For 10 years, Nancy Remar of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Lisle has coordinated a program to provide Sharing Connections Furniture Bank with Easter baskets for the needy. Throughout the years, SJA Junior High Girl Scouts and other volunteers have assisted Nancy in collecting the items and creating the baskets.
Nancy reports that "This year one of the Moms, Patti Zurek, went around asking for donations. She received free passes or gifts from Every Day is a Sundae, My Favorite Toy Store, Downers Grove Ice Arena, Tivoli Bowling, and Lisle Lanes. Another Mom, Grace Twietmeyer, received $50 in store money from two different Ultra Foods ($25 each). SJA families donated $5 and $10 gift cards to McDonalds, Baskin Robbins, Target and Wal-mart. We purchased the rest from McDonalds and Baskin Robbins with cash donations. Therefore, each basket for kids ages 12 and above included two free passes for bowling or ice skating and $5 for McDonalds, Target, or an ice cream cone." Besides the local businesses, St. Joan of Arc students contributed many products for the baskets.
This year, Nancy's helpers brought 190 beautiful Easter baskets to the Sharing Connections Furniture Bank warehouse. The baskets were filled with thoughtful gifts for children and young teens. SCFB distributed the baskets primarily to clients, but also to families served by the following groups:
- Teen Parent Connection
- Pillars
- Early Intervention
Ann Wohlberg, Executive Director of Sharing Connections Furniture Bank states, "We and our clients are so grateful to Nancy and her supporters at St. Joan of Arc School for their ten years of wonderful contributions. Every year, the children who received these lovely Easter baskets were overjoyed at receiving them and all that they contained. The baskets made their holiday extra special." |
