High schools in District 228 usually hold an employee appreciation week in May that celebrates all the staff throughout the district with a variety of activities including small gifts, breakfast bars, or a catered lunch.
This year, Bremen High School in Midlothian instead turned its staff appreciation celebration into a community appreciation week. School officials teamed up with Double Good Popcorn to host a virtual fundraiser, in which staff set up virtual popcorn sales to family and friends. Double Good gave 50 percent of the profits back to Bremen High School to give to any organization of its choice.
The school raised $5,500, which will be used for meals and gift cards to families purchased from local restaurants and grocers. Bremen will also be making a donation to a local food pantry.
Bremen High School’s community appreciation week stems from an earlier collaboration with Double Good Popcorn. The popcorn organization donated 100 bags of popcorn to be distributed to families during lunch pickups at District 228 schools in April.
Southland sisters make masks, raise cash for Crisis Center
The Crisis Center for South Suburbia, which provides emergency shelter and other essential services for individuals and families victimized by domestic violence, has lost more than $300,000 in revenue since its Neat Repeats resale stores have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are incredibly grateful for the individuals who so generously support us knowing that our needs are greater than ever,” said Lorri Nagle, director of development for the Crisis Center.
Two of those supporters are Orland Park resident Mary Monczynski and her sister, Lockport resident Dorothy Veraveic.
Monczynski started sewing fabric face masks several months ago to give to the nursing home and doctor’s office where family members work. She started getting requests from others for masks, which evolved into a mission to benefit local charities, including the Crisis Center.
“I started getting requests from people, so I thought why not make masks, sell them, and turn all the money I make over to different local charities?” Monczynski said.
Her sister, Lockport resident Dorothy Veraveic, took up the cause with her. The sisters have already made and sold hundreds of masks, and each time they raise $1,000 they donate it to a local charity. The Crisis Center was the second recipient of the sisters’ generosity.
“We thought the Crisis Center would be a good place to give money to, especially knowing that the needs are greater now with so many victims being shut in,” Monczynski said.
Frankfort Kiwanis bring pizza to Silver Cross ER staff
The Kiwanis Club of Frankfort, with the help of the clubs newest member, Paul Baio owner of Palermo’s Pizza and Catering in Frankfort, donated 80 slices of pizza for lunch to the emergency room medical staff at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.
Frankfort Kiwanis President Jim Humenik and Kiwanis Division 23 Lt. Gov. Sam Giordano made the delivery last week.
Baio just joined the club two months ago and Kiwanis leaders are planning more donations over the next few months to local community heroes.
Franciscan Health Pinwheel Garden celebrates recoveries
Franciscan Health Olympia Fields coworkers and physicians recently planted 367 pinwheels in the hospital’s Pinwheel Garden of Hope and Health. Each pinwheel represents one COVID-19 patient who has been discharged from the hospital. The garden, located in front of the hospital’s Main Entrance on Crawford Avenue, is planned to grow weekly.
“This colorful garden is a symbol of hope and inspiration for our healthcare team and the community we serve,” said Mari Lynn Ross, chief nursing officer at the hospital. “Every one of these pinwheels is a victory for our caregivers, our patients and their families. In an area that has been significantly impacted by COVID-19, it is encouraging to see that people are getting better and going home.”
Franciscan Health Olympia Fields has created several ways that hospital staff celebrate the hope found in COVID-19 patient milestones. In addition to the Pinwheel Garden, the hospital has been playing music on its public address system: “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles for COVID-19 patients who have been extubated, and the Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s “Messiah” every time a COVID-19 patient is discharged. Additionally, a Franciscan Health nurse created a “success board” that includes a tally of patients removed from a ventilator and the number of discharged patients.
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