Come summer most kids shut down the learning part of their brain and concentrate purely on fun in the sun. Such things as swimming, biking and staying up late are the only things that seem to fill their little heads in the warm months.
But just last week four Morris kids found a way to still be outside and "help the needy." Not because their parents told them they had to, just because they wanted to.
Denise Gaska, executive director of We Care of Grundy County, received a call last week from Jennifer Olson, the mother of Macey Olson, asking what We care needed.
Jennifer explained to Gaska that Macey had told her mother she wanted to set up a Kool-Aid stand to raise money for "the needy."
Macey, her brother Kyle, and friends Hayley McDonald and Avery Schimmel set up a Kool-Aid stand and raised $70. They even had a plastic cash register and posters set up stating what they were raising money for, according to a release Gaska sent out.
Gaska told Jennifer We Care was in need of toilet paper for its food pantry. The kids bought 30 packages of TP.
It is kids like Macey, Kyle, Hayley and Avery that return my faith to today's kids. It seems that most children in today's society spend their days on the cell phone, computer or playing video games. The last thing they would consider is volunteering or giving away their own hard-earned money.
These kids weren't forced to do this for a school project or scouts, they just wanted to help, and maybe get some Kool-Aid out of it.
Gaska of course sends a special thanks to these lovely kids. But I also send my thanks for reminding me of the pure hearts children still have. Next time I see a Kool-Aid or lemonade stand, I'll be stopping.
Mallory Medved is an assistant managing editor of weekly publications for
the Sun-Times News Group. She helps cover the Lincoln-Way area and towns
southwest of Joliet. Being naturally nosy has led her to a career in
journalism and fulfilled her dream of getting paid to read. Being a new
homeowner and a future bride, she's also perpetually broke, but enjoys
hearing about other people in the same situation. She lives in Plainfield
but is a native of New Lenox.
Christina Chapman is a Will County resident who desperately wants to live in Grundy County. But since she lost that battle with her boyfriend when they bought a house, she makes due covering Grundy County news for The Herald News in Joliet. When not covering municipal meetings, school events and finding the truth behind the latest coffee talk, she is trying to balance life as a young home owner who is fighting the stereotype that she is living in sin because she is not yet married. She hopes to share with you her perspective on life and the news in hopes that you’ll share yours.
How wonderful, my family and I collect things people don't want, or want to sell themselves and have a yard sale, we give 1/2 to our Relay for Life team for the American Cancer Society and 1/2 to charity at Christmas.