On October 16th, LFHS held its first-ever All School Service Day, inviting all students to engage in meaningful activities designed to benefit the community. Students had the opportunity to sign up during their free periods or lunches, while teachers also had the option to register their classes for participation. 

The event not only allowed students to engage with their community but also provided them with service hours that could be applied to National Honor Society or other initiatives.

The day was filled with a variety of service-oriented projects aimed at supporting local organizations such as Fill a Heart 4 Kids, Beacon Place, and Great Full Market. Students crafted holiday “Boo!” tags, assembled bracelet kits, made candy hands, colored Thanksgiving posters for food boxes, made designs for coloring books, sorted canned food, and much more. 

Ms. Malec, Director of Student Activities, is always seeking opportunities for students to engage and contribute to the community. She understands that some students who aren’t involved in sports or clubs may find it challenging to stay connected with LFHS, which is why she helped initiate this All School Service Day. 

Several factors led to the creation of this service event.

A factor that largely contributed was the mandatory testing juniors had to participate in that Wednesday, which prevented them from attending class. Many teachers would not want to start new material when a significant number of students would be absent. 

Additionally, Ms. Malec and other staff members met with administrators from Fill a Heart 4 Kids to discuss their needs as the holiday season approaches, recognizing that this would be an ideal day to support their organization. Along with this, Great Full Market was scheduled for the following Sunday, October 20th, in partnership with Beacon Place.

“I tried to create an opportunity where students could see the value of their time. Just showing up is service and is really important,” Malec said. “We don’t always need a monetary donation; being present is all that we’re looking for.”

Great Full Market is a tri-district partnership between School Districts 65, 67, and 115. Collaborating with Beacon Place and Quest Food Services, these districts collect and distribute food and donations to address food insecurity in Lake County and the surrounding areas.

“In Waukegan, where Beacon Place is located, it’s a food desert. There is no grocery store within walking distance and nothing is easily accessible outside of fast food,” Malec said. “By bringing fresh produce to them, we’re helping make healthier choices accessible without the financial barrier of healthy food being so expensive.” 

On the All School Service Day, students helped load trucks with supplies that will be used at Beacon place to help those in need.

The service day not only supported non-profit organizations but also provided students with a chance to take a break from school and enjoy an activity with other students.

“I went to the service day with some friends in my study hall, and we had a great time coloring the paper for the food boxes,” senior Blakely Rice said. “I definitely think this event should be held every year.”

Another aspect of the day involved Fill a Heart 4 Kids, which is a non-profit organization that provides homeless and at-risk foster children with critical necessities and support. They are at the very end of Project Boo, which runs from September 1st to October 25th. This project works to collect candy, costumes, and creative activities for children living in temporary homes, making sure children have a great Halloween experience.

“LFHS students filled around 1000 [plastic hands with candy inside] that will go to children living in foster facilities for Trunk or Treat events–those children are not allowed to freely trick-or-treat in neighborhoods and orphanages can’t afford much candy,” Vice President of Fill a Heart 4 Kids Margie Alpert said. “They will also go to homeless youth who we give weekend food bags to.”

Alpert highlighted several other initiatives stemming from the service day, including friendship bracelet kits intended for children in foster care, offering them a creative outlet during school breaks.

“The children that live in foster facilities don’t get to do many outings or activities due to lack of funds at the homes,” Alpert said. 

The service day also featured the Gobble Gobble project with Fill a Heart 4 Kids, where students decorated turkey pictures to be placed on Thanksgiving food boxes. These boxes are distributed to homeless and at-risk children, ensuring they have enough food during the school break. 

“Thanks to the accomplishments of LFHS students, we have enough artwork to decorate 500 boxes,” founder of Fill a Heart 4 Kids Ann McAveeney said.   

Fill a Heart works with teachers from nearby schools to distribute these food boxes to children who don’t have a permanent home.

“When the kids receive their Thanksgiving boxes with the decorated pictures, they feel proud rather than ashamed, knowing they have enough food to last throughout Thanksgiving break,” McAveeney said.   

What a lot of people don’t realize is that there are so many kids without access to food pantries. For this reason, Fill a Heart assembles these food boxes to nourish the children and prevent them from participating in crime or dangerous activities. For example, a prominent issue in Lake County is children selling themselves for food because they don’t have access to food pantries.

The event’s impact was evident in the number of projects completed: LFHS students created posters for 500 food boxes and prepared 1,000 candy hands. These efforts will directly benefit 3,350 homeless children, 650 kids living in institutional settings, and 37 hospitalized children. 

On Friday, October 18th, Ms. Malec visited West Campus to include the transition students who couldn’t participate on the main service day. She brought 200 empty Gatorade bottles with Gatorade powder, dog toys, and coloring pages. These students also assisted in packing up shampoo and conditioner to be sent to less fortunate children.

With participation from students at both East and West Campuses, along with numerous staff members, over 400 individuals engaged in the All School Service Day. 

“LFHS students are just amazing,” McAveeney said. “What you guys accomplished was tremendous.”