Restaurants Collect Food, School Supplies for Lemont Food Pantries

Four participating restaurants are offering discounts for food, school supplies and monetary donations made through Aug. 31.

Four Lemont restaurants are encouraging patrons to support the local food pantries this month through a new "Dine, Donate, Dine Again with a Discount" program. Food, school supplies and monetary donations will be collected throughout the month of August at the following Lemont restaurants: Those who donate to the Lemont Food Pantries will receive a 10-percent discount during a return visit in September. When patrons return in September, the 10 percent can either be deducted from your meal total or used as a donation to the pantries. For more information, contact Terri O'Neill-Borders at Lemont Township by calling 630-257-2522 ext. 13, or by emailing terri-oneill@lemonttownship.org. - - - - - - - - - - - - There are plenty of ways to keep …

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Lemont Resident Collects Donations for Colorado Wildfire Victims

Emily Fox, a 2011 graduate of Colorado Christian University, is collecting gift cards and supplies to deliver to victims of the most destructive fire in state history.

Over the past month, Colorado residents have been devastated by two of the worst wildfires in state history—first in High Park, just west of Fort Collins, then in Waldo Canyon, near Colorado Springs. The fires burned more than 100,000 acres, destroying hundreds of homes and forcing more than 32,000 residents to evacuate. Despite being more than 1,000 miles away, the disaster hit close to home for Lemont resident Emily Fox, who graduated last year from Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, CO. "CCU and my church are far enough away that they weren't affected, but so many families of people I went to school with were," Fox said. Fox, 22, had been planning to visit Lakewood this summer with her boyfriend, Dennis Nelson. After seeing the …

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Dual Events Offer Affordable Dresses, Accessories for Struggling Families

The Hope and Friendship Foundation’s annual prom and dress clothing resale will coincide with the spring/summer resale at First Church of the Nazarene in Lemont on March 10.

Those looking to save a bundle on formal wear and children’s clothing and toys can do so next weekend in Lemont. The Hope and Friendship Foundation’s fourth annual "Give That Dress Another Night Out" clothing resale will coincide Saturday, March 10, with First Church of the Nazarene's Spring/Summer Children's Resale. Hope and Friendship’s sale will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Christ Community Church, 13400 Bell Road. The Spring/Summer Resale at First Church of the Nazarene, 12725 Bell Road, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. Terri O'Neill of Hope and Friendship said she has already received more than 100 dresses for the sale. “Some of them are just amazing,” she said. “You can tell they’ve only been worn one time.” She said people …

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Hope and Friendship Foundation Kicks off 2012 with Volunteer Sign-up Night

A meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Lemont Township office, 1115 Warner Ave.

The Hope and Friendship Foundation will hold a volunteer sign-up night Wednesday for those wishing to participate on any of its 2012 projects. Founder Terri O'Neill will be at the Lemont Township office, 1115 Warner Ave., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  O'Neill is looking for volunteers for fundraising, publicity/marketing and outreach (budgeting, job search help and mentoring for individuals in need). She is also looking for volunteers for the following events: Give that Dress Another Night Out, March 9-10 The event gifts dresses to those who cannot afford them, and sells dresses to others at a cost of only $20. People are needed to donate prom dresses and clothing, put up signs, and help set up on March 9 (from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Spring Cleaning…

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Opportunities Abound to Help Lemonters in Need

Lemont Township and local food pantries are holding events this month to collect food, home goods and personal care items.

Lemont residents have not been immune to the fledgling economy. A year ago, about 80 Township approved households were frequenting Lemont’s two local pantries, located at Lemont United Methodist Church, 25 Custer St., and Bethany Lutheran Church, 500 Lemont St., on a monthly basis. Today about 100 households are coming through the doors each month. “It’s the highest it’s ever been,” said Terri O'Neill, founder of Hope and Friendship Ministries and director of community/human services for Lemont Township. O’Neill said that according to results from the most recent census, about 3.5 percent of Lemont residents are living at or below poverty level. To help keep the pantries stocked and raise funds for the Lemont Township Family Emergency Fund…

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Community Invited to Feast Together This Thanksgiving

The Hope and Friendship Community Dinner will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, at the Lemont Township Office, 1115 Warner Ave.

