'Amelia's Act of Kindness' To Raise Money To Make Homer Glen Playground More Accessible

HOMER GLEN, IL — In January, 9-year-old Luther J. Schilling School student Amelia Burbank had the idea to hold a fundraiser for an ADA accessible playground equipment at her school, while also collecting toys for children in the hospital. She asked her mom, Kim Burbank, for her help.

Head spinning, and knowing the work and stress that can be involved in putting on a fundraiser, Kim said she asked her daughter why she wanted to do this.

"She said she noticed there was no wheelchair accessible playground equipment on her school playground, so she would like to fundraise for a wheelchair swing," Kim told Patch. "She continued to say she also wants to collect toys for kids in the hospital, and she already recruited her whole class to donate their toys."

Amelia told her mom she saw a video on YouTube showing a mom taking her daughter who uses a wheelchair to a special park to use the wheelchair platform swing.

"[I also] broke the news that the idea about the hospital is great, and it's awesome she recruited her whole class, but hospitals only accept new toys," Kim said. She suggested that her daughter could continue to collect the toys, but then sell them at a school-wide type of garage sale and use the money for a swing, and also advertise for a new toy collection at the sale.

"She loved [the idea] and immediately asked for a pen and paper," Kim said. "After hearing all of this, I told her I couldn't say no, but she will be a part of everything to learn what goes into amazing ideas like this. Although, already super busy, I made it clear I would move mountains to make this happen because how do you tell your 9-year-old daughter no to such a thoughtful and selfless idea."

Amelia and her mom began to meet with school administration, and found out that the District had also just been approved for a grant to replace the mulch for new turf at the Schilling playground.

"So everything was naturally just coming together," Kim said.

Throughout the planning process for her fundraiser, Amelia and her mom met with administration to discuss the budget and ideas for equipment that could be used by every single student at Schilling.

"Unfortunately, due to the cost and the needed installation logistics for a wheelchair swing, it was decided by everyone it would not be a good fit at Schilling, but it can be an idea for Amelia to pursue in the future for Heritage Park or something of that nature," Kim said.

Amelia worked with Principal Candis Gasa, talked with her own friends and their experiences on the playground playing with students of all abilities and differing interests.

"The playground equipment Amelia and Principal Gasa decided on would benefit students with all abilities and interests and most importantly, foster inclusion and socialization of all students," Kim said. Between the grant, the District's own budget and funds from the PTO, it was determined that $10,000 would help install the equipment Amelia and Principal Gasa chose.

"We hope to raise $10,000 and if that is exceeded we talked with the PTO and would like the excess to be directed toward a Goodings Grove fund within the PTO budget for a similar purpose; ADA equipment for the playground or the building to foster play, socialization and inclusion of all students with all abilities," Kim said. "The Goodings students eventually come to Schilling for second through fourth grade, so it would be great for the students to be offered the same types of opportunities, a cohesive type of experience from pre-K through fourth grade."

Gently-used toys and home goods are being collected through May 16 at collection boxes at Schilling School, Homer Glen Village Hall, Goodings Grove School, Thrivent Financial, 16612 159th St., in Lockport; and Rush Pediatric Therapy, 14315 108th Ave., Suite 230, in Orland Park.

If you just would like to donate monetarily, you can make checks payable to Goodings Grove Schilling PTO with "Amelia's Act of Kindness" in the memo line.

"Amelia's other hope is this brings awareness starting at a young age and beyond so by the time a student reaches middle school the inclusion and awareness is so natural, it mitigates opportunities of bullying from ignorance," Kim said.

The collected toys and home goods will be sold at Amelia's Act of Kindness School Yard Sale, which is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at Heritage Park in Homer Glen. The sale will also feature a DJ and food trucks. The event is supported by the Village's Ability Awareness Committee and sponsored by Limestone Financial Group of Thrivent (Kim's business team).

You can also donate new toys at the event, which will be given to children in the hospital.

"It amazes me that a 9-year-old saw a need and initiated an idea to rectify it that this 42-year-old didn't even remotely notice," Kim said. "We've all loved watching her ideas and goals explode, and her knowledge expand as she learns and experiences all of the steps involved to make those amazing ideas and goals come to life."