Assistance League of Chicagoland West: October 2012

Lots to be thankful for at Westmore

Diane Kurtz on the right

Operation School Bell traveled to Lombard for one of the final fittings of the season. OSB outfitted 1728 students in 24 schools this fall.

Westmore School

Lombard

Diane Mrozek

Smiling faces all around

Lots of help at Anne M. Jeans School

Leif Johnson Moving saves our backs

We had lots of help and a great group of grateful students at Anne M. Jeans School in Willowbrook. The crew from Leif Johnson Moving did the job we used to do, transporting and carrying all the heavy boxes into the schools. Social workers Meghan Radtke and Lynn Moynihan were good leaders and even better assistants, shuttling in classes of kids and pitching in to help when all the ALCW volunteers were zipping up coats.

Meghan Radtke and Lynn Moynihan

This picture tells the OSB story

Mary Parsons


Meghan helps out, Jamie Marucha in the foreground

Anne M. Jeans School

Willowbrook

Friends

Having Fun

Before the Snow Flies

Handsome young men

Jamie Marucha

Site Coordinator Diane Kurtz

Operation School Bell – A New Member’s Perspective

Linda Legner and Linda Gonnella

An Open Letter from Jamie Marucha

A bit less than a year ago, Meg Cooper and I were talking at a high school coffee, about senior activities, college applications and the approaching graduation of our youngest children. I mentioned that I was looking for a new adventure for myself too, as an empty nester. Meg had just the right answer –Assistance League of Chicagoland West.

The busy season of ALCW’s Operation School Bell program has been the perfect fit. As I packed my own two children off to college, I embraced the OSB program to provide warm winter wear to more than 1700 school children in need.

The camaraderie I have found in this group of OSB volunteers has been a blessing! Who could be lonely when surrounded by friendly conversations during the OSB weekly coat packing sessions? So many of the ALCW members participate in OSB; it has been a great way to get to know everyone quickly.

I am especially grateful for the opportunity to work alongside two women who are an inspiration, the Co-Chairs of OSB, Linda Gonnella and Linda Legner. Linda Legner has been a wonder, negotiating complex distribution agreements with two dozen schools, the movers and the ALCW site coordinators, while also juggling her other volunteer duties for ALCW. Linda Gonnella is a charter member of ALCW, participating since 1995, and after all the OSB program work is complete, I hope she’ll tell me the remarkable story of this organization’s beginning. This year, she personally selected thousands of stylish new coats, hats and gloves for the children, spent untold hours creating a spreadsheet and labels with each child’s name and size, and has been at the ALCW warehouse every week to organize and oversee our packing efforts.

The dedication of these women is impressive, as is the committed involvement of so many members, each of us sensing that we own the OSB program and working hard to ensure its success.

Packing and preparing were fun. But, I must say that the biggest reward comes when we meet the children. We offer a bright red or blue bag to each child. Their eyes wide and shiny, they open the ALCW bags like an unexpected present. “This is my favorite color!” they exclaim, and “I love this coat!” How can your heart not be warmed by the thought of all these children frolicking in the snow this winter in their brand new coats!

Every child has a smiling face at Lace

Meg Cooper with Principal Marty Casey

Marty Casey, Principal of Lace School in Darien, is a good friend of Assistance League. He welcomes us to his school, helps match the kids to an ALCW volunteer and stays until the last child is fitted with a brand new coat, hat and gloves. Social worker Megan Seagraves also lends a very willing hand, making our efforts swift and efficient. "To get something new is something special," Seagraves said. "The coat is new, it's theirs and they're so happy."

Happy

Faces

Deb Newman

Jamie Marucha

Operation School Bell 2012

Lace School
Darien


Deb Newman, Marianne Cortopassi, Marty Vexter, Meg Cooper, Jamie Marucha

Lace's bulldog mascot was a great spot for extra coats

Mark DeLay leads the Way

Marty Vexter (right) with volunteer helper

Jamie Marucha

Marie Raffl

On March 9, Operation School Bell went to Darien School District #61. Mark DeLay school is Kindergarten through Second Grade. Lace School is Third through Fifth Grade. Parents look forward to siblings receiving their coats on the same day, the younger students in the morning and older ones in the afternoon. Marty Vexter and Jamie Marucha served as site coordinators.

Jamie Marucha

They touch our

hearts with

happiness

Mark DeLay School
Darien

Kids ready for wintry weather at York Center

Site coordinator Maureen Hegarty

Elementary students at York Center School in Lombard are ready for wintry weather following an October 2 Operation School Bell fitting. This year's coat selection is so hot, our kids look forward to the cold!