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Reaching Out to Help Hungry Kids
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The weeks long teacher's strike in Waukegan created challenges for the kids and families in the Beacon Place neighborhood. With most kids dependent on breakfast and lunch at school, kids fell behind on much more than academics.
To help our hungry neighbors, Beacon Placeoffered brown bag lunches to all kids in the neighborhood, generously provided by willing volunteers from all over Lake County. More than 120 kids, moms and grandparents came to Beacon Place for lunch each day.
The lunch time gatherings gave kids a chance to continue with some school work. Vanessa Campos, Principal at Carman Buckner Elementary School, visited each day with grade-level appropriate homework packets for the kids in hand. The children are eager learners and completed daily work in math, reading and writing. Because the Beacon Place After School Tutoring Program was also on hold due to the strike, tutors were on hand during lunch to help kids with reading and other subjects.
Just as in the summer, Beacon Place has become a meeting place for moms and kids looking for support as they try to move forward. A special thank you to all who have reached out to help by making lunches, tutoring, and providing extra food for the kids and parents.
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Principal Campos passes out prizes for school work completed and turned in!
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A neighborhood student does his homework with the help of Beacon Place tutors.
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Volunteer Keith Wilson helps a student with his practice work.
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Neighborhood students from Waukegan High School have been volunteering to help distribute lunches at Beacon Place during the strike.
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Step Up for Beacon Place!
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How can you turn $500 into $2,000? By donating to the Beacon Place Step Up Campaign!
A recent donor made a generous donation of $500 and submitted it for a corporate match, turning that $500 into $1,000! Once received, that $1,000 will be matched by our anonymous donor and become $2,000! What a great way to expand your giving!
We've had a great response to our campaign thus far, and we are more than two thirds of the way to our goal of raising $90,000 but we need your help! Send in your donation, make a donation online, or host a fundraiser with a group of friends.
Step Up Today to Help Others Step Forward!
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Shoppers at The Mustard Seed in Lake Forest
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Recent Step Up Events!
The Pi Sigma Epsilon chapter at Carthage College Homecoming "Koozie Sales,"
Sponsored by Beacon Place summer intern Ali Benge, October 10-12
The Mustard Seed Fair Trade Jewelry Trunk Show, October 22
Beacon Place Teen Board at their Eat Good, Do Good! Potbelly Fundraiser in Vernon Hills, October 30 which raised more than $600 to be matched in the STEP UP Campaign!
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Upcoming Step Up Opportunities!
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On Tuesday, November 11, Shri Yoga Center in Highland Park will be hosting a special evening of yoga with all donation proceeds going to Beacon Place.
"At Shri Yoga, we strive to take the time to pause, reflect, honor and appreciate all that we have been given," said Shri Yoga owner, Marcia Tazioli. "We love what Beacon Place is accomplishing in Waukegan and we are so happy to support their efforts!"
Marcia will be joined by Zoe Nitsun, another leading yoga instructor on the North Shore, to lead an all levels donation class.
No yoga experience is necessary to enjoy this evening of gratitude, opening and relaxation.
SHRI YOGA CENTER
1725 McGovern St, 3rd Floor (American Enterprise Bank Building)
Highland Park, IL 60035
November 11, 7:00 pm (arrive by 6:45)
Click below to register for a space in the class.
YOGA WITH GRATITUDE REGISTRATION
Join us for Reading Between the Wines
Tuesday, November 18, 2014, 7 pm - 9 pm
Cellar Gate Wine Market
524 Sheridan Road, Highwood, IL 847-748-8086
RED Communications LLC and Cellar Gate Wine Market are sponsoring an
All Community Book Club to support Beacon Place Community Center!
Bring your book club, drink wine, talk about books (or not), network with other book clubs to learn what they're reading, hear directly from Beacon Place leaders about their important work on behalf of children and families,
and help raise money to support Beacon Place's house renovation!
To RSVP go to: http://bit.ly/readbetweenwines
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Halloween at Beacon Place
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 | | The Vara Family: Rosa, Xitlali (10), Andres (8) and Analia (5). Also pictured are niece and nephew Jade (11) and Anthony (10) |
At Beacon Place, we believe that having a strong partnership with the children and families in our community is important. We believe that Beacon Place can be a springboard for families looking to make a change for themselves. All they need is support, guidance and opportunity, and that's what we work to provide.
Rosa Vara, her husband Ismael, and their three children live around the corner from Beacon Place. Rosa moved to North Chicago when she was six and has lived in Waukegan for the last 14 years. She first came to the Beacon Place Summer Lunch Bunch program with her children in 2013 after she learned about it from the principal at the nearby school.
Her children were reluctant to stay at the program without her so she quickly joined the MOMS group that meets during the program. With excellent organization skills and fluency in English and Spanish, Rosa became a leader in the group and a committed Beacon Place volunteer! She has helped recruit new women into the MOMS group, organize activities, and takes registrations for events with mothers and kids.
Most recently, Rosa organized a back-to-school uniform distribution and has rallied several women in the MOMs group to lead a fundraising effort to support our Step Up Campaign. Ismael has stepped up to help too! He works in home renovation and has helped to remove the carpeting, old cabinetry and appliances inside of Beacon Place. Rosa's children, niece, and nephew have been regular participants in programs all year round. While the young boys have made friends with the teen volunteers who worked the soccer field all summer, the girls enjoy the crafts and games the most.
According to Rosa, in the recent past, walking to the park in the neighborhood or playing outside wasn't always a safe option. But these days, when the tents pop up for the Summer Lunch Program at Beacon Place, you can hear the laughter and fun from blocks away.
"I love seeing all of the smiling, happy kids in line waiting to come to Beacon Place in the summer! Their parents know this is a safe place where good things are happening and everyone of every color is included! " -Rosa Vara
Rosa spoke on a recent afternoon at Beacon Place and mentioned how important it is for the women and kids in the neighborhood to feel welcomed and included. She believes the programs for kids have really made a difference in the neighborhood. She is excited for our renovations to be complete so that programs for women and adults can expand beyond the weekly meetings. She said the MOMS group is especially anxious to work together in the new teaching kitchen, learning from each other and local nutritionists on how to create nutritious meals for their families.
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Rosa working with other Beacon Place staff to organize supplies for programs.
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Rosa has been working hard to help her children stay on top of their school work during the strike in Waukegan by encouraging reading and writing at home. In fact, when her 3rd grade daughter Xitlali asked if the Statue of Liberty was a real person, they took a trip to the library to find out. After some reading, Xitlali wrote a two-page paper about Lady Liberty that she shared with the local principal on a recent lunch day at Beacon Place!
Beacon Place has grown because of supportive neighbors like the Vara Family. We look forward to Rosa's continued help and support. If you visit when the children are here, be sure to find Xitlali to learn more about the Statue of Liberty!
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Welcome to our new Renovation Construction Manager, Mike Krinninger of George Krinninger and Sons, Inc! Mike is taking the lead on all interior and exterior renovation. He and his team are working quickly to make sure all mechanicals are ready for city inspection. Our walls will go up next and then the finishing work will begin. Although the pace has been slow and there have been a few setbacks as always in a project of this scope, we're excited that things are really beginning to take shape inside Beacon Place!
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Holiday Celebrations at Beacon Place
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 Holiday Celebrations for the Kids and Families of the Beacon Place programs will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2014 . If you are interested in volunteering, providing donations, or contributing to these festivities, please email [email protected]. |
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Beacon Place relies on many wonderful donors, volunteers, and partners to make all of our programs happen! Each month we will highlight a few of the organizations that have helped us with special support.
This month, we want to thank all of those volunteers who have pitched in to make lunches to feed the hungry kids in Waukegan who have been coming to Beacon place for lunch during the strike. Nearly 1,000 lunches have been made to date by a wonderful crew of volunteers, who are listed below:
Katie Ahern
Kathy Allen
Linda Benge
Wendy Beaver
Missy Burger
Kylie Carlson and Family
Lindsey Chabraja
Maureen Chamberlain
Corrigan Family
Community Church Lake Forest/Lake Bluff
Dickleman Family
Jane Duncan
Mary Jane Dybas
Maureen Fitzgerald
Erin and Maddie Foley
Kay Friedberg
Laureen Grieve
Meg Gustafson
Christine Hides
Mary Ann Kiehl
Barb Kelner
Mary Beth Kercher
Karen Kolb
Maycat Kneibler
LaFasto Family
Marian McNair
Mary Meister
Carolyn Milligan
Kathy Milliman
 Montaigne Family Denise Murphy Carol Myers Midge Nelson Julie O'Malley Carolyn Parker Vickie Pasquesi Kristin Pearson Robin Powers Lauren Peters Kathleen Reisenberg Gerrie Ryan Nina Strnad Schoenheider Family Talbot Family Ultimate Athletics - Princess Team Missy Walsh Kay Waltman Renee Zorc |
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A Message from Barb, Beacon Place Executive Director
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Dear Friends,
The past month has been a struggle for our children and their families. Not only did our children lose their classroom education with the teacher's strike, but they also lost 10 meals per week. Our committed volunteers along with many who were new to Beacon Place stepped up to provide the children and their families with food. Thank you to the many people listed in our newsletter for your support, and to those who anonymously provided us with food to distribute to our struggling families. This situation, once again, demonstrates that it truly takes a village to make a difference in our community.
I am also grateful to those who are Stepping Up to help us raise the money needed to complete the renovation of the house. At this point, we have raised $58,900 toward our goal of $90,000, thanks to a challenge grant that doubles every donation received. The opportunity for matching funds continues through November, so please make your donations this month, and help us finish the house for our children and families. The weather is turning cold and the house is freezing! As a result, gloves and hats are the clothing of choice for volunteers, kids and families. We look forward to the day when this is no longer necessary! Thanks for your support!
Best, Barb Karacic, Executive Director, Beacon Place
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Beacon Place
603 S. McAlister
Waukegan, IL 60085
224-572-9330
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