Community Corner

Teens Giving Back Across Southland Saturday

Charitable efforts conceived and run by teens are happening in Orland Park, Palos Hills, Tinley Park, Frankfort, Mokena and New Lenox on Saturday for Global Youth Service Day.

Ben Feldheim's profile picture
Ben Feldheim, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
|

Teens across the south suburbs will be taking part in an array of charitable service efforts Saturday.

Staff at The Bridge Teen Center in Orland Park decided to put a challenge to local teens not just to participate in service projects, but also to design and oversee them too. With 27 projects happening within 50 miles of Chicago, including 11 in the south suburbs, Global Youth Service Day will go into action Saturday.

“I’m really excited for such a collaborative effort,” said Jenn Jones, program associate at The Bridge. “It’s really been interesting to see them decide how to take charge, cut aspects, or add them, and craft their focus onto a main point, a main goal they want to achieve. They are very organized. We hope this will be the first year of many.”

Find out what's happening in Orland Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Tyler Sucharzewski, 18, from Tinley Park, organized a large toy sorting at Smith Crossing in Orland Park for the Toybox Connection, a non-profit that collects used toys, books and other items to donate to families in need.

“We’ll make sure all the toys work properly before they are donated,” Sucharzewski said.

Find out what's happening in Orland Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Getting the effort organized was a great learning experience, Sucharzewski said.

“The coolest part is while we are volunteering, I’ll know there are six others happening right in my neighborhood,” he said.

Take a look at all of the projects happening Saturday, where they are located and times they will be running. The $6 entry earns participants breakfast and a tshirt.

Project Location Time Description Cost Cancer Support Center Gala

Olympia Fields Country Club

2800 Country Club Dr.

Olympia Fields, IL

7:30pm-10:30pm The Mokena Cancer Support Center is an organization that serves people living with cancer in the community. They provide FREE comprehensive resources that help people improve their quality of life during the cancer experience. The center hosts an annual gala to raise funds for their organization, and at this project students will be helping out at the gala. Jobs will be a variety of event execution needs from passing out programs to taking tickets. $6 Toybox Connection with Smith Crossing

Smith Crossing,

10501 Emilie Lane

Orland Park, IL

10am-Noon Smith Crossing is a premier senior living community that offers care, services and residences for seniors. During these two hours, volunteers will work with residents of Smith Crossing to help sort toys for an organization called Toybox Connection. This charity strives to touch the lives of children in need through the gift of a toy or book. In order to do this they must make sure that all toys are in working order. At this project volunteers will work with the residents to help go through the toys to make sure they are suitable to be given to children. If you like playing with toys, this is the project for you! $6 Day of Play

Lincoln Way North High School,

Main Gym

11am-2pm

*This time recently changed from the original 9am start time due to a gym conflict at LWN.

Volunteers are needed to help run a 3-on-3 basketball tournament being held to benefit the Children's Miracle League. The Miracle League is a charitable organization that provides children with mental and/or physical challenges an opportunity to play baseball as a team member in an organized league. Proceeds from this tournament will go toward building a new baseball field in the Frankfort area. The tournament is open to middle and high school students and will consist of 10 minute, half court games played tournament style. Volunteers will be asked to referee the games, manage the score and time clocks, and manage team registrations. If any students have knowledge of the game of basketball, this is a great project to register for. Put that knowledge to use by helping referee this Day of Play benefiting a great cause. $6 Military Spouse Appreciation

The Bridge Teen Center

15555 S 71st Court

Orland Park, IL

10am-Noon Military Spouse Appreciation Day is May 10, 2013. It is important to recognize the spouses on the home front who have to go on everyday worrying about their husband or wife who is overseas. With your help, we can give them a relaxing, care-free day in a box. On April 27th, we will be packing the boxes with lotion, body scrubs, nail polish, stationary, etc. and making thank you cards for the spouses. Join in, as we commend these military spouses! $6 Stagg's Helping Hands Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 10am-Noon Students will be participating in several service projects listed below:

-Revamping the bulletin boards in the hallways.

-Switching out photos and artwork in picture frames that will be hung in the hallways. 

-Making a collage of current pictures of students, which will be later displayed for students to see.

Also, participants will be creating care packages which will be given to patients with cancer.  These packages will consist of items such as blankets, hats, games, personalized messages, etc.  A representative from Imerman Angels, an organization dedicated to helping patients with cancer in their times of need, will be speaking to the group of volunteers.

By giving up a few hours of our time, and with the support of our school and community, we can change the lives of many people! 

$6 Pregnancy Aid South Suburbia

PASS in Tinley Park

17214 Oak Park Ave  

Tinley Park, IL

9am-11am PASS assists men and women through the challenges of unplanned pregnancies. They provide services, care, and tangible items such as diapers, car seats, baby formula, and more. At this project students will be helping PASS by organizing and packing some of the tangible items available for parents. Spend a few hours of your time assisting an organization dedicated to serving the community and make someone's day a little brighter. $6 My Joyful Heart

Cooper Supply Building

8605 Springlake Drive

Mokena, IL

Meet in front of the building.

9am-11am My Joyful Heart is a charity that provides assistance to Chicago area and suburban children in need. They provide the little things that may often be missing in the life of a child- jackets in the winter, shoes that fit, birthday presents, and more. By providing these gift packages regularly throughout the year they extend love and hope to these children, making them feel special and letting them know that people do care. Spend a few hours helping sort and organize items in the warehouse to be given to children. $6 Cancer Support Center Supply Drive

Dominck's in Frankfort

19965 S La Grange Road

Frankfort, IL

11am-1pm The Cancer Support Center in Mokena provides free comprehensive resources that help people improve their quality of life during the cancer experience. For this project students will be handing out wishlists of needed items from the Mokena Cancer Support Center to costumers of Dominicks. Students will be encouraging customers to purchase an item from the wish list and help collecting their donations on the way out. $6 Forever U 5K Fun Run/ Walk Hickory Hollow Shelter- Hickory Creek Laporte Road Access trail. 

Student volunteers arrive at 8am.

Run begins at 9am

This is a 5k run/walk race that will raise money for a local organization called ForeverU that raises awareness and solutions for bullying, depression and suicide among teens. It was started by a 16 year old student named Ryan Hesslau who has a passion for helping students through these difficult issues. There is a 25 dollar entry fee for anyone who wants to participate as a runner or walker. All proceeds will go towards Forever U, to help this organization raise the funds to become a cleared non-profit organization. Students who sign up as volunteers will participate in registration, handing out t-shirts or water, cheering on runners/walkers, running bullying awareness stations alongside the trail,etc. $6 PAWS Animal Shelter Landscaping

PAWS Animal Shelter

8301 W 191st Street

Tinley Park, IL

9am-11am PAWS is a local animal shelter dedicated to the protection of domestic animals, and the prevention of animal cruelty in the surrounding communities. They provide shelter to abandoned, lost, and relinquisehd pets in the hopes of finding safe and permanent homes for these animals. With all of the time and effort needed to keep the animals safe and comfortable, sometimes there isn't enough time for landscaping and cleaning. Help PAWS do some spring beautification by helping with gardening, outside cleanup, window washing, and other needs. Don't worry though- they always leave time for you to visit and play with the animals. You might even decide to take one home! $6 Making Mats for Homeless Veterans

Faith United Methodist Church

15101 S. 80th Ave.

Orland Park, IL

9am-12pm

Unfortunately many of our country's veterans are ending up homeless and on the streets. With little to no belongings and no place to sleep, a group of high school students is making an effort to provide these vets with a more comfortable way to spend their nights. Pull together all of your old garbage bags and learn how they can be woven together to make a mat. The mat will provide some additional comfort as well as an insulation from the cold ground.

Please bring any old grocery bags with you.

$6

SOURCE: GlobalYouthServiceDayChicago.com

-------------------------------------------------------

Join Patch!

Create a free user account and join the discussion about the future of the area. You'll be subscribed to the free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

Orland Park / Palos / Tinley Park / Frankfort / Mokena / New Lenox

"Like" Orland Park Patch, Palos Patch, Tinley Park Patch, Frankfort Patch, Mokena Patch and New Lenox Patch on Facebook.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Orland Park