Crystal Lake Indian Guides, Princesses donate food to pantries

Submitted by Crystal Lake Park District

Area food pantries were the beneficiaries of the hard work and efforts of the 10 tribes that comprise the Crystal Lake Park District Indian Guides and Princesses Program of McHenry County. This effort resulted in all 10 tribes collecting and donating 6,794 pounds of food to local food pantries including Crystal Lake Food Pantry, Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry, FISH of McHenry, FISH of Carpentersville, and the Cary Grove Food Pantry.

All tribes made it a complete learning experience for the Indian Guides and Indian Princesses, by having Guides and Princesses learn about their local food pantries and the need they serve in each of their home communities. From there all tribes were responsible for organizing their individual food drives, collecting food within their community and then arranging for delivery to the food pantry of their choice. In addition, one tribe arranged for the donation of collection bags from Trader Joe’s, and other tribes found companies such as Discover and Meijer that would make matching donations if a tribe member is an employee.

Mohawk Tribe Chief, Mike Labak explained that this was an amazing experience for his Guides and their dads to be able to give back to the community and be involved in all phases of the charitable effort. Chief Labak said “Over 150 people were waiting outside the Carpentersville Fish Pantry for food on the day we dropped off the collection. I know that the Mohawk Tribe had made a positive impact in many family’s lives through our efforts. It was especially meaningful that the Guides helping with the drop off were able to put a face on the statistics they had learned about.”

Here is the breakdown on the collection efforts of the 10 Tribes that are a part of the Crystal Lake Park District Indian Guides and Indian Princesses of McHenry County: Kickapoo Tribe, 719.28 pounds; Shawnee Tribe, 670 pounds; Seminole Tribe, 305.8 pounds; Illinois Tribe, 564 pounds; Mohawk Tribe, 600 pounds; Illinois North Tribe, 795 pounds; Mahican Tribe, 517 pounds; Sioux Tribe, 61 pounds; Seneca Tribe, 487.2 pounds; and Barefoot Tribe, 2,075 pounds

In addition, several of the tribes collected cash donations which went directly to the food pantry.

The grand total was 6,794 pounds of food plus additional cash donations.

Indian Guides and Indian Princesses of McHenry County is a Crystal Lake Park District program designed to foster the father and child relationship and ensure quality time is spent together in a variety of activities and outings. Tribe meetings and events are held once a month and designed to teach children and appreciation for nature as well as the respect of family and traditions. Events include campouts, sporting events, cardboard boat regatta, pinewood derby, theater and community involvement. The program runs concurrent with the school year, August through June. Tribes are assigned based on hometown region. For more information about Indian Guides and Indian Princesses of McHenry County, call Connie Cooke at the Crystal Lake Park District, (815) 459-0680, ext. 213 or email to ccooke@crystallakeparks.org.