District 99 students donate 5,000 pounds of goods to Ukraine

DOWNERS GROVE – With devastation happening in Ukraine nearly 5,000 miles away, students from Community High School District 99 took immediate action to help and offer their support.

Downers Grove North High School’s Empowerment Club and German Club collected 5,000 pounds of donations to support the people of Ukraine, according to a news release. Donations included nonperishable food items, hygiene products, infant necessities, sleeping bags and blankets.

Students and staff worked together to organize the donations, pack boxes and load a school bus for the delivery. Items were delivered to collection sites in Naperville and Bradley for shipment to Lviv, Ukraine.

“The people of Ukraine are experiencing a humanitarian crisis, and we’re proud of our students for taking the initiative to help,” Karen Spahr-Thomas, Downers Grove North social studies teacher and Empowerment Club adviser, said in the release. “Thanks to the overwhelming response in donations, we quickly had to shift from six mini vans to one large school bus and a cargo van for the delivery.”

Downers Grove South High School contributed two vans full of donations that also were delivered to the Naperville collection site.

“As soon as we heard about DGN’s efforts to help Ukraine, we jumped at the opportunity,” Laura Rodey, Downers Grove South social studies teacher, said in the release. “Student volunteers quickly helped us spread the word and then assisted with packing up the donations.”

Downers Grove North students have been selling wristbands that read “Slava Ukraini,” which means “Glory to Ukraine.” More than $1,700 has been raised to benefit World Central Kitchen.

“We’re incredibly proud of our students and staff for their dedication to help families in Ukraine,” Downers Grove North Principal Courtney DeMent said in the release. “And thank you to our Downers Grove community for their support of our students’ efforts.”