Every Picture Tells a Story: Hope and Friendship Abound in Lemont

Donors, cooks, volunteers bring Christmas dinners, care boxes to community members in need.

More than 50 volunteers turned out before and on Christmas Day to cook, donate, pack and deliver dinners and care boxes to local families in need. “For the seventh year, friends were asked to offer what they could to create Christmas dinners and care boxes for friends who could use the gift,” said Terri O’Neill-Borders of the Hope and Friendship Foundation. “This year, 74 homes received deliveries packed with TLC and delivered from friends to friends in the beautiful and wonderful spirit of Christmas. Thank you for every single offering, donation, and gift of hands and feet that made this act of kindness possible.” With this story, O’Neill-Borders’ son, Jordan Bielfeldt, shares photos he snapped at the packing/distribution event at the …

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Lemont's Hope and Friendship Foundation Seeks Volunteers for Summer, Fall Events

Upcoming opportunities include "Sushi for Shoes" at Kitaro Grill, Keepataw Days and the annual Community Rummage Sale.

The Lemont-based Hope and Friendship Foundation is seeking volunteers and donations for several upcoming events and charity drives. Hope and Friendship founder Terri O'Neill-Borders sent the following message Monday night: "As we turn the corner and begin to enter another fall and school year, I ask that you remember those within our community who are unable to afford the necessities that absorb a good portion of your household income: school supplies, school shoes/clothes, home needs and within a few months winter clothing, Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas gifts and more. Every single donation your have and can offer (monetary donations or gently used furniture, clothes, etc.) fills a void in a home that truly needs and appreciates you …

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Feed My Starving Children MobilePack Event Returns to Lemont

The multi-day charity event—which involved nearly 1,000 volunteers at Lemont Township last year—will be hosted by the First Church of the Nazarene on Oct. 12-13.

The massive, multi-day philanthropic project that brought more than 1,000 Lemont residents together to help the hungry in 2011 will be back in town again October 12-13. Thanks to the efforts of a small group of organizers led by Lemont resident Peggy Magdziarz, Feed My Starving Children will bring a MobilePack event to town in hopes of making more than 200,000 meals for starving children throughout the world. “Initially when planning it the first time, I wanted to try it for one year,” Magdziarz said. “But as it started growing, I thought maybe we could do it again.” Last April, Lemont hosted its first MobilePack site at the Lemont Township building on Warner Avenue. Magdziarz’s original goal of raising $19,000 was far surpassed as more …

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Editor's Corner

Giving Back: Lemont Elves Strike Again

Each year, a group of anonymous families provide struggling Lemonters with "12 Days of Christmas."

The holiday season may be behind us, but it's never too late to recognize some local heroes. Each year, a number of Lemont families are treated to 12 Days of Christmas, courtesy of Mrs. Claus and her "secret elves." The project, which began in 2009, is the brainchild of several Lemont families and friends who wanted to provide deserving families with 12 days of gifts, activities and food leading up to Christmas. I should mention now that these individuals and their families wished to remain anonymous, asking instead to be referred to as "Lemont elves." Santa's helpers, which included the children of these generous families, can be seen in the photo to the right. This year, at least six families benefited from the project. Surprises …

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Greatest Person of the Day

Despite Personal Tragedy, Local Santa Brings Joy to Sick Children

Lemont resident Earl Anderson will distribute as many as 16,000 toys this year in memory of his late son.

UPDATE: Earl Anderson has been chosen as the Huffington Posts's Greatest Person of the Day, which features stories of people across the nation who are confronting major issues and making a difference in their community. Congratulations, Earl! - - - - - - - - - - - - When Earl Anderson’s 28-year-old son, Jeff, was killed in a car accident 12 years ago, Anderson considered hanging up his sleigh. The Lemont resident had been dressing as Santa Claus and visiting needy children since the age of 20, sometimes bringing along his own children—including Jeff—dressed as elves. After the tragic loss, Anderson wasn’t sure he could go on playing Santa. “I thought about quitting, but my wife and others convinced me that Jeff would want Santa to go on,” …

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Woman's Club Celebrates 'Make a Difference Day' by Providing Household Items to Families in Need

For the sixth consecutive year, the Lemont Junior Woman's Club collected and donated items to fill "Baskets of Basics" for more than 100 Lemont Township families.

The Lemont Junior Woman's Club celebrated "Make a Difference Day" this past weekend by collecting and donating household items for more than 100 Lemont Township families. For the sixth consecutive year, the organization filled "Baskets of Basics" for local residents. The baskets included a number of household items, such as toilet paper, dish soap and laundry detergent. All items were donated to families currently receiving assistance through the Lemont Township office. The annual drive was organized this year by the club's Philanthropies committee. Club members are largely responsible for donating items, but this year the baskets also included donations from local Girl Scouts and Lemont Family Dental. "This is a favorite project among our…

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Lemont Police Start Benevolence Fund to Help Comrades, Community

Officers began the Lemont Police Benevolence Association after a fellow comrade was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.

While talk of creating a benevolence fund to support fellow officers had been swirling around the Lemont Police Department for years, it wasn’t until a fellow comrade was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that the idea took flight. In August, a group of officers held the first meeting of the Lemont Police Benevolence Association, and elected Sgt. Thad Mezyk as president, Det. Scott Hugo as vice president, and Officer Joe Buczyna as treasurer. Through the organization, members hope to be able to cover the expenses for items such as flowers for sick officers and their family members, flowers for funerals, food, and trips to the hospital. “Basically whatever the families need,” Mezyk said. The officer currently battling cancer will…

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Old Quarry PTO, Student Council Pitch in for Campus Cleanup

Dozens of students, parents and teachers picked up trash and spruced up the landscaping around the school Thursday afternoon.

More than 50 students, parents and teachers volunteered their time Thursday for a campus cleanup at Old Quarry Middle School. The Lemont PTO and Old Quarry Student Council spent the sunny, warm afternoon pulling weeds, picking up trash, planting bulbs and spreading mulch around the school. "It’s exciting to have an event that brings us together in such a constructive way," said parent volunteer Laura Swalec. "With the staffing cuts, the custodial crew is not able to address the deteriorating landscape and litter issues. This project is giving the kids an opportunity to take pride in their school and make their learning environment inviting and refreshed." Several teachers and administrators also volunteered, including Jack Williams, David …

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Susan Antonoff

5:44 am on Thursday, October 13, 2011

Terri..SPOT ON! Not good, but great conversation!   more ›

Foundation Hosts Wine Tasting to Support Academic Grants in District 113A

Tickets are still available for "Summer is Over . . . Wine a Little," which will be held Friday night at Montefiori Event Center in Lemont.

The Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A Educational Foundation is kicking off the school year this weekend with a back-to-school fundraiser just for adults. "Summer's Over. . . Wine a Little" will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Montefiori Event Center in Lemont. The event will include a large selection of wines and bottled beer, food, a bean bag tournament and karaoke. “We are very excited to host our first wine tasting,” event organizer Lisa Dian said. “Our hope is for all to come out and enjoy the evening in support of the foundation and our schools.” Tickets for the wine tasting are still available at Lemont Natural Healthcare, 1192 Walter St., or through foundation board members. Individual tickets cost $50, while couples pay $…

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Mary Van

7:54 am on Friday, September 23, 2011

Hank......I don't consider 2400 school district 113 children as just one entity! I just don't understand your comment. With the exception of the larger corporations like Jewel, Target, Kohls, and such....all businesses in Lemont are small. Sorry your business is struggling, we all are, and so is 113.   more ›