Teens help make a difference for Christmas giving program
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff writer
It doesn’t take much to excite teenagers – really, it doesn’t.
Especially if you are a member of the Burlington High School Driven program and are outside in chilly weather on a sunny Friday afternoon soliciting donations on behalf of Love Inc.
That was the case this past week, as the Driven students took part in the annual drive to not only raise funds for the local service organization, but helped package the Adopt-a-Family gift packages that will go to families in need over the next two weeks.
The students have made the Friday program an area event over the past several years. Student groups gather at businesses such as Sentry, Pick ’n Save and Reineman’s to sing Christmas carols and dance – if not for their supper, for the opportunity to provide it for someone else.
“It’s seeing the good in kids, it really is,” said Love Inc. Executive Director Bill Schoessling. “I think sometimes teenagers get a bad rap, and I think this really brings out the best in them.
“I see them really believing in the mission of really helping people help themselves,” Schoessling added. “They’re out there not for themselves, but to help others.”
The Driven students smashed their previous donations high Friday, raising more than $2,200 with the bell ringing. The previous best was about $1,800.
And as BHS senior Casey Roberts – a member of Driven for three years – said, people responded to seeing the students out there.
“There were probably less than 20 people who walked past us and didn’t donate,” Roberts explained.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that the groups took requests and encouraged people to join in.
“A lady came out and requested a song and sang it with us, and bought us cookies,” the senior said. “It’s just nice to see the people responding and knowing you’re helping people.”
Roberts then spent the afternoon helping organize the Christmas packages.
“It’s amazing to know you’re making a Christmas for a family,” Roberts added. “This whole day brings you a whole bunch of joy. It makes you want to do more and give more.”
BHS junior Jimmy Penzel, in his second year with Driven, also felt like the group had accomplished a great deal in one day’s work.
“It kind of brings it all into perspective,” Penzel said. “There are people struggling in our community.
“We’re making somebody’s Christmas,” he added.
The Driven program was started at BHS to help provide a leadership program not just for students looking to help, but for incoming freshmen and students who needed that extra hand.
“I feel like I can influence people in a positive direction,” said Penzel, who added that he has positive role models helping him out while involved with the BHS athletic program.
“It wasn’t all about them,” he said. “That’s what I want, too.”
Certainly Friday showed that. With Love Inc. now serving an all-time high number of families with its various holiday programs, Schoessling said it was nice to have the students again pitching in to help.
“They spent a lot of time over at the warehouse building,” said Schoessling, talking about the Christmas packages that go together at a vacant storefront at Fox River Plaza. “I think they worked on more families than they have in the past.”
More families need the help, too. Schoessling said that Love Inc. currently has 590 families in its holiday gift program, and is expecting to approach 700. Last year, the independent service organization had 608 families participate.
“The numbers are substantially higher than last year,” Schoessling said. “It was for Thanksgiving and it will be for Christmas. We’re cautiously optimistic that the donations will come in.”
Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have about 100 high school students working for the cause.
“It just seems like the kids generally look forward to the day,” Schoessling said. “I think they feel there is a genuine need in the community for people who are hurting.”
For more information on the Love Inc. Adopt-a-Family program, contact Schoessling at (262) 763-6226. The organization is partnering with Talmer Bank and Trust this year in a matching funds program, and is still looking for donations.
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