December 31, 2023
We stayed focused on our vision of Service Above Self- Locally and Internationally this year. While it is important to always look forward and forge new plans, it is also good to pause and look back at what we have accomplished over the last year. If it felt busy to many, that's because it was. Here are some of the things that we spent our time and funds on. We:
- Supported St. Anne's proposed home for refuge girls through garden clean-up and planting, and donation of needed items. (ongoing)
- Supplied the Wheeling Township Food Pantry with over 1400 dozen eggs and 1000 blocks of cheese throughout the year, shopping and making deliveries 3 times each month.
- Helped with construction on the Nyakijumba Primary School in Kabale Uganda (January) and helped fund its continuing construction (May)
- Conducted vision screenings in area schools and provided dozens of low income students with prescription glasses.
- Partnered with Arlington Cares at the Share the Love Food Drive (February)
- Provided Easter baskets for WINGS (March)
- Provided new shoes for local elementary students (April)
- Packed food at Feed My Starving Children (May)
- Issued Global Awareness grants to area high schools that supported international exchanges, model UN, and cultural awareness programs
- Handed out water at the Memorial Day parade ceremony (May)
- Partnered with Rolling Meadows Interactors to pack Thanksgiving baskets (November)
- Supported the Wheeling Township Food Pantry with two special "summer shops." (July)
- Volunteered in the food pantry at the Community Resource Center
- Handed out candy at Trunk or Treat (October)
- Prepared and served dinner at the IMD Guest House (once a quarter)
- Collected jams and jellies for the Wheeling Township Food Pantry (October)
- Collected baking supplies for the Wheeling Township Food Pantry (November)
- Collected coats for the Community Resource Center (December)
- Helped to fund Eagle Scout projects
- Bought holiday gifts for needy families (December)
- Funded Shelterbox
- Funded global grants in Uganda (Maternal and Child Health), Cambodia (WASH), Nepal (Education/Technology)
- Awarded Community Grants to Connection to Care, District 214 Educational Foundation, Greener Good, Hopeful Beginnings, Kindred Life, Northwest Compass, NSSEO Foundation, Special Leisure Services Foundation
- Supported the Ak'Tenamit school in Guatemala