With the Christmas season upon us, several high school students are engaging in non-profit organization events to help give back to others in Lake Forest and neighboring communities.
Since 2010, the Yakes family has organized a non profit Christmas drive through the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Church in Waukegan. Senior Kat Yakes has been heavily involved throughout her life with shopping, wrapping, and delivering gifts.
In the past four more recent years, she has taken it over and pulled other seniors in to help as well. The annual Christmas Drive helps to give presents to less fortunate families in Waukegan. It has grown three times the size since 2010.
The main job of the senior leaders is getting the sizing information and wishlist of 30 individual families and teens from Waukegan and sharing that with over 200 caring families from Lake Forest. Then, a Lake Forest family chooses one of the families to ‘adopt’ and buy warm clothes, winter gear, and toys. Followed by wrapping and loading them up into the truck.
After two months of shopping, coordinating, and collecting, 50 family volunteers and high school students drive up to the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Church to meet the families, enjoy dinner together, and distribute the gifts from the truck.
Senior Anna Braun has participated in the drive since 6th grade. Each year she spends time shopping and helping prepare for this special event.
“I have had the pleasure to take part in the drive for what feels like my whole life. It really puts into perspective how someone can live 15 minutes away from me and have a totally different version of Christmas,” Braun said. “In middle school, I was the same age as a lot of these kids so I had fun shopping and choosing things that I would want and hoping they would too.”
Year after year the need for holiday cheer is even more profound. This year the Christmas Basket Drive includes 46 families and 15 teenagers: the largest amount that has been taken on. A handful of seniors will head up to the church this weekend to celebrate
the 14th year of the drive and engage in holiday festivities and spread happiness to our neighbors up the road.
Through this experience, many high school students are able to witness the incredible joy that this drive brings.
“It was a one of a kind experience for me to be able to witness this event,” senior Gavin Burns said. “It is awesome watching kids’ eyes widen as they see all the presents they are receiving.”
