Projects, Events in Wheaton Planned for Make a Difference Day

Make a Difference Day is recognized as the national day of doing good things for others.

Wheaton’s Community Relations Commission encourages area residents to take part by joining various projects that are planned for Make a Difference Day, which is this Saturday, Oct. 22. Some events are planned for other days this month and area residents are also encouraged to start their own project.

Here is a look at planned events:

Uniforms that Serve Us

Date: Saturday, Oct. 22
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Location: Wheaton Public Works Building, 821 W. Liberty Drive

Join the Community Relations Commission for an ice cream social and Touch-a-Truck event honoring Wheaton's Police and Fire Departments and the City's adopted Army Battalion. Visitors will receive a free treat coupon for every donation of either a toy for children of the City’s adopted Army Battalion or food item for the Stuff a Truck food collection for People’s Resource Center. Ice cream, hot chocolate and popcorn will be available for purchase.

Stockings for Soldiers

The Community Relations Commission will be sending stockings to the needy families of Wheaton’s Adopted Army Battalion in Fort Riley, Kansas. Items needed for the children (ages 1-13, boys and girls) include: new small children’s books; small toys and games and handheld games (travel size); packs of gum/holiday candy; and children’s items that will fit into a stocking, such as gloves, mittens, hats etc. The commission will collect these items at the Wheaton French Market on Oct. 1, 8 and 15.

Stuff-a-Truck with Food Drive

The organizations and schools below will be collecting healthy, non-perishable food donations for people in need as part of the Stuff-a-Truck with Food Drive. Food donations go to the People’s Resource Center, a nonprofit organization that provides food and other resources for community members in need. The goal is to collect enough food and/or donations to fill the pantry for the month of November, which is a critical month at the center.

• The Wheaton Chamber of Commerce and Wheaton schools will take part in the Stuff a Truck with Food drive. Many local businesses will have collection bins throughout October.
• Studio Movie Grill is offering a free same-day movie admission in exchange for food donations on Oct. 6 and Oct. 20.
• The Wheaton Public Library will be running a Food for Fines program, where food donations made October 22 will forgive some or all of your overdue book fines.
• Town Square will collect food at their Oct. 10 Fall Festival.

Rotarians Against Hunger

Date: Saturday, Oct. 22
Time: 8:30-10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m.
Location: Carol Stream Holiday Inn and Suites, 150 S. Gary Ave., Carol Stream
Several area Rotary Clubs are packing 100,000 meals for hungry people on Make a Difference Day. Volunteers age 7 and up are needed to work together in groups of 11 around tables to pack the food from either 8:30-10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. or 2-4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn and Suites, 150 S. Gary Ave., Carol Stream. Half of the food will go to the Northern Illinois Food Bank, and half will go to hungry families in Nicaragua.

Collection for Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans

Members of Wiesbrook Elementary School's YMCA Indian Princesses group are collecting items for the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans. Individuals and groups are welcome to donate items for homeless veterans such as household items, hygiene products, cleaning products and more to the Freedom Commissary at 433 S. Carlton Ave., Wheaton. View the wish list items athttp://helpaveteran.org/wish-list-donations or contact John Dixon at john@mshv.org or 630-871-617 Ext. 617.

Bulb Planting

Members of the Wheaton Police and Fire Departments will be helping Wheaton elementary schools plant tulip bulbs around the school grounds the week of Oct. 17-21.