4 Girls Organize Bake Sales To Help New Lenox Fire

NEW LENOX, IL - Over the past several months, the village of New Lenox has been divided by controversy. Many residents want to see their fellow property owners step up and support the New Lenox Fire Protection District, to approve a tax increase, to improve funding for the agency. The naysayers around New Lenox say enough is enough. They are fed up with rising property taxes. Then, along came four young girls who attend Spencer Crossing Intermediate School in New Lenox.

The four girls attended Monday night's New Lenox Village Board meeting. They introduced themselves to Mayor Tim Baldermann and fellow village officials and informed the village of their plan, a grand plan, to raise lots and lots of money over the summer to help out the New Lenox Fire Protection District.

One of the students, who identified herself as McKenna, did most of the talking at this week's meeting.

"So us four all came up with the idea to do bake sales for the fire department," McKenna told the village board Monday night. "The bake sales will be held June 20, movie night, July 20, food truck Friday, and August 7, National Night Out."

McKenna explained to New Lenox how she and her friends have visited with several businesses about donating supplies for raffle baskets including gift cards to assist in their bake sale events.

Mayor Tim Baldermann then commented, "Well, girls, we're awfully proud of you. Obviously for the fire department to be successful, they're going to need a referendum to pass, and we did what we could on our end in the interest of public safety. Bake sales, it's not about a bake sale being able to solve the problem.

"To me, what it's about are four young people from our community that are setting an example for adults. It doesn't matter how old you are ... Every dollar is helpful to go toward public safety, but more importantly, girls, it's that you're involved, you're not just talking about it.

"Everybody has a tendency to have great idea but they don't follow through on them."

Baldermann complimented the children for going out, talking to businesses, and doing all of this "while school is still going on.

"We're awfully proud of you girls ... and know that the village will support you in any way we can. OK? Great job! I think that's wonderful!"

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In the video below, the four girls appear before the village board at around the 1:50 mark continuing to around 4:30 mark.

Image and video via village of New Lenox