Jacobs students grow produce, raise funds for pantry
Two local high school students and their environmental club are organizing a fundraiser at a coffee house along the Randall Road corridor to help raise funds and food for a food pantry.
Anthony Engle and Meredith Russell, both freshmen at Jacobs High School who live Lake in the Hills, are members of the Jacobs High School Green Eagles Club.
The environmental club does a lot of planting, fundraising and volunteer work, said Engle.
On a recent trip to the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Food Pantry, members of the club realized the community organization could use some help.
In the past few years the pantry has started growing fresh produce for their consumers, Engle said.
The Green Eagle group decided to help out their cause by raising money to purchase tools, seeds and other gardening necessities so the food pantry could continue this work, Engle said.
"We hope to get a good amount of funds from this fundraiser," he said. "This money will help the community by growing fresh produce that can be served to families in need that might not be able to afford it."
The Green Eagle Club fundraiser will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 25 and noon to 5 p.m. March 26 at Daily Projects Café and Eatery in Algonquin, 124 S. Randall Road.
On those days, the Green Eagle Club members will be collecting spare change from customers to help the fundraising drive. Customers can give any amount, even more than just spare change.
In addition to collecting money on those days, leading up to the fundraisers, guests at Daily Projects can also help the pantry by donating food items, Engle said.
Engle said he and Russell decorated a depository box for the food pantry, which will be in Daily Projects until March 26.
The owners of Daily Projects, Kevin Rhee and Sang Hong, said they are happy to help out the community by allowing people to use their expansive interior for a good cause.
It is their goal to not only serve up great drinks and food, but to also become an integral part of the community.
Opening their doors to community groups is one way to reach out to more people and to give back at the same time, they said.
Daily Project, which is just north of Jacobs High School along Randall Road, has become a popular spot with the students since it opened. It seemed a natural place to hold the fundraiser.
To contact Daily Projects, call (224) 209-8636.
To contribute to the fundraiser, contact Engle at Anthony.engle@yahoo.com or (773) 817-2712.
• Amy Williams' column covers all the news of business along the Randall Road corridor from Batavia to Crystal Lake. Contact her at randallbiz@comcast.net or (847) 894-5036.