Donations: Kids swap sweets to help troops overseas

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Marine Sgt. Christopher Bonner joined several dentists and staff members in sending a message of thanks to our troops. Two dental offices, Naperville Dental Specialists and General Oral Health Care and Innovative Orthodontic Centers, recently sponsored the Sweet Swap in which children donated their Halloween candy so it could be sent to our troops overseas. The Sweet Swap was the idea of Dr. Manal Ibrahim (5th from left) and Dr. Anthony LaVacca (6th from left), and they were very impressed with the generosity of the children. SUBMITTED PHOTO Ê

Updated: December 25, 2011 8:03AM

Sweet Swap a success

Dozens of children gave up their Halloween candy for troops overseas as part of a Sweet Swap sponsored by Naperville Dental Specialists and General Oral Health Care and Innovative Orthodontic Centers in Naperville and Plainfield.

“The kids were so excited,” said patient coordinator Kay Pore. “They came into our offices with their moms. As the children gave us their bags of Halloween candy, they’d smile and say, ‘These are for the troops!’”

In return, staff would give the children a small toy and a gift certificate for Boston Market.

By Nov. 4, children had donated enough candy to fill five large plastic containers to the brim. Dental office staff took the candy to Naper Nuts and Sweets in downtown Naperville to be shipped to U.S. troops in the Middle East.

For more information, visit www.ndscare.com or www.orthocenters.org or call 630-848-2010.

Raffle donations sought

ROMEOVILLE — The annual Toy Raffle of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Hampton Park S.A.C. will be at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at Lost Acrees Tavern in Romeoville. Donations of any kind are accepted.

Call Petra Burgess at 815-302-4341.

Blankets for Project Linus

Students learning to sew are putting their newfound talents to work by making baby blankets for seriously ill and traumatized children throughout the area.

Students in Molly DeCarlo’s Introduction to Clothing I class at Lincoln-Way East are making baby blankets for Project Linus, a nonprofit organization that distributes handmade blankets to children in need of a little love or a sense of sense of security, warmth and comfort.

The blankets will be distributed to local hospitals, Easter Seals and police departments through the Joliet Chapter of Project Linus.

“I hope the students will acknowledge what a reward it is to be making blankets for those in need,” said DeCarlo, whose Clothing I class includes 21 students from Lincoln-Way East and Lincoln-Way North high schools.

They hope to make at least 50 blankets by the end of the year.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Lincoln-Way East senior Brigitte Waldier as she pinned together squares of pastel cloth. “We get to practice what we’re learning in class and give what we do to someone who will appreciate it.”

“It’s not only fun for us to make the quilts, but it’s going to a good cause,” said sophomore Ashley Wright. “It makes it even more exciting.”

Lincoln-Way East sophomore Brigid Clark said she likes to think about the child who receives her carefully crafted quilt.

Classmate Ethan Davis concentrated on his blanket.

“I want to make sure I do a good job so it’s quality and doesn’t fall apart,” he said.

St. Paul’s Pink Day

JOLIET — St. Paul the Apostle School’s Student Council recently coordinated an all-school Pink Day to raise money for breast cancer research.

Students and staff were asked to wear pink T-shirts or a pink ribbon on their shirts and to donate a dollar or more for the cause.

A total of $600 was raised and will be donated to the American Cancer Society and earmarked for breast cancer research.

For information about St. Paul the Apostle School, call 815-725-3390.

Sending Santa to troops

A November collection drive has been set up for the month of November to help ‘Send Santa To The Troops’.

Operation Care Package Inc.’s November collection drive is Send Santa to the Troops.

Started in Joliet in 2003, the nonprofit supports military personnel with care packages and letters of encouragement.

This year, they hope to send items and care packages to over 10,000 men and women stationed all over the world.

Christmas packs include many of the necessities in their regular packages and treats from Santa.

A donation of $12.95 will help pay the shipping on a care package, or you may sponsor a care package with a donation of $25. You may also include a personalized letter of support or a Christmas/Holiday card, addressed to “Any Hero,” that will be included in your sponsored pack.

Operation Care Package is still looking for many items to include in their care packages and those wishing to pick up an extra item or two are encouraged to do so.

Needed items include: canned soup or canned fruit, beef jerky, summer sausage or pepperoni sticks, granola bars, batteries (AA and AAA), music CDs, handheld games, adult board games and new or gently used musical instruments (harmonicas, horns, acoustic guitars, violins, banjos).

Also needed are phone cards (120 minutes AT&T), hot chocolate, hot cider packets, chocolate bars and kisses, small Christmas trees (8- to 18-inches tall), Christmas stockings (10-16 inches tall by 5-6 in. wide), sweat pants, blanket throws and unused postage stamps.

Donations can be dropped off through Wednesday at: Frankfort General Store, 119 Kansas St. Frankfort, Holistic Happenings, 7925 W. 171st St. Tinley Park; Aura Bella Salon and Day Spa, 19081 Old LaGrange Road, Mokena.

Aura Bella Salon offers a 10 percent discount for three cans of a hearty soup or a 20 percent discount to anyone who brings in a new adult board game. Call Aura Bella Salon at 708-479-9060 for details on the discount.

For information on the drive, call Tim at 708-244-3906 or visit www.operationcarepackages.org.