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frankfortstationdaily.com life & arts
the frankfort station | December 12, 2019 | 25
Kiwanis collects funds for food baskets
3
MARY COMPTON, Freelance Reporter
The Frankfort Kiwanis Club
always has one thing on its
minds: to give.
From Friday, Dec. 6 to Sunday,
Dec. 8, volunteers stood in
front of the doors at Jewel Foods
in Frankfort to collect funds for
holiday food baskets.
“We’ve got members of our
Kiwanis helping the entire weekend
as well as Key Club members
from Lincoln Way East,”
said Sam Giordano, Lt. Governor
of the Kiwanis, Division 23.
The Frankfort Kiwanis collected
enough funds last month
to give 31 food baskets to needy
families in Frankfort and the
Lincoln Way area. It included a
turkey with all the sides.
“This was a record for us,”
Giordano said. “We delivered
the baskets a few days before
Thanksgiving.”
Out of 30 Kiwanis Club of
Frankfort members, 12 volunteered
to help collect funds for
the Christmas baskets.
“We’re hoping to serve over
30 families for Christmas,” Giordano
said. “For Christmas, the
basket will include a ham with
all the side trimmings. Even if
people throw in a dollar it makes
a difference.
“A lot of people are going
through a lot of hard times. They
don’t advertise it. Sometimes it’s
difficult to find these families so
we get names through the police
and fire departments, churches
as well Lincoln-Way East high
school and the food pantry in
Frankfort township.”
From the funds collected, Jewel
Foods puts the holiday baskets
together. The Kiwanis will then
deliver the food baskets a few
days before Christmas. This is
the fourth year the Kiwanis have
been collecting funds in front of
Jewel.
“This is huge because we’re
a community-based club, we’re
all about helping the children of
Jennifer Marshall, of Frankfort, donates to the Kiwanis of Frankfort holiday basket drive in front of
Jewel in Frankfort. Looking on are Key Club members and Lincoln-Way East students (left to right)
Julian Lee, of Frankfort, Charlie Squires, of Mokena, and Tristan Lee, of Frankfort. PHOTOS BY MARY
COMPTON/22ND CENTURY MEDIA
Sam Giordano, Lt. Governor of the Kiwanis, Division 23 welcomes shoppers to the Jewel in Frankfort
as the Kiwanis of Frankfort collect funds to prepare over 30 food baskets for the disadvantaged.
the world, one community one
child at a time,” Giordano said.
“When we’re helping the children,
we’re helping the entire
family.”
The Kiwanis Club of Frankfort
has been helping the community
since 1976.
Six members of the Key Club
from Lincoln-Way East also volunteered
to collect funds. The
teens were happy to help.
The Lee brothers were always
taught to give to others.
“We’re trying to do the best
we can for the community,” Julian
Lee said. “Coming from a
family with privileges, where
there is regular meals, it’s important
for me to give back to those
who don’t have funds to buy a
holiday meal. We are helping
to provide for others, when they
can’t provide for themselves.”
Joining her students was Sharon
Michalak, who is principal of
Lincoln Way-East. She has been
a Kiwanis of Frankfort member
for 19 years.
“We’re out here today collecting
funds for Christmas baskets,”
Michalak said. “I’m proud
that our Key Club members are
out here helping as well.”
Freshman Sophia Jacobs from
Mokena was holding the collection
bucket.
“Not all people are fortunate
to have meals on Christmas and
Thanksgiving,” Jacobs said. She
was also in front of Jewel collecting
for Thanksgiving meals.
“Everyone should be able to
have a nice meal, especially for
the holidays.”
Junior Liam Kirschbaum from
Mokena helped collect funds for
meals, as well.
“I’m out here because I believe
everyone should have a
warm meal on Christmas,” he
said.
It was the first time Kirschbaum
has volunteered collecting
for holiday meals.
“Nearly everyone has given so
far,” he said. “We should all give
a little bit of our time to help others.”
Another student, Lincoln Way
East junior Josh Oghomeh from
Tinley Park, felt the importance
of helping others.
“It’s pretty cool to be able to
help families that don’t have
enough to eat for Thanksgiving
and Christmas,” he said. “It’s
so important to be part of something
that’s bigger than you.”
If you would like to donate to
the holiday food baskets, contact
the Kiwanis Club of Frankfort
on their Facebook page or
contact Sam Giordano at 815-
693-2438.