District 157-C schools coming together to support our troops

District 157-C families, students and staff are helping to make things brighter for American soldiers for the holidays. Through the District Charitable Giving Committee, the schools will be collecting and organizing gift packages for the men and women who are serving in the armed forces. Frankfort community members are welcome to join the schools to support this effort.

The collection will begin on Veterans Day, November 11, through November 20. Community members wishing to donate items to soldiers overseas should bring them during school hours to Grand Prairie Elementary School, 10480 W. Nebraska in Frankfort or Chelsea Intermediate School, 22265 S. 80th Avenue in Frankfort.

Items should be provided in small sizes that soldiers could easily carry. Suggested items include Christmas stockings, Christmas candy, chocolate candy (individually wrapped,) hard candies, twizzlers and beef jerky (individually wrapped,) new DVD’s, lip balm (Chapstick,) AA or AAA batteries, dental floss/floss picks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, men’s body wash, foot powder, Kleenex (travel size,) travel size shampoo, conditioner, lotion (like what you get at a hotel,) individually wrapped snacks, granola bars, peanuts, cereal bars, fruit snacks, trail mix, sunflower seeds, Tic-Tacs/lifesavers/mints, gum, individual cold drink mix and coffee/tea packets, peanut butter (28 ounces or less in plastic jars only,) jelly (32 ounces or less in plastic jars only,) socks (white only with NO Logos,) puzzle books, snacks like Goldfish or cookies, baby wipes, decks of cards, hand-held games, microwave popcorn, microwave Easy Mac, small cans of fruit and packages of dried fruit.

The schools will hold Popsicle sales on November 11 and December 11 to raise funds for postage, however, funding the costs to mail the packages is an annual challenge. Community members who wish to support our troops by helping to defray postage costs can send a check made out to Frankfort School District 157-C and mail it to 10482 W. Nebraska, Frankfort, IL 60423, marked “Care Packages for the Troops.” Donations may be tax-deductible; please consult your tax accountant regarding your donation.

Students will also be writing thank you cards to show their appreciation to those serving. If community members know of anyone who is serving in the armed forces and would like a gift package to be sent to them, please e-mail their name and address before November 20 to either Becky Cleveland at Grand Prairie (BCleveland@fsd157c.org), Tammy Szkolny at Chelsea (TSzkolny@fsd157c.org) or Cheryl Donovan at Hickory Creek (CDonovan@fsd157c.org.) The packages and thank you cards will be sent out in November to show support to all those brave men and women serving our country.