What started off as a Thanksgiving meal shared by about 20 people more than five years ago has blossomed into a feast for 100. The first Hope and Friendship Ministries Community Dinner was held in 2005. “We seated 12 and fed another 10,” said Terri O'Neill, founder of the organization and director of community/human services for Lemont Township. “Last year we fed 100. It was just wonderful.” She expects around the same amount of people for this year’s dinner, which will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, at the Lemont Township Office, 1115 Warner Ave. The meal is not only for those who are struggling financially, O'Neill said, but also for those who just don’t want to sit home alone on a day known for gathering with loved ones, or …

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Hope and Friendship Ministries Hosts Community Rummage Sale

The sale will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Church, 1375 State St.

The Lemont-based Hope and Friendship Ministries will host its annual Community Rummage Sale this Saturday to raise money for families in need. The sale will be held at Calvary Church, 1375 State St, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit Hope and Friendship Ministries and will be used to assist those in need in the Lemont community. Items for sale include toys, home goods (bedding, towels, fans, clocks), kitchenware (dishes, utensils, pots and pans), small appliances, crafts and more. Large items, such as furniture, will be on display through photos. All items remaining after Saturday's sale will be donated to Second Chance Thrift Shoppe, 44 Stephen St. For more information, contact Terri O'Neill at hopeandfriendship@…

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Shop Local This Weekend at 'Neighbor to Neighbor' Vendor Market

The market will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Calvary Church, 1375 State St., and will enable vendors to make donations to the Lemont Township Family Assistance Fund.

Several independent retailers will be featured this weekend at Lemont's first "Neighbor to Neighbor Vendor Market." The market, which is being hosted by Lemont Township, will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Calvary Church, 1375 State St. Several local vendors will be selling a variety of items, including jewelry, cosmetics, crafts, health foods, accessories and free trade products. Proceeds will enable vendors to make donations to the Lemont Township Family Assistance Fund, which offers financial support to residents with limited resources. According to Lemont Township, the goal of the market is to feature several of Lemont's independent businesses while supporting residents in need of financial assistance. For more information, …

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This Corner of the World

Generosity Shines at This Must Be the Place

The restaurant is host to several community events and fundraisers, and was recently named the Lemont Chamber of Commerce's first-ever Business of the Year.

How often does a business — a restaurant no less — open with intentions to help the community? In a difficult economy it is a tough enough mission to simply break even and stay afloat. This is just one of many reasons This Must be the Place was recently named the Lemont Chamber of Commerce’s first-ever Business of the Year winner. The award was created to recognize a business for their ability and achievement in assisting the community and impacting Lemont in a positive way. Co-owners Dan Farnesi and Bill Moffett opened This Must Be the Place in November 2008 with hopes of making it a great venue for fundraising and contributing positively to the Lemont community.   As active members of the Lemont Lions, Farnesi said he and Moffett wanted…

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Hearts, Love and $30K for Ellie

Volunteers collected nearly $30,000 at a special fundraiser Friday for Ellie Cuiching, a 6-year-old Lemont girl battling a massive brain tumor.

When 6-year-old Ellie Cuiching was diagnosed last month with a life-threatening brain tumor, it didn't take long for the Lemont community to rally around her family. After two operations, neurosurgeons at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago were only able to remove 98 percent of the tumor, which had been occupying about 50 percent of Ellie's brain. Doctors called her case "extremely rare" and classified the tumor as Grade II or III, meaning the cells could grow back or spread to other tissue. Meanwhile, back in Lemont, a group of volunteers began organizing fundraisers to help the Cuiching family. From Jan. 17-23, six local restaurants donated a portion of their proceeds to Ellie's Fund, which was set up by Terri O'Neill, founder of …

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