L-W Students Get into Giving Back, Dedicate February to Community Service

—Submitted by Lincoln-Way High School District 210

At Lincoln-Way High School District 210, February’s Asset of the Month is Service to Community and students at the district’s four high schools embraced the character building program, demonstrating their dedication to giving back.

Students from each of Lincoln-Way’s four high schools participated in Feed My Starving Children on February 27-28 at Lincoln-Way West. The event is organized by Lincolnway Area MobilePack to provide food to malnourished children throughout the world. There were 65 student volunteers from Lincoln-Way Central, 90 from East, 75 from North and 70 from West.

During their session, students from Lincoln-Way East and Lincoln-Way North joined area volunteers to pack 63,720 meals which can potentially feed 175 children for an entire year. The cost of the ingredients was $14,018.

In another session, students from Lincoln-Way Central and Lincoln-Way West joined area volunteers to pack 60,480 meals which can potentially feed 165 children for an entire year. The cost of the ingredients was $13,305.

At Lincoln-Way West, students dedicated their community service projects to honor the memory of former classmate Lucy Prunty who passed away in 2012. Prunty was treated at Lurie Children’s Hospital for osteosarcoma and would have been a senior at Lincoln-Way West this year.

Among the community service projects dedicated to Prunty’s memory, students at Lincoln-Way West made 42 fleece blankets to donate to Lurie Children’s Hospital, made more than 400 cards for children being treated at Lurie, collected more than 300 toys to donate to The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation, and made an $800 donation in memory of Prunty to the Miracle Destiny School in Uganda.

“There was a lot of energy and excitement around the students’ community service projects,” said Heather Novak, Lincoln-Way West Activities and Asset Coordinator. “Lucy’s memory really inspired the students to give back and to demonstrate an exceptional amount of compassion and selflessness. Lucy would be proud of all her classmates accomplished for others in need.”

At the conclusion of February’s month of community service, Lincoln-Way Central will host the annual Asset Weekend to celebrate the program, its community partners, and the difference it continues to make in the lives of high school students.

Area families are invited to the 22nd annual Family Fun Faire on Saturday, March 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lincoln-Way Central High School, 1801 E. Lincoln Highway for a pancake breakfast, donations accepted, from 9 to 10:00 a.m. and a morning of entertainment. The Fun Faire is organized by area park districts including Frankfort, Frankfort Square, Manhattan, Mokena, and New Lenox.

The pancake breakfast and faire activities will be held in the north cafeteria and north gymnasium of the Central campus. Directional signs will be provided. The pancake breakfast is sponsored by the T.E.A.M (“Teaching Everyone Assets Matter) Asset Committee which is made up of members from area churches, park districts, chambers of commerce, and school districts.

The Faire will include games, giveaways, raffles and bounce houses for children, as well as performances from Hughes Academy of Irish Dance, Ignite Cheerleading, All About Music & Children’s Theatre, Family Martial Arts and Advanced Fencing Academy

Faire attendees are encouraged to bring a small toy which will be donated to the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest foundation.

For more information about the Family Fun Faire, visit www.newlenoxparks.org.

Captions:

Students Holding Blanket: Lincoln-Way West students Michaela Bulthuis, Deven Bax, Renee Propp, Nathan Scalone & Anna Pigney display the fleece blanket they made to donate to Lurie Children’s Hospital

Students Serving Food: Juniors Shea Soraghan, Gianna Delia, Gabby Wilkes, Tiffany Buis are hard at work packing meals for Feed My Starving Children.