Plainfield Pre-K Teacher's Son Inspires Collection For Troops

PLAINFIELD, IL — A preschool teacher’s son serving in the U.S. Navy inspired the students at Plainfield Park District’s Great Adventure Preschool in Plainfield to take up a collection for the troops. Students collected personal hygiene products and other items for teacher Coleen Bollinger’s son Jeremy to distribute to his fellow service members.

Jeremy is serving on the USS KIDD stationed near Washington State. Her son Adam also serves in the Navy.

Leslie Anderson, Recreation Manager for Early Childhood for the Plainfield Park District, said that her staff created a flag mural made of individual items printed on slips of paper, each with a troop members’ wish list item. Students and their parents were invited to take a slip and donate one of the items. As more items were taken from the wall, it revealed a U.S. flag underneath.

Anderson said that word got out to other Park District employees, elected Park Board members, and parents of kids in other programs who also made donations.

In total, students, parents, and Park District employees collected enough items to fill 13 large boxes. Items collected included everything from granola bars to socks, Chap Stick, Girl Scout Cookies, some heart-shaped boxes of chocolate and ramen noodles among many others. Park District staff also collected stamps and monetary donations to help defray the cost of shipping.

Anderson said that the Great Adventure preschoolers helped pack the boxes before they were shipped out, calling it “a great lesson in kindness and generosity!”

She said that Ms. Bollinger’s son Jeremy received the shipment in late March and that “the goodies we sent to him and his fellow crew members on the USS KIDD and were much appreciated.”

About the Plainfield Park District

Founded in 1966, The Plainfield Park District is the 9th largest park district in the State of Illinois, serving over 105,000 residents and covering just over 43 square miles. The District serves both Will and Kendall Counties and includes park space and facilities in 7 communities including Plainfield and Wheatland Townships, Bolingbrook, Crest Hill, Joliet, Plainfield, and Romeoville. The District is an Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency for excellence in delivering parks and recreation services.

Photos:

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• Student photo: Students at the Plainfield Park District Great Adventures Preschool help pack donations they collected for teacher Coleen Bollinger’s son and his crew mates in the Navy.
• Troop photo: Navy crew members received donations from Great Adventures Preschool students along with hand-written notes thanking them for their service.
• Flag photo: As more Plainfield Park District Great Adventures students took wish list items, they revealed a U.S. Flag underneath.

Submitted by the Plainfield Park District