The 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 will give Evergreen Park Community High School (EPCHS) students a chance to remember those who died while helping families in their own community.
EPCHS will hold a 9/11 Day of Service Memorial Food Drive Sept. 7-11 to collect nonperishable food for the Evergreen Park Food Pantry.
Students can leave donations in the school’s Learning Resource Center or at the Main Entrance throughout the week. Community members can bring donations to the Main Entrance. A donation bin also will be placed at the gate before the school’s home football game against Shepard High School on Friday, Sept. 11.
The food drive is part of 9/11 Day, a national day of service created in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
One of the people killed that day was Glenn Winuk, a New York City volunteer firefighter who died while helping people leave the World Trade Center. His brother, Jay, and Winuk’s friend David Paine later worked to establish a national day of service in memory of Winuk and the other victims. The initiative was recognized by the federal government in 2009 during the administration of President Barack Obama.
The anniversary has particular meaning for Amy Kazin, EPCHS director of activities. She remembers exactly what the day felt like and the way people came together afterward.
“None of our students were alive on 9/11, but most of our staff members and many in the community can tell you exactly where they were when the first plane hit,” Kazin said. “As terrified as I was that day, I also remember a feeling of unity that existed in our country. It is so often a tragedy that brings out the sense of community in all of us.”
EPCHS social studies classes regularly teach students about the attacks and the events surrounding them. This year, school officials wanted students to do more than learn about 9/11 in the classroom.
A food drive seemed like a natural fit, particularly because the donations will stay in Evergreen Park.
The Evergreen Park Food Pantry was established through a partnership of local churches, village representatives, community organizations and residents. It provides temporary food assistance to residents facing an emergency.
Kazin said the pantry is an important resource for the community, especially as the cost of everyday necessities continues to rise.
“Residents of Evergreen Park are so fortunate to have a food pantry right here in the community,” Kazin said. “As the community high school, EPCHS is always proud to support our EP Food Pantry in their effort to fight hunger among our own. As prices increase for so many everyday items, we know that the need will only grow.”
The school has supported the pantry in the past and hopes the 9/11 food drive will bring in a large collection before the fall and winter months.
“Food insecurity is a chronic problem in our community and we are happy to support the Evergreen Park Food Pantry whenever we can,” Kazin said. “If every student and staff member brought one item, imagine the difference we could make.”
A single can of food may not seem like much, but hundreds of students and staff members each bringing an item could quickly fill the pantry shelves.
The food drive offers EPCHS students a chance to mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 in a way that reaches beyond the school and directly helps people in their hometown.