Plainfield native embarks on service project
December 5, 2012 8:58PM
Leonard L. Sanders
Updated: January 15, 2013 3:32PM
Tyler Heye, of Plainfield, recently began a 10-month term of service in the National Civilian Community Corps, an AmeriCorps program. Heye, based out of the AmeriCorps regional campus in Sacramento, Calif., was formally inducted into the program on Nov. 8.
Heye arrived at his regional campus in October to begin a month of training. This training, which prepared the more than 300 Corps members for full-time service with AmeriCorps NCCC, emphasized teamwork, leadership development, communication, service learning, and included certification by the American Red Cross.
Heye will be responsible for completing a series of six- to eight-week service projects as part of a 10- to 12-person team. Their first service projects will end in mid-December, at which time the teams will break for the winter holidays and begin a new project in a new location in January.
Before serving in NCCC, Heye attended Plainfield Central High School before going to Joliet Junior College and studying EMT/firefighting. Heye is the son of Steve and Becca Heye, of Plainfield.
“I chose to do a national program in hopes of seeing more of the United States while making an impact in communities,” he said.
AmeriCorps is a national service program that supports disaster relief, the environment, infrastructure improvement, energy conservation, and urban and rural development.
AmeriCorps members, all 18 to 24 years old, complete at least 1,700 hours of service during the 10-month program. In exchange for their service, they receive $5,550 to help pay for college.
Patriotic Christmas
SHOREWOOD — Operation Welcome You Home will present a program titled, “A Patriotic Christmas for Veterans,” at 6:30 p.m. Friday at The Timbers of Shorewood, 1100 N. River Road.
“We will spread cheer to the 54 veterans who live at The Timbers,” said Judi Stapleton of Operation Welcome You Home.
A chorus of more than 50 volunteers will sing holiday carols as well as the songs of the five branches of the military. In addition, Operation Welcome You Home will present the veterans with stockings filled with goodies. Cake and cookies also will be served.
Operation Welcome You Home is an organization committed to showing gratitude and support to veterans who have served our country. Their efforts include providing respectful, uplifting and joyous homecomings for returning soldiers and their families and showing honor and support for soldiers being deployed.
Military accomplishment
Air Force Airman Leonard L. Sanders II, son of Leonard Sanders, of Joliet, graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.
He completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies. Sanders who completed basic training earned four credits hours toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Sanders is a 2011 graduate of Plainfield South High School.
Jean Edwards is looking for veterans to write about. She can be reached at
(815) 773-7172 or jedwards@stmedianetwork.
