Sandburg Students Raise More Than $1,000 For Hungry Children

ORLAND PARK, IL — A friendly competition between members of school organizations at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park resulted in an entire pallet of food donated to the Feed My Starving Children location in Aurora.

Lori Varriale, a Sandburg English teacher and supervisor of the school's Amplify Youth Group, said Amplify members challenged the rest of the student body earlier this year to join in their fight against hunger and to raise enough money to help feed one child in need for a full year.

Several organizations took part, and last week students packed 109 boxes, or 23,544 meals. That's enough to feed 65 children for a year. Overall, more than $1,000 was raised as part of the effort.

Other groups that took part include the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Interact Club, Steaming Eagle and the freshmen boys soccer team.

"The students came up with fundraising ideas including selling raffle baskets with donations from the community, collecting change through dedicated coin boxes, opening a Thrivent Seed Money account, holding a Culver’s kickback night and hosting a pancake breakfast in conjunction with the Steaming Eagle," Varriale said.

It was so successful, the challenge could become a yearly endeavor at the school, the teacher added.

According to its website, Feed My Starving Children is "dedicated to seeing every child whole in body and spirit.

"FMSC works with food distribution partners that stay with communities for the long haul, empowering them to move from relief to development."