Naperville Preschool Program Launches 'Pennies for Pies' Drive

Submitted by the Naperville Park District

The Naperville Park District’s preschool program will launch its 8th annual “Pennies for Pies” drive from November 3-14 to benefit Naperville’s Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry.

Golfers in the annual “Turkey Shoot” golf tournament at Springbrook and Naperbrook Golf Courses also will be able to contribute turkeys to benefit area families in need. Each player will receive a prize turkey with their entry fee; players have the option of donating their turkey to Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry.

The 2014 Turkey Shoot golf tournament will take on Saturday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 23 at both golf courses. Each shoot will consist of a field of up to ninety players—a total of eighteen fivesome teams. Registration will be in person only on Saturday, November 15starting at 6:30 a.m. at Naperbrook Golf Course.

“Loaves & Fishes is grateful for our longtime partnership with the Naperville Park District in helping to provide some key ingredients of the Thanksgiving meal, turkeys and pies, to our families so that they can make beautiful memories around their holiday tables,” said Jody Bender, director of community engagement for Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry. “The pies from the preschool’s Pennies for Pies and turkeys from the Turkey Shoot will provide key elements of the Thanksgiving meal. We expect nearly 2,000 families to receive Thanksgiving groceries from Loaves & Fishes and appreciate this generous outreach from the Naperville Park District and the community.”

Naperville Park District preschoolers will be encouraged to bring in pennies and other small change during the first two weeks of November.

Park District staff, local businesses, and the general public are invited to participate in the drive, contributing small change as well as larger donation amounts. Donations will be accepted at the following locations through November 14, 2014:

• · Park District Administration Building, 320 W. Jackson Ave. Hours of operation are from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon on Saturday.
• Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center, located at 305 W. Jackson Ave. Hours of operation are: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. & Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• 95th Street Center, located at 2244 W. 95th St. Hours of operation are: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Knoch Knolls Nature Center, located at 320 Knoch Knolls Road. Hours of operation are: Monday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. andSunday, 12:00 noon-5:00 p.m.

All donations will be used to purchase pies for the Loaves & Fishes 2014 Thanksgiving food distribution.