Palatine offers opportunities to do some good

Was one of your New Year's resolutions or Lenten goals to do a little more good? Well, check out these opportunities in Palatine to do just that.

If you have some old athletic shoes around the house, donate them to the Reuse-A-Shoe program sponsored by the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County. The program recycles the shoes into "Nike Grind" material for making running track and other athletic surfaces.

Palatine's Environmental Health Division is participating in the program. A collection box is in the village of Palatine's main floor lobby, 200 E Wood St. until April 30.

Donate only athletic shoes -- do not include shoes with metal eyelets, zippers, batteries, cleats or spikes, wet shoes or shoes with mud. Don't tie shoelaces together or put a rubber band around the shoes.

For more details on the collection, call the Environmental Health Division at (847) 359-9090.

Or maybe you'd prefer to make a difference in the life of an area family that is struggling by donating to the Palatine Township's annual program to provide spring baskets to financially disadvantaged children.

More than 300 children have been identified to receive baskets filled with edible treats and small toys at a Spring Party held at the township, and their families will receive food store gift certificates to cover the cost of a holiday meal.

For more information, stop by the township at 721 S. Quentin Road; call (847) 358-6700; or visit the Web site at www.palatinetownship.com.

If you're much braver than I am, you can participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge at 1 p.m. March 2 at Twin Lakes, 1200 E. Twin Lakes Drive, to benefit Special Olympics Illinois. Participants raise at least $75 in donations for the … um .. privilege of jumping into icy water in the middle of winter.

Registration is from noon to 12:45 p.m. the day of the event or pre-register at www.soill.org. To be eligible to be in the judging contest for awards, plungers must be registered before Saturday online.

Celebrate Palatine: Residents are invited to attend the Celebrate Palatine 2008 business appreciation and expo from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St. Celebrate Palatine is free to attend and the first 100 guests will receive a goody bag from participating retailers. All attendees will be entered to win a $100 savings bond from Bank of Palatine. Durty Nellie's will provide a free snack buffet and finger acoustic guitar performer Merv Collins will provide live entertainment.