Give 5 Recap: Tacos, Margaritas and Tips for Ellie

Well, another Give 5 Day has come and gone, and Patch again had a wonderful time pitching in to help some deserving Lemont residents.

Last Thursday, it was my honor to at Front Street Cantina, 319 Front St. For about a month now, the restaurant has hosted several Lemont notables, all of whom worked for a few hours to raise tips for the charities of their choice.

I was given the opportunity to participate on our February Give 5 Day, and I couldn't pass it up. I decided to donate my tips to 6-year-old Ellie Cuiching, who is recovering from surgeries to remove a massive brain tumor.

Last month, my friend Terri O'Neill, founder of Hope and Friendship Ministries, set up Ellie's Fund to raise money for the Cuiching family, whose astronomical medical bills will continue to pile up in the coming months. On Feb. 11, the community came together at to raise for the family.

I had a blast hanging out with the staff of Front Street Cantina on Thursday, and in just a few hours we were able to raise more than $200 in tips for Ellie's Fund. Not bad for a quiet night in downtown Lemont.

But Front Street Cantina isn't done yet, as they will continue hosting celebrity bartenders for charity in the coming weeks. Lemont Township Highway Commissioner Sigitas Vaznelis will be the guest server on Tuesday, Feb. 22, and will also donate 100 percent of his tips to Ellie's Fund. We'll be stopping by, so we hope you will, too.

I'm looking forward to the next four Give 5 Days of 2011, and welcome any suggestions for where I should volunteer. In that spirit, I would also like to encourage all of our readers to get involved with a local nonprofit. There are plenty of deserving causes in Lemont ().

So, Happy Monday, readers. And don't forget to "Give 5" and give back to your community.

Amanda