District 228 students participate in United Way’s “April Food Day”

Students from Hillcrest and Oak Forest High School Key Clubs volunteered their time to support the United Way’s “April Food Day” on Thursday, April 27. Students helped with food collection and distribution from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

The United Way of Metro Chicago collected a number of canned goods and toiletries for those in need. Some of these items included fruit and vegetable juices, bagged rice, canned goods, and meats and stews. All volunteers were split into groups. Oak Forest students unloaded any drop-off items from cars and trucks, while Hillcrest students worked inside sorting items from canned goods to toiletries.

The last year our district was involved in this was in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Oak Forest and Hillcrest were eager to get involved again.

“We have a lot of community members in need of food, and having our students get involved is huge for them,” said Gary Andruch, Key Club sponsor and teacher at Oak Forest High School. “This event brings so many local businesses together to aid people in need, and this shows our students a great example of how to continue this important line of work into adulthood.”

About 20 students from Oak Forest were at the event to volunteer. Hillcrest had 21 student volunteers at the event as well.

“This is a great event because it helps out the close community. This is a whole different magnitude of a food drive,” said Amy Trench, Key Club sponsor, and teacher at Oak Forest High School. “It’s important for our students to be here because they realize that something as simple as needed food isn’t so simple for everyone. Being able to help in any way is a good thing because this is a cause bigger than us.”

Key Club is a nationally recognized organization that works to give back and is comprised of individuals who are selfless and dedicated to helping those in need. All District 228 schools have a Key Club chapter.

About Bremen High School District 228
Bremen High School District 228 is located in the southwest suburbs of Chicago and serves the communities of Midlothian, Posen, Tinley Park, Markham, Hazel Crest, Country Club Hills and Oak Forest. District 228 serves over 5,000 students and employs 800 full and part-time staff members. Bremen High School, in Midlothian, opened its doors to students in September of 1953. Since then, District 228 opened three additional schools. Tinley Park High School opened in 1961; Hillcrest High School, in Country Club Hills, opened in 1967; and Oak Forest High School opened in 1970. For more information, please visit https://www.bhsd228.com/