves Libertyville and Green Oaks and portions of Grayslake, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Mettawa, Mundelein, North Chicago, Vernon Hills and Waukegan.

Besides English, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian are spoken by families using the pantry, according to O'Connor.

Donated funds have been used to buy 52,131 pounds of food from Northern Illinois Food Bank and Sam's Club. Tax dollars are not used to buy food, O'Connor said.