Origami was a big hit with the middle school crew!

Beacon Place is once again filled with smiling faces since the return of the Afterschool Kids Club! More than 30 elementary and middle school students gather for homework help every Monday and Wednesday from 3:30-5:00pm. Adult and teen volunteers work one-on-one and in small groups to give kids the help they need, including completing their assignments and improving their math and reading skills with engaging activities such as journaling, arts and crafts, games and technology.

Afterschool Kids Club is currently meeting at Carman Buckner School, across the street from Beacon Place until renovations at Beacon Place are completed later this year. Special thanks to our dedicated teen volunteers from Loyola Academy, Christo Rey St. Martin, Grayslake North, and Lake Forest High School who have been helping with tutoring this fall! Contact [email protected] to find out how you can get involved.

Members of the 2014-2015 Beacon Place Teen Leadership Board!

 

Teens are an important part of all that goes on at Beacon Place. We depend on more than 35 high school students each day of the Summer Lunch Program to ensure our kids eat a nutritious lunch and have an afternoon of safe, outdoor fun. This help continues throughout the school year as teens volunteer by tutoring and volunteering at special Beacon Place events. 

 

Behind the scenes, however, is a core group of 25 committed teens who form the Beacon Place Teen Leadership Board. The group began last year and a new board was just announced for the 2014-2015 school year that includes teens from four area high schools. This team is responsible for meeting once per month throughout the year to organize and support fundraisers, special events such as holiday parties, and to work closely with the Beacon Place Program Managers to adjust and modify existing programs. 

 

For example, last winter the group met with Barb LaFasto, Program Manager for Summer Lunch Bunch and discussed the idea of creating a mini "reading room" for the kids to relax and read a book in the shade. Under the leadership of college intern Allison Winter, the Reading Tent was born and became a huge part of the summer fun this year! For every book a child read, they earned a stuffed animal buddy. Because of these efforts made by the Teen Leadership Board, parents noticed that their kids' reading abilities improved significantly.

 With their first meeting at the end of September, the Beacon Place Teen Board has already started planning our Halloween Open House for Kids to be held at Beacon Place on Sunday, October 27. Additionally, plans are underway for several student-led fundraisers to support the Step Up campaign.

 

Thanks to all of the amazing teens who give their support to Beacon Place! To find out more about how your teen can get involved, contact [email protected].

The Beacon Place neighborhood is a designated food desert. The closest food retailer is the Family Dollar two blocks away, but it offers no fresh fruits, vegetables or quality sources of protein. This past September, that changed. Beacon Place has partnered with Top Box Foods, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing healthy and high-quality foods at affordable prices to families living in areas with limited access to nutritious eating options. 

 

The goal of the program is to provide a distribution site for pre-packed boxes of fruits/vegetables and proteins offered at substantially reduced prices ($10-$11 per box or $20 for both). Top Box Foods is offering these boxes in conjunction with the Northern Illinois Food Bank through three distribution sites, including North Chicago, Round Lake, and Waukegan. The Waukegan site is just across the street from Beacon Place at Carman Buckner Elementary School. 

 

Barb Karacic, Executive Director of Beacon Place, was asked to serve as a Community Leader with the program because of the recognition Beacon Place has in the southeast Waukegan area for connecting families and resources. Beacon Place volunteer and neighborhood resident Keith Wilson also serves with Top Box Foods as Community Liaison. He shares information in the community and assists families in registering for the program.

 

The first distribution occurred on September 20th. Food boxes were distributed to more than 200 families in the neighborhood! This program is open to all families in the area and LINK Cards (food stamps) are accepted. Top Box Foods has operated for several years in Cook County but is now broadening its reach as the families in poverty are becoming more present in suburban and blue collar counties. 

 

Beacon Place is excited to be partnering with Top Box Foods and similar agencies that are committed to helping families by giving them access to the quality foods that lead to better nutrition and health. 

 

Candy Klunder and the St. Patrick Summer CCD and Youth Groups for their food and school supplies donations!

Dear Friends,

 

I received a letter the other day from Jesus Ruiz, President of the Latino Coalition of Lake County. In it, he said that he was a "true believer in our mission," because of our ability to connect with families and children who really need our help.

 

Beacon Place has developed strong connections with the community because we listen carefully, and offer the support and programs that neighbors really want. They've responded by participating in our programs and spreading the word to others about the support they're receiving from us. And as a result, our programs are growing stronger and more successful every day. We're at home with each other at Beacon Place.

 

Today, our primary goal is to broaden our family of supporters who contribute their time, talent and treasure to Beacon Place. With a full-scale restoration in progress, we are house guests in other facilities, and have limited opportunities to provide our programs. At risk of overstaying our welcome, we are anxious to complete the renovation and to move back into our home!

 

How can you help? Spread the word about Beacon Place. Like and Share our posts on Facebook. Share this newsletter with a few friends. Or decide to Step Up for Beacon Place by making a donation today or sponsoring your own fundraiser.

 

Sylvia Matthews Burwell, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, said, "Day after day, ordinary people become heroes through extraordinary and selfless actions to help their neighbors." Thank you to all Beacon Place heroes!

 

Best, Barb Karacic, Executive Director, Beacon Place