’tis the Season to Give
Originally published December 21, 2014 (Submission copy)
As an alternative to giving traditional gifts this holiday season, consider “gifting” to some causes and fundraising opportunities. Personnel at the Orland Park Public Library and the Orland Township Food Pantry shared some ideas.
Robin Wagner, Assistant Library Director, provided options for gifts and donations to the Orland Park Public Library (OPPL).
Honorarium books – books in honor or in memory of a special person, may reflect their interests, career, hobby, etc. With a $25 minimum donation, books are purchased by the OPPL. When applying to purchase an honorarium book, the request form provides a space for donor suggestions. The OPPL then purchases the books. Quarterly, The OPPL Newsletter lists the books purchased – detailing the honoree and donor.
“You can request genre, authors, and we will take suggestions, but we try to supplement our collection of titles that we may not already have on our shelves,” added Robin Wagner.
Pavers and end cap donations are monetary vehicles used to raise funds for the Capital Campaign. Sharon Wsol, previous Director of the Library began The Capital Campaign to raise funds for artwork and additional opportunities, such as the mural in Youth Services.
Currently, Mary Weimar, OPPL Director, oversees this venture. Recent enhancement projects include the brass bench and sculpture of the children in the lobby (now adorned with socks to keep their feet warm).
To raise funds, engraved brick pavers are offered as a memorial and are placed twice a year, spring and fall. The cost per paver is $75 (regular size); double size (equivalent of two bricks) for $150. Approximately 12 to 15 bricks are purchased by library donors during each open season. Mary Weimar contacts each donor, and they get to choose where to place the brick – consisting of the available spaces. Steve Newman, Maintenance Superintendent, installs the bricks in their established spaces.
End panel plaques are inscribed gold plaques at the end caps of the book racks and elsewhere throughout the library, including near the fireplace, windows bays, and other areas ($500 and up each).
Mary Adamowski, Head of Youth Services for the OPPL, spoke about The Giving Tree. Now in its’ 14th year, The Giving Tree is located on the library’s main floor. It is sponsored and maintained by the Teen Inc group, the library’s teen advisory council. Donations are accepted through the end of December, and anything collected – including beautiful hand knit items – is donated to the Orland Township Food Pantry. This year, there is even a coat on the tree.
“We ask that the teens periodically take the items off the tree, box them, and get them ready for pick up by Orland Township. The teens also spread the word about the tree, and truly have big hearts for donating,” added Ms. Adamowski.
Marianne Hill, Coordinator for the Orland Township Food Pantry, has been involved in providing services since its inception in 1983 (31 years). From humble beginnings – which was a small closet that serviced approximately 25 families – this project then moved to 151st and 94th Avenue, and was able to accommodate approximately 100 families. Now located at 14807 Ravinia Avenue, the Food Pantry has 320 families that receive food and other items once a month. The Pet Pantry also serves 200 of the 320 families with goods for their pets.
“We encourage church groups, schools, businesses, and other organizations to sponsor food drives in an effort to fill our pantry. The Lions Club, Orland Park Chamber of Commerce, and Kiwanis Club host food drives for us. Retailers such as Trader Joe’s, Berkot’s, Walmart, Whole Foods, Costco, Panera, and Starbucks donate any extra food to stock our shelves. We appreciate all that they donate, and all that they do for us,” shared Ms. Hill.
The Food Pantry has a number of special events during the year – Easter Baskets in the spring; school supplies distributed in August; Thanksgiving dinner program; and the Holiday Program. Donations have already been collected for the Holiday Program, but the pantry is in need of stock every month.
To help Santa give a little extra to families in need, the holiday program collects donations of new toys, coats, and clothing. Families in need fill out paperwork, including a “Wish List”. Sponsor families, groups, or businesses either Adopt-a-Family, or drop off donations to the Orland Township Offices. On December 17th, an event was held for the recipient families to collect their “Wished” items. Some groups, such as All Saints Lutheran Church, who adopted 30 families this year, preferred to drop the items to their adopted family homes; while others, like the Lions Club, that also adopted 30 families, brought their donations to the Holiday Event.
Please consider donating – food items, pet products, or monetary donations to these worthy charities – not only during the holidays, but throughout the year.