Local high school students are staying busy this winter by giving back to the community, partnering with organizations like the Library.
In addition to Cozy Comforts (for Wings Programs) and Toys for Tots collections taking place here this month, the Library’s lobby will also be home to a collection run by members of Maine East High School’s Health 4 Humanity club. The students are collecting hygiene products to distribute to people in need. Preferred items include: toothbrushes/toothpaste; wipes; deodorant; shampoo (any size); hand sanitizer; soap (bar and liquid); and lotion. Items will be accepted until Wednesday, December 17.
On Saturday, December 7, patrons can get free, in-person tech support for their smartphones, tablets, laptops or other devices. The Drop-in Help Desk is staffed by members of the Maine South Key Club, an offshoot of the Park Ridge Kiwanis Club. Members of the Maine South Key Club will be on hand to give There is no registration required, simply stop up to the third floor anytime between 10 a.m. and noon. Additional Drop-in Help Desks are scheduled for January 3 and February 7.
“We’re excited to partner with Key Club to offer practical tech help and real skill-building for our patrons,” said Library Director Joanna Bertucci.
Later this winter, students on the Park Ridge Youth Commission will run a food drive that will kick off February 1 and run through February 28. The Library’s Teen Loft is partnering with the Commission by serving as a collection site along with several local businesses. The drive will support the Maine Township Food Pantry. The timing of the food drive addresses the decline in donations that is common in late winter. A wish list of items will be available on the Food Pantry’s website. The Youth Commission is comprised of Park Ridge high schoolers as well as adults, and provides a forum for public discussion of topics related to activities of youth; acts as an ombudsman for youth; and facilitates coordination for various community youth groups
The Library’s Middle and High School Coordinator Maddie McGuire, who serves on the Youth Commission, visits schools regularly throughout the year, strengthening the relationship between the teens and the Library. “Scool visits allow us to meet the students where they are at and connect with the students,” she said. “Partnering with the high schools is especially valuable because the students are so busy outside of school, it gives us a chance to see them and let them know the library is a place for them.”
