1st Pres Church “Ready, Set, Go” Kids Collect 1,023 Food Items!
Jul 27, 2008
Each year, the 1st Presbyterian Church of River Forest hosts a summer camp for incoming 5th-7th graders called “Ready, Set, Go.” This year’s camp served 125 kids with a staff of 25 high school students and adults. Run like a day-camp for one week, “Ready, Set, Go” combines mornings of singing, Bible study and small-group time with afternoon trips around the Chicago area (Kiddieland, Vertical Endeavors, a water park, Enchanted Castle). On Wednesday the camp holds a Service Day. This year, the campers held a car wash at the church to raise funds for the High School Mission trip to Mexico. They also held their anual food drive for the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry. This is an unusual food drive in that the campers go out in groups in the neighborhood surrounding the church requesting non-perishable goods to be donated to the food pantry. This year campers collected 1,023 items, an increase from last year’s donation of 777 items.
The Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry is delighted with the efforts of these young philanthropists. One of the benefits of food drives is the wonderful variety of food that comes to the pantry. While we can stock traditional, nutritional food for our clients, food drives bring special items we just can’t buy: specialty ethnic foods, organic cereal, and gourmet sauces are all treats our clients are thrilled to take home. Thank you “Ready, Set, Go” and all those in the neighborhood of 1st Presbyterian Church of River Forest who donted to their cause!
If your group would like to sponsor a food drive, contact michele@oprffoodpantry.org for tips on succesful drives.