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Friday, December 17, 2010

Charity Begins at Home

Village Effort Collects Coats by the Hundreds

Annual drive by village employees continues through Jan. 7, 2011.

If the last week of frigid weather has done nothing else, it's made us thankful for a well-heated home and a warm coat. Employees of the Village of Downers Grove may not be able to help with the heat bills, but they are collecting gently used outerwear for clients of Sharing Connections. The employees' VOICE Committee—which stands for Village Organized Ideas for the Community and Employees—is behind the effort. "Our mission is to offer village employees the opportunity to participate in fundraising projects, charitable collections/drives and social events with the goal of supporting humanitarian efforts within the organization and the Downers Grove Community," Janene Cerulli, village public relations specialist, said in an e-mail. The …

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Charity Begins at Home

Sharing with the Community

Community Bank of Downers Grove's Holiday Sharing Program is now in its third year.

  • VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
  • Wendy Foster
  • Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The emphasis is on community for Michael Busse, president of Community Bank of Downers Grove. Consequently, he relishes the holiday season as it gives him the opportunity to show appreciation to all aspects of his community. "I take the community bank concept very seriously," Busse said. "So benefiting the customers, not-for-profits and merchants fit. It's all in the nature of a good community bank." Community Bank of Downers Grove is currently coordinating its annual Holiday Sharing Program. Three years ago, Busse recalled contemplating what kind of gift to give his customers for the holidays. "I realized that often we get stuff at Christmas that never gets used. We put it on a shelf and it sits, or we re-gift," he said. "I said, 'why …

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Charity Begins at Home

District 58 Families Make the Season Bright

Downers Grove elementary schools are helping those in need.

My husband and I have always emphasized to our four children that it is better to give than to receive, especially during the holiday season. Our children do not exchange gifts amongst themselves; we make donations instead of putting an extra twelve presents under our tree.  When they were younger, each child would pick out a toy and we would donate them to the fire station's annual toy drive. For the past few years, they have picked a child from our school's giving tree or a senior citizen from church to support during the holidays. I am comforted to know that District 58 schools are reinforcing what we have been teaching our children through programs that help others. Here are five examples of our school communities spreading good will …

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Charity Begins at Home

Boy Scouts to Place Wreaths at Vets' Gravesites

Troop 181 volunteers to help Wreaths Across America fulfill its mission.

  • VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
  • Wendy Foster
  • Tuesday, December 7, 2010

As wreaths are simultaneously laid on the graves of American veterans at more than 300 national and state cemeteries Dec. 11, Boy Scout Troop 181 of Downers Grove will be placing dozens more at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood. "It's a way of honoring the vets who sacrificed everything for us. It's a way to honor them for their sacrifices," said Debbie Smothers, who is the local volunteer coordinator for Wreaths Across America, which describes its mission as Remember, Honor and Teach.  Troop 181 has an impressive reputation for community service. The 15-member troop was recognized by the Des Plaines Valley Council for donating more than 4,000 service hours last year; that's almost half of the total for the entire Council, which…

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