Generous Donation Helps Spearhead 'Fill The Backpack' Drive In Oak Forest

OAK FOREST, IL -- Oak Forest firefighter Kurt DeGroot is known around the community for his good deeds. He’s the founder of the “Project Fire Buddies” program that pairs firefighters with young cancer victims to lift their spirits and its spinoff “Fill the Backpack” campaign that began just this summer as a way to help local children in need have the backpacks and school supplies necessary to start the school year on the right foot.

But it was a man not familiar with this community, one of DeGroot’s friends, who helped spearhead the backpack campaign to heights no one thought would be attainable in its first year.

Dennis Kostandin lives in Arizona. He hasn’t been to Oak Forest and other than his friendship with DeGroot has no connection to the town. That didn’t stop him from donating 180 backpacks and 16 packages of pencils to the campaign that in its first year only sought to provide 100 backpacks to Oak Forest students in need.

“When Dennis saw what we are doing, it really pulled at his heart strings,” DeGroot said. “The generosity of this man is unbelievable. He isn’t a rich man, just an average Joe who fosters four kids at his house while bringing joy to others.”

Kostandin, who donates several hours a week to helping the homeless in Arizona, says his only goal is to “do the best with what I have.”

“I’ve been friends with Kurt before he started the program and my main reason for doing it is that I want to help push him along and help him keep doing it,” Kostandin said. “I know from what I do with the homeless that it is hard to do stuff on your own without people helping you. But with people helping you, you are really unstoppable for the community.”

DeGroot knew that Kostandin was planning on helping spearhead the backpack drive in some way, but - even knowing his friend’s nature for generosity - was still taken aback when “five enormous boxes” arrived at his front door one day.
“This is nothing new for Dennis,” DeGroot said. “Last year, he donated three TVs during a union fundraiser after never being asked.”

DeGroot says that about 200 students in Oak Forest are in need of backpacks and school supplies every year. And now, thanks to Kostandin’s donation, the drive’s focus shifts to filling the backpacks with school supplies.

Residents can help the drive themselves by dropping off the supplies at several locations in town that are drop-off spots, including both fire stations, City Hall, Marcotte’s Bar and Grill, thorntonpowell Insurance, Jewel, the Oak Forest Park District, AAA Daycare, Anytime Fitness and St. Damian Church.

Anytime Fitness also plans to match any donations made there, DeGroot said.

After the donations are gathered, DeGroot plans to take the backpacks and supplies to local elementary schools and have the principals there determine which children are in need and will receive them.

Photo courtesy of Oak Forest Fire Department