La Grange Park Effort Promotes Reusing Of School Supplies

LA GRANGE PARK, IL – A recycling drive for school supplies occurs every year at schools in the La Grange Park area as part of the village's Sustainability Commission.

Commission members Donna Twickler and Annette Henry have been handling the event for four years.

They took it over from Carol Johnson and Marylee Larson, who ran it for three decades out of a garage in Western Springs.

Twickler and Henry said 11 schools from the western suburbs donated school supplies this year. On Friday, other local schools will pick up the packed school supplies for next school year.

Last year, 20 schools and La Grange Park's Children's Closet picked up school supplies.

Rick Radde, La Grange Park's public works director, said, "This is a special day to see all the 30-plus volunteers come out and sort school supplies and keep them out of the landfill."

He also said the school supplies will go out to help other families who don't get such supplies or can't afford them.