District 88 continues tradition of giving back this holiday season – and beyond

’Tis the season of giving – and at District 88, helping others and giving back is a cornerstone of pride.

Below are examples of how District 88 students and staff are supporting their communities this holiday season.

Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Luncheon at Addison Trail

This event takes place annually in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Addison and the Addison Park District. This year’s luncheon was on Nov. 9, and about 65 senior citizens from the community and the Addison Park District’s Active Adult Senior Club enjoyed musical entertainment provided by the Addison Trail Jazz Band and a Thanksgiving lunch. The Key Club helps coordinate this event.

Salvation Army bell ringing
Throughout the holiday season, you’ll see District 88 students volunteering as bell ringers in the community. Members of the National Honor Society, Key Club and Interact Club at Addison Trail and members of the National Honor Society and Key Club at Willowbrook help with this event.

Toys for Tots at Addison Trail and the Warrior Project at Willowbrook

These initiatives collect gifts for local families and children. Toys for Tots (coordinated by Business Professionals of America) will sponsor 91 children in Addison this year through the Addison Community Switchboard. The Warrior Project (coordinated by Student Council) will provide gifts and necessities to 40 children this year, in collaboration with the York Township Pantry. Gift cards also will be given to help support 10 to 15 Willowbrook students. The Lauren Kiefer Memorial Foundation Inc. has donated $1,000 to the York Township Pantry as part of the project as well. The total amount raised through the Warrior Project will be about $4,000.

Food drives

The Addison Trail and Willowbrook Key Clubs host food drives annually. This year, they collected more than 2,100 items for the Addison Community Switchboard, St. Alexander’s Thanksgiving Basket Program and Humanitarian Service Project.

Winter apparel drive
The Willowbrook Parent Organization hosts an annual winter apparel drive to benefit students, and this year the event collected nearly 50 items.

Shoveling

Addison Trail and Willowbrook student-athletes are ready and willing to help community members shovel their driveways and sidewalks this winter. To request assistance, call the Village of Addison or the Village of Villa Park.

But District 88 students and staff don’t just volunteer during the holidays. They strive to make a positive difference year-round through events such as:

Blood drives for LifeSource, Chicagoland’s Blood Center

Addison Trail and Willowbrook both host two blood drives each year. So far this year, they have collected 243 units of blood, which could help save 729 lives. Each school will host another blood drive this spring.

Serving meals at the DuPagePads homeless shelter at First Presbyterian Church of Itasca

Members of Interact Club at Addison Trail and Willowbrook participate in this initiative.

Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive
Members of Best Buddies at Addison Trail participate in this event, which is a campaign to raise money for people with intellectual disabilities. This year, the Addison Trail group raised $562.

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
Members of Addison Trail’s UNICEF Club participate in this event, which began 66 years ago to help kids who needed more than candy. Since then, children throughout America have gone door to door on Halloween with UNICEF collection boxes, calling out, "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF!" They have helped raise more than $175 million for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF since 1950. This year, the Addison Trail group raised $1,217.63.

Kiwanis Peanut Days
Members of Key Club at Addison Trail and Willowbrook participate in this event. Funds raised by Addison Trail benefit various charities and student scholarships. This year, Willowbrook raised funds for Easter Seals.

Go Pink

In October, various groups at Addison Trail and Willowbrook raise money for breast cancer awareness and research. Funds will continue to be raised throughout the year to benefit this cause. This year, Addison Trail's theme was “Go Pink Hits Home” in honor of Addison Trail special education teacher Elizabeth Clifford, who passed away in May 2016 after battling breast cancer for several years.

Relay For Life of District 88 All Youth and Willowbrook’s Brook Olympics

These annual events raise money for the American Cancer Society. This year, the Brook Olympics will take place from March 13 to 17, 2017, and Relay For Life will take place on March 18, 2017. To register for the relay, go to http://tinyurl.com/z3w9how.

Park Pride Cleanup Day and Salt Creek Cleanup Day

Each year, District 88 students and staff from various groups participate in these events to help make sure the local parks and creeks are as clean as possible.

Blazer Boutique and The Blazer at Addison Trail (coordinated by Student Council) and Cinderella’s Closet at Willowbrook (coordinated by the Willowbrook Parent Organization)

These initiatives are a way for people to "be green" and "recycle" dresses, suits, ties, dress shoes and accessories they no longer use for other students to enjoy. The items are available for students to use for special occasions such as dances, graduation and job interviews. This year, Addison Trail has collected about 100 items, which have benefited about 40 students. Willowbrook has collected about 100 items as well, which have benefited about 20 students.