Mission Accomplished!

On Friday, August 7th, nearly 30 volunteers arrived at our Mokena home to load trucks bound for Katrina ravaged schools in New Orleans. Beginning at 7:30AM they helped palletize, wrap and load 70 pallets worth of used and new school supplies and equipment for 23 New Orleans public schools. We filled two 53’ semi’s, a 26’ and 22’ rental trucks. By 4PM when we finished, everything was sorted by school and loaded. We want to thank the generous donors including the local schools for their assistance in collecting used items and keeping them out of landfills.

A big thank you goes out to Berkot’s for their assistance and to the following who assisted on the 7th: Sarah Steinke, Peggy Lutter, Hanna McClard, Eileen O’Donoghue, Zack and Denise McClard, Jake and Zack Davy, John Hill, Kyle and Rodger Rottmann, Chris Wilbur, Laura Milas, Liz and Lexi Oreluk, Linda Hurt, Dylan Canavan, Justin and Kelly Cronin, Timur Akman-Duffy, Steve Eich, Bill Zoetveldt, Carol and Kurt Smith, Ed Lynch, Nancy Schussler, Marcus Lindsey, and Ethan, Jaelynn and Valerie Ruth.

The commitment and support we have received allowed us, L. Serwat (Hinsdale), B. Feldman (Lemont), K. Parks (Cedar Lake, IN), A. & S. Hardenbol (Houston, TX), and several volunteers from the New Orleans area, to deliver these supplies to help over 10,000 children start the school year off with basic supplies. Not only were we able to deliver pens, pencils, notebooks, binders, folders, etc. but generous donations of textbooks, music instruments, and school uniforms also made their way into the hands of the students.

Following our return, additional supplies were donated to Kellar School in Robbins, IL. Again, we were overwhelmed by the generosity of those around us as we continue to aid those less fortunate. Thank you, Schools Count Corp., Dick Flesher