Evergreen Park Dist. 124 Schools Perform Random Acts of Holiday Kindness

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- This holiday season Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124 is giving for the greater good. Several studies suggest that when you give to others, your generosity is likely to be rewarded in your being happier (University of Wisconsin-Madison) and healthier (University of Pennsylvania). Throughout the holiday season, Dist. 124 staff, faculty and students have organized gift exchanges for families in need, gathered toys for children at Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn, collected non-perishable food items for local food pantries and collected mittens and socks for needy children and adults.

Dist. 124 Administrative Office

“The district office staff used to do a holiday gift exchange, but we changed it to focus on the kids,” said Deb Wlodarski, administrative assistant to the director of curriculum. “I’ve been here for 25 years, we’ve been doing this at least 15 years.”

What began as an office grab-bag quickly transitioned to charitable donations given to families most in need.

“The social workers from each school provide names of families they feel could benefit from receiving assistance granting their children a gift from their holiday wish list,” said Jean Hector, administrative assistant to the director of Student Support Services. “With the parent or guardian's consent, district office employees are then able to select an item to purchase specific to that child’s request.”

Jan Stanton, District 124’s community outreach coordinator, added, “The families are always so appreciative, it just warms our hearts watching them pick up their gifts.”

Southeast School

Southeast School has adopted the administrative office’s concept. The staff will decorate a giving tree with wish list items anonymously provided for staff to select and purchase for students most in need.

Northeast and Northwest Student Council

Student Council members from Northeast and Northwest schools are also getting into the spirit of giving. Northeast fifth-grade teacher and student council co-director Jillian Heinrich said both schools are encouraging families to participate in a gift drive by donating toys to benefit pediatric patients at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn.”

Central Middle School

Central Middle School is working on restocking the Evergreen Park food pantry, which often gets depleted after Thanksgiving. On Dec. 2, the middle school hosted a holiday movie night for students with popcorn and other concessions.
“The cost of admission was a nonperishable food item,” said Holly Trojanowski, CMS administrative assistant. “The movie night was a HUGE success, as students covered the gymnasium floor like wall-to-wall carpet. They collected more food - over 200 cans - from just this one night than their previous year’s annual food drive.”
“We’re also asking families that attend our annual winter concert being performed by our award-winning chorus and band on Dec. 20 to bring at least one item,” Trojanowski added.

Southeast Eagle Spirit Booster Club

Southeast School had a head start on this mission, as their Southeast Eagle Spirit Booster club collected a full banquet table of food donations just prior to Thanksgiving break.

Southwest Bulldog Booster Club and Daisy Troop

While toys bring smiles to faces and food warms the soul, Southwest School is hoping to warm extremities. The school’s Bulldog Booster Club is sponsoring a mitten drive and the Daisy Troop is collecting socks.

“There’s going to be a healthy competition between the classrooms to see who can collect the most,” said Therese O’Toole, Southwest School secretary.

The recipients of these donations may never get the privilege of knowing the joy experienced by the givers involved. And, until now, they may not have known the backstory of how they came to receive what was given.
Oh, what fun it is to know